Selectors focused on World Cup
Sunday, August 15, 2010
How seriously do national selectors take the main domestic tournaments and consider the performances in them for national selections?
We all know that the selectors’ job is a thankless one and every decision they take is not going to satisfy everyone, questions are always bound to be asked about why certain players have been overlooked and so forth. But as long as the selectors are fair by their choice of selections and are picking the players with a certain plan in mind, they cannot be faulted for leaving out certain players in the best interest of the national team.
Chairman of cricket selectors Aravinda de Silva said that they took the Premier and Inter-Provincial tournaments quite seriously because it is based on the performances of these matches that they pick squads for the national, ‘A’ team, Development and Academy.
De Silva cautioned that one had to be careful on individual performances at club level where they have to take into account the opposition they play and under what conditions before selecting the player. “Some of the club matches are diluted and we cannot take those performances into consideration,” he said.
De Silva said that there are other instances where a player may be in his mid thirties and performing exceptionally well at both club and provincial levels but the selectors have to consider whether he is going to serve the national team on the long run and also at the same time try not to discourage him from performing in domestic competitions.
“We cannot select each and every player who performs at domestic level into the national side. We have to see whether the performances fall in line with our line of thinking,” De Silva said. “We have a selection process where a potential player can come through the Academy, Development and ‘A’ team to the National team, but there can be exceptions.”
De Silva said the club tournament was important because it is based on the performances that the provincial sides are picked and if a player is good enough to perform consistently at provincial level also he will be earmarked for the ‘A’ team or National team. At least about 80 players are picked to represent the five provinces and according to De Silva ‘if you are not good enough to make it to the final 80 then we know where the player stands’.
Sri Lanka Cricket sometime this year put out a selection policy document where the criteria for the national team as laid down by Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Policy were: “Current form, past performances, balance of the team, conditions likely to be encountered, health/fitness (mental and physical), contribution to team environment, investing in youth development. Selectors will advance the cause of any player whom they believe has the ability to represent Sri Lanka.
“The selectors acknowledge that provincial cricket is not only played to be won but is the final testing ground for international selection and accordingly any individual who the selectors believe may figure in Sri Lanka selection calculations – whether now or in the future – will have their cause promoted.
“The National squad structure is: National – 20 players, ‘A’ team – 15 players, Development – 15 (age 22-26), Academy – 15 (age 19-22), Age group cricket – 25 players in each squad (under 19, 17 and 15). The squads are to be selected on an annual basis and reviewed every 12 months. This will give the players confidence and time to develop into an international player.”
De Silva stated that his committee was fully focused on the 2011 World Cup and they were not going to be in any way moved by what appears in the media. “Certain players are spotlighted in the media through their managers who want them picked for the national team. We don’t go by what appears in the media,” said De Silva.
Sri Lanka is presently in the process of finalising the slots for the World Cup which is only six months away. Some of the slots that need to be filled are in the middle-order batting, fast bowlers, spinners and an all-rounder.
“We have to be fair by everyone and we are giving each and every player we think can make it to the final 15 an opportunity either in the national team or the ‘A’ team,” said De Silva.
Sri Lanka has the on-going tri-series at Dambulla plus the three ODIs in Australia in November and five ODIs against West Indies at home in
December before they name their provincial World Cup squad of 30 in January.
Labels: Selectors
posted @ 11:58 AM,
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