Now this has to be the breaking news for the day. If not the week. The word former, will now be dropped from next to opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya’s name as he makes yet another comeback to the Sri Lankan ODI side which is currently in England on a tour. And at almost 42 years of age – he will turn 42 in the middle of the tour – Jayasuriya is clearly the grand old daddy of international cricket. >
The decision was hastened in no small part by the revelation that Upul Tharanga had failed a dope test. This meant that Tharanga had decided to remain away from the ODIs and the T20Is and with Tillakaratne Dilshan’s fractured thumb making it difficult for the tourists to take a decision on whether he will be fit enough, the selectors were left with no real options but to go for Jayasuriya.
To me, this is no less than a surprise. Are the selectors trying to portray that there is absolutely no talent coming through from the lower ranks – no 18, 20, 25-year old batsmen who can open the innings for the side? Or are the selectors too scared to blood a youngster in a place like England where the ball does things beyond the realm of these young guns? But then, how will they learn anyway?
Take Tharanga Paranavitana for example. He is in the Test match playing eleven as the opening batsman and has done well in the two Test matches so far. Surely, the selectors could have blooded him for the future? What about the likes of Mahela Udawatte? Malinda Udawatte? And I am sure there will be others as well.
One thinks that the injury to Dilshan could have tipped the scales in favour of Jayasuriya. An ODI series-loss to England could make things difficult for the selectors and that may be something that they would like to avoid.
Incidentally, Jayasuriya has scored only 358 in the last 16 ODIs that he has played in, at an average of 22. This includes just one half-century and a couple of ducks and the veteran will be looking to improve upon that to become a longer-term option.