Australia vs Sri Lanka does not happen very often. When it does, Australian dominance recapitulates why it does not happen very often.
Free Hit contributor
If someone did not follow the recent Australia tour to Sri Lanka, a cursory look at the Test matches would baffle them, a closer inspection would then intrigue them, and reading the scorecard would then ignite a sense of admiration for the Sri Lankans, even in an ardent Australian fan.
Although the ODI series restored normality, proving Australia is indeed ranked number one in the shorter formats, the 2016 Australia tour of Sri Lanka will be noted on history books as one of the greatest heists of all time. But for a Sri Lankan, more than the series victory, the discovery of stars for the future reinstated the optimism, passion and calm love for the game that was missing after hitting rock bottom recently.
The first Test was certainly a heist under the noses of the mighty Australians. The second game was more of a battle of sessions. The third game was won out of pure belief, a trait that was lacking until a young Kusal Mendis turned the first game on its head with a career defining 176. There were others who shined throughout. Dinesh Chandimal showed his strength as a long term batting pillar, Dilruwan Perera reminded us why he is critical in the Test line up, Kaushal Silva regained a missing spark and Rangana Herath worked his magic as usual. But it was the youth, the raw talent, and the carefree that took the center stage in each game. Followed by Kusal Mendis, it was Dananjaya De Silva and Lakshan Sandakan in the Tests, and Amila Aponso in the one-day series. They infused every vein of Sri Lankan cricket that runs deep from the mountains to the sandy beaches with a new sense of hope, vigor, and allure. Cricket-talk was back, from the corner shops to the parliament.
The future of Sri Lankan cricket appears to be bright with these young players rising (unexpectedly) to the occasion, with several others waiting in the wings. Lakshan Sandakan, despite his heroics in the first Test, needs more exposure to refine his skills. For Amila Aponso, it would do a world of good to play with Herath in a couple of Test matches. But his tidy left arm spells, filled with an aura of calm and confidence only exuded by veterans in the caliber of Herath, proved that Aponso is more than ready to step in to the boots when the maestro decides to call it a day.
Kusal Mendis, who skipped ahead of his school skipper Aponso to claim seniority in the national team, has cemented a permanent place in the lineup for years to come. Commentators were salivating at his stroke play and the Aussies were watching the footage to learn how to bat in the subcontinent. If they missed a trick, they just followed up with Dananjaya De Silva. Like his namesake from yesteryear, De Silva bats with a freedom and flair that is unique to Sri Lankan cricketers. His casual back foot adjustment just before settling into languid strokes is a symbol of his unadulterated technique and the effortlessness he plays the game with. Very few players would start their Test career with a six, and even fewer would complete their debut series topping the batting charts. His nonchalant, almost run a ball 65 with the lower order against a roaring Mitchell Starc in third Test defined the batsman that will play for Sri Lanka for a long time. Mendis and De Silva are two very special players and their elegant batting simply added the extra yard that exhausted the Aussies.
These players had different journeys to the international stage. None were easy or rosy, as it is for many Sri Lankan cricketers compared to their western counterparts. They did not have personal coaches, parents who drove them from practice to tuition classes, a new pair of gloves when the old one tore through the fingers, or the high protein diet that professional athletes are suppose to indulge in. What they had was a sheer will to perform and a simple love for the game. Fortunately for Sri Lanka cricket, they brought that with them to the big stage. An achievement exemplified by the fact that their more recent predecessors failed to do just that, wasting precious opportunities. These young stars have the skills and the temperament to carry the Sri Lankan flag to greater heights. They grew up with little and little will shake them on their way to the top.
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ThePapare.com
