How is Mahela still in the ODI team? Confronting ageism in Sangakkara's camp
From 01 January 2009 to 18 December 2009, only one batsman has averaged over 50.00 in ODI cricket for Sri Lanka. It's not a brain teaser. That man was neither Mahela Jayawardene or Sanath Jayasuriya, it was TM Dilshan.
In the same period, Sanath Jayasuriya has averaged more (28.42 in 21 matches) than Mahela Jayawardene (26.41 in 24 matches), and he also has a better strike rate than Mahela.
Yet, Jayasuriya finds himself struggling to maintain his place in the team, whilst Mahela Jayawardene has a guaranteed spot.
Here is a head to head comparison of Mahela and Sanath's last 10 ODI knocks for Sri Lanka
| Mahela Jayawardene | Sanath Jayasuriya |
| 39 v India | 5 v India |
| 3 v India | 24 v New Zealand |
| 77 v New Zealand | 0 v England |
| 9 v England | 10 v South Africa |
| 77 v South Africa | 36 v India |
| 1 v India | 98 v India |
| 17 v India | 7 v New Zealand |
| 0 v New Zealand | 6 v Pakistan |
| 31 v Pakistan | 30 v Pakistan |
| 19 v Pakistan | 15 v Pakistan |
Clearly neither batsman has lived up to their reputations, or ability. It is also evident that there has been no consistency from either batsman. What then warrants the inclusion of Mahela Jayawardene and not Sanath Jayasuriya?
During the 1st ODI between India and Sri Lanka, where India scored over 400 runs, Ravi Shastri posed a question to Russel Arnold on commentary. Shastri asked Arnold if Sanath Jayasuriya would be sent to open the innings despite being dropped down to the middle order. India had scored over 400 and Sri Lanka needed Jayasuriya to get them off to a flyer.
"Sangakkara has definitely made up his mind that Jayasuriya is going to be playing a new role in this team," replied Arnold.
"Best sides in the world are flexible," Shastri responded.
When Sehwag and Dhoni were pummeling the Lankan bowlers to all parts, Sehwag hit a ball back with such ferocity that Jayasuriya, who stuck his hand out to stop it, winced in pain.
The stump microphone picked up Sehwag telling Dhoni that if anyone would get close to this huge Indian total it would be Jayasuriya, and they hoped he was hurt.
What could possibly prompt a progressive Sri Lankan skipper like Sangakkara to drop a man with such a feared reputation?
It can't be form can it? As pointed out above, other batsman have failed as miserably as Sanath Jayasuriya.
Sangakkara hasn't even given the legend an opportunity at the top of the innings on these flat batting decks to get back into form.
If Upul Tharanga can make a half century on these tracks, just imagine what Sanath could do?
The only thing that keeps pushing Sanath Jayasuriya out of the Sri Lankan squad is the blatant age discrimination being displayed by both the former skipper Jayawardena and the current skipper Sangakkara.
In 2006, with the inclusion of Tom Moody as coach, Sri Lanka was on a drive to introduce "young blood" in to the squad and drive out the seniors. Jayawardena and Sangakakra both were mislead into thinking this is a progressive move which would set them apart from other Asian teams.
Unfortunately in both Marvan Atapattu's case and now Jayasuriya's, it is a case of ageism, also known as age discrimination.
Sanath Jayasuriya is as competent as any player in the current squad. His fitness is not in question. If his form is the reason for his omission, why is Mahela still in the team?
The series is level, I would think it's only just to give Jayasuriya a go at the top. Demoting a batsman of Sanath's calibre to the middle order, when bowlers around the world have faced his wrath at the top of the innings, is a great disservice to a man who put the Sri Lankan cricket team on the map.
Comments
Oh man! you are so right!! What IS MJ doing there??? Sanath is a legend we should not treat him like this. Sachin wont even eb treated like this. This is lack of respect by Sangakkara.
Let's not get carried away kids...tho sj a legend time's running out for him. How long more can he go??1-2 years. We need to keep searching for new blood that would help sl crkt move forward. I just don't belive anyone can replace sj. But in 1-2 years who will atleast come some what close to him..Angelo mattews sure a great find. I think sanga taking sri lanka the right direction. Mahela also a class player just going threw a patch time. I'm very confident he"ll bounce back,
27 January 2009
8 weeks 6 days
Well there is a thing about upul tharanga, which is he is very good at posting big partnerships at the top. Even on 1st ODI opening stand of 180 + made it possible to chase that mammoth total. And he has a reputation of doing this. If you can remember he posted two over 200 + partnerships with sanath, 180 + partnership with mahela opening the inning against pakistan. Now two 100 runs partnerships with dilshan.
The problem with sanath is that IF he get 's going that 's fine but there is big IF..... what would happen if sanath opened the innings and get out very cheaply trying to chase that big total ?? ).So then the momentum will shift to Indian side and I dont think we would have score even 300.
A player like sanath ‘s calibre does not like to give the non striker to dominate the situation. I have seen lot of time that when dilshan get going sanath wants to join the party but he dance down the track and lobs the ball to 3rd man or hit it high up in the air and throw his wicket away (Remember the match against kiwis in ICC championship this year ?)
But having said that our batting order needs to be flexible, meaning... if openers get going for more than 50 runs sanga should bat at 3 or else sanath should bat one down.
I am pretty sure sanath will replace injured mathews in upcoming ODI 's.
Nice effort...
But the thing is we can't estimate players with the statistics only..The role is very important...Normally you cannot compare and open batsmen's statistics with other batsmen..Ok...And Sanath is not going t o be aggressive at down the order with spinners in attack..So if he is been used he should open the bat..But if he opens the bat he gives wicket so easily and fails to bring partnerships and then the mental pressure increases...And tharanga is doing quiet a good job...And Sanath's mindset is like hitting the bowl and scoring the runs over 150 strike rate...That will not work in every stage..And sanath used to start to score with loopy shots....And thaanga is not like that...
Tharanag seems a good partner with Dilshan.Moreover team like srilanka which has a loopy middle order need to have consistence and confidance opening partnership and that sanath cannot make...More over in your point of view.....There are two batsmen did the same role and one is getting the permanent slot in the team and the other gets loopy.
So you can't simply say they should have sanath in the team...What i feel is sent mahela to the home for sometime...
But these will not happen in Srilanka cricket...Bcz you know how many matches Chamara silva was given the chances...but he did helped the team in only ONE or TWO matches...And Kapugedara...Stile getting chances but i haven't him playing any of the role in the tame....(He has done a bit job in the last T20 only).
So it happens in Srilanka..That SL has not find proper replacements and the guys in the team has no fear.They know that they cannot sent back to the home.So they are not concentrating.But what happened to sanath is he got some replacements..I don't say that tharanga is equal to sanath..but tharanag is a good opening partner...So Sanath has to bat down the order and that too was not aggressive bcz he bats badly for spinners..He is not changing his mindset...So what to do..?
Flexible batting order will be in a team which normally gets a good start..Normally it was rare to find the first wicket partnership go past 50 in 5-7 overs..But now it happens..So now only they can think or set the flexible bating side..Until now middle order forced to do the opening role with the new ball...So we cannot expect that in SL...And now the time to set a flexible side...Lets hope...
29 August 2009
1 week 6 days
Nice Amaesh, well said. I totally agree with you. What do you think abt bowling perspective. Seemed to be you have good knowledge abt cricket. I have seen some people comment with out any knowledge of cricket. Keep it up!!!
Sanath should have been dropped down to number four spot. Because he can still come in during second powerplay if wickets falls. Mahela should be number 6 or 7 to take single and become the finisher.
Munta okkama wire maruwela..pandithai ekai!
27 November 2009
14 weeks 2 days
Good post!
Add another failure to Mahela's list. He made 2 runs when the side needed him again.
20 December 2008
2 weeks 6 hours
Well played Tharanga
The only silver lining in yesterday's cloud.
I thought we lost you forever. lol.
Very nice to see him showing the determination to get back into it.
Yeah, what is going on with Mahela here? I am very disappointed.
But it ain't over yet.
Tharanga should improve his strike rate.. otherwise he is also like russel arnorld..
21 January 2009
5 weeks 2 days
Sorry to break this to the die-hards but Sanath's age really is showing. He does look past it when he bats. His recent average may be better than Mahela's but if you watch the games, there is no doubt in my mind who is currently the better player. Mahela either fails to get started (too often I should add) or gets a score in a sttled manner, timing the ball well and looking like he's there to stay (much like Sanga, Dilly and Sammy en route to a score).
Sanath sometimes gets a score on accounts of his power and ease in finding boundaries when he connects, but it has been a long time now since I've seen him look comfortable. If he gets to fifty, there will have been many false strokes and a few chances on the way. Ball beating the bat often, thick edges going for 4's, mishits landing safe. Bowlers must always believe his wicket is round the corner. He does not inspire teh same confidence. The best you can hope from him nowadays is he flukes his way through to a quick 30 or 40.
In the Twenty20 WC final, I had the unfamiliar and disquieting feeling of *wanting* a SL batsman to get out. Do you remember? watching Sanath bat, it was clear he was not going to find his feet, discover his timing, he looked out of his depth. He was going to scratch along, swinging and missing until he got out, and we needed him to get out quick to give the rest of the team a chance to score.
P.S. you can take all the usual platitudes about him being a legend as read!
21 January 2009
5 weeks 2 days
'Fluent' is the word that was evading me earlier. It's been quite a while since I saw a fluent knock from SJ, even when he makes a valuable contribution. It's not a question of the nature of his batting, both Viru and Laxman can bat fluently. And Mahela, though inconsistent, does still sometimes reach the heights of a master of his art in control of the situation.
20 November 2008
58 sec
The video below was just 3 months ago. He scored 98.
http://www.islandcricket.lk/videos/sanat...
21 January 2009
5 weeks 2 days
i'm still at work. i'll watch it when i get a chance. thing is i've seen him hit good scores recently, but always with a large slice of luck, he always seems to give chances so i never feel like there is a big partnership on.
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