Earlier this week, Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera picked up yet another Man-of-the-Match award for his swashbuckling 65 and three wicket haul that helped the hosts to win the second ODI against Pakistan by 77 runs and square the three match series.
It was Perera’s eighth Man-of-the-Match award, which is quite a few when you consider that he has played only 78 ODIs. Other Sri Lankan stalwarts like Angelo Mathews (6) and Lasith Malinga (7) have fewer such awards than Thisara although they have played more than double the games.
Thisara’s performance was a slap on the face of the Sri Lankan selectors, who for some strange reason continue to undermine the value of one of the most talented young players in the country. Since last year, Perera had been cold shouldered by the selection panel headed by former captain Sanath Jayasuriya. He was dropped for the tour of West Indies last year, but returned with a massive impact in the home series against South Africa.
This year however things changed rapidly. During the tour of England, Sri Lanka left out Perera after the first ODI at The Oval and he wasn’t picked for any of the home ODIs against South Africa despite intense criticism. The indication was that Perera was now solely considered for Twenty20 Internationals. In turn, Perera sought permission from the board to play the Caribbean Premier League, which too was denied and the allrounder was told to make himself available to go to England to represent Sri Lanka ‘A’.
That Perera refused and a letter to the selectors stating that he was receiving treatment to a stress related illness sent shockwaves in cricket circles in Sri Lanka. There was a public outcry as Perera, at 25, is one of the most talented players in the country. Shortsighted selection policies have adversely affected the immensely talented cricketer.
In order to shield themselves from criticism, the selectors have put the ball back on the captain’s court saying that it was Angelo Mathews who preferred other options than Thisara Perera. That looked a strange call given the fact there aren’t many other all-rounders competing with Perera in Sri Lankan circles. But later it emerged that Mathews had been given a tough choice. The selectors had been comparing chalk with cheese. The option the selectors had given Mathews wasn’t for the role of the all-rounder, but for the additional seamer effectively making Perera to compete with Nuwan Kulasekara.
Even when Perera made his return to the side in the series against Pakistan, he batted at number eight instead of seven. The number seven slot was occupied by Ashan Priyanjan. But after his onslaught on the hapless Pakistan bowlers, it will be now difficult to ignore Perera. He walked in with the score on 194 for six with 12 overs left and with skipper Angelo Mathews changed the course of the game with his brutal power hitting. Sri Lanka went onto post 310 at the end. Perera slammed 65 in 36 balls with five fours and four towering sixes. Sri Lanka scored 75 runs off the last five overs and Perera cleared the ropes on four occasions in that slot.
In recent times not many Sri Lankan batsmen have been able to clear the boundary as easily as Perera has done. He should have been given all the support and the confidence needed, but instead the establishment has failed to see to his development. There’s been lack of imagination in using Perera’s talent. When chasing big scores, Perera’s big hitting powers could have been used to the benefit of the team, but it seems that he is reserved for lower order big hitting at the moment.
With the World Cup around, Thisara Perera should have been a key player as Sri Lankans gear up for the challenge, but he struggles to retain his place in the side. It is said that when he is dropped from the playing eleven, Perera reacts negatively in the dressing room and that attitude hasn’t gone down too well with the cricket’s hierarchy. However, the way to deal with it is not by showing a lukewarm response to one of the most talented young players in the country.
His reaction maybe due to the way he has been treated. For example, when it comes to providing No Objection Certificates (NOC) for participation of foreign T20 tournaments, the cricket establishment seems to be following double standards. It appears that most senior players get NOCs without much fuss, but Perera has gone though some hassles in recent times.
The talent of Thisara Perera has been mismanaged. There’s lot more he could offer to the national team. Skipper Angelo Mathews needs to share part of the blame along with the selectors for he has not fought the case of Perera forcefully. The player could make a huge difference to Angelo Mathews’ campaign in Australia and New Zealand next year.
