Sri Lanka seek light amidst dark times

Sport is capricious business. Even if athletes toil and sweat it out faraway from the limelight to manage risk, an unforeseen event can act as a hurdle. What will happen the next moment is hard to predict. The Sri Lankan cricket team would testify the unpredictability of sport.

Since the retirements of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka have stumbled on many occasions and there doesn't seem to be a window of hope in the tunnel of darkness. The year 2018 was no different as they suffered a string of losses. In the longest format, Sri Lanka began on a good note by winning the Test series versus Bangladesh 1-0. They next embarked on a trip to the Caribbean where the tourists posted an epoch-making victory in Barbados to draw the three-match series 1-1. In the Day-Night Test, Sri Lanka defeated the home side by four wickets. However, it also turned out to be a tumultuous tour for the island nation as Dinesh Chandimal was found guilty by the umpires of having changed the conditions of the ball.

The drama didn't end there as the Sri Lankan side refused to take the field for two hours on Day 3. Initially, Chandimal, the captain, was handed a one-match suspension for being found guilty of colluding to alter the condition of the ball. Later on, Chandimal alongside Chandika Hathurusingha, the coach and Asanka Gurusinha, the manager, were also suspended for the home Tests and the first-four One-Day Internationals against South Africa for breaching the spirit of the game. On the field, Sri Lanka thumped South Africa 2-0 at home, with Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera and Akila Dananjaya spinning a web around the visiting side's batsmen.

However, Sri Lanka's Test team soon had a crash landing as they slid to an ignominious 0-3 whitewash against England. The series also saw the retirement of Herath. The left arm spinner made his Test debut way back in 1999 versus Australia in Galle. Almost two decades later, and at the same ground (Galle), he bowed out of the game with 433 Test scalps, and as one of the finest spinners to have graced the game.

At the fag end of the year, Sri Lanka visited New Zealand for a two-match Test series. In the first Test, Sri Lanka looked set to hurtle towards another embarrassing defeat after conceding a first innings lead of around 300. The tourists also were precariously placed at 13 for 3 in the second essay before Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis shared a morale-lifting unbeaten stand of 274 to steer their side to a draw. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka couldn't replicate the heroics in the second Test, succumbing to the craft of Tim Southee and Trent Boult.

In the limited overs format, too, Sri Lanka failed to make an impact. The island nation won just six while losing 10 of them. Sri Lanka couldn't even make the Super 4 of the Asia Cup. Their poor show in the tournament led to Angelo Mathews not just losing his job as the limited overs captain but was also dropped from the abridged versions of the game. Chandimal, the Test captain, took over the reins of the ODI side, with Thisara Perera captaining Sri Lanka in the one-off T20I versus England.

After Sri Lanka dipped to heavy losses in shorter formats against England, the new selection panel decided to opt for another change in leadership by naming Lasith Malinga as the captain of limited overs sides.

The only silver lining for Sri Lanka amidst all the despair was their come-from-behind win in the tri series in Bangladesh. Even in T20Is, they had a barren run, losing five matches in a row.

What went right:While paddling through a difficult phase, it is about clutching at straws to inhale positive vibes. Sri Lanka too had a few brights spots which they can carry forward to the next year. Under the leadership of Suranga Lakmal, Sri Lanka became the first Asian nation to win a Test at Bridgetown. From Sri Lanka's point of view, it was heartening to see Lahiru Kumara, the tearaway, troubling the home side's batsmen with pace and bounce.

What went wrong: Sri Lanka had to navigate through a string of off field problems as well. Sanath Jayasuriya, one of Sri Lanka's greatest cricketers, Dilhara Lokuhettige and Nuwan Zoysa were either charged or suspended under ICC's Anti-Corruption Code. Meanwhile, Jeevantha Kulatunga and Tharindu Mendis were suspended by the board for alleged corruption. Sri Lanka board's operations were brought under the government with a "competent authority" being named to run day-to-day activities. Initially, the deadline for new elections was February 9 next year but Harin Fernando, the sports minister, indicated this month that he could seek more time from the ICC to hold elections. Sri Lanka also named a new selection panel in November.

Top performer

Mendis turned out to be the top performer for Sri Lanka in Tests, finishing as the second highest run-getter of the year with 1023. He also showcased the ability to handle pressure with his backs-to-the-wall 141 not out at Basin Reserve. Mathews, who averaged a shade under 30 in Tests last year, made a welcome return to form. On the bowling front, Dilruwan bagged 50 Test scalps. In limited overs cricket, Thisara Perera put up solid performances with both bat and ball.

Biggest disappointment of the year:

Dhananjaya de Silva was one of those batsmen who couldn't fulfil his potential, accruing 509 runs in Tests at a below par average of under 27. Even in ODIs and T20Is, he ended up with modest returns - 222 and 48 runs. In a curious twist of fate, Mendis, the mainstay of Sri Lanka's batting unit, accumulated a mere 230 runs at an average of 16.42 in ODIs. Upul Tharanga, the former captain, also had to wade through a bad patch in shorter forms, capsulised by the point that he aggregated only one fifty in ODIs.

What does 2019 have in store:

Sri Lanka are scheduled to play three ODIs and one T20I in New Zealand. They also have the uphill task of taking on Australia and South Africa in their own backyard. After a short two-match ODI series versus Scotland in May, they will partake in the World Cup.