The last time Australia went home without the World Cup was way back in 1996 and it was the enigmatic Aravinda de Silva who spoilt the party for Mark Taylor and Co. As Sri Lanka commence their journey to regain the title, Aravinda now wears a crucial hat, that of the chairman of the selection committee. The maverick batsman in th course of long chat, made a few telling points. Excerpts:
Q: Asian teams have not been able to recreate the magic after winning the World Cup. How do you see this?
In international cricket, it’s not only about talent. Commitment and discipline also play a major part deciding success. Talent has also got to be carefully nurtured. Many good players are coming through but it is the attitude towards the game that has to be right.
Q: What is your take on the Aussie dominance coming to an end and their chances in the 2011 World Cup?
Recent results suggest that they have slipped a bit. They have also lost a group of good players and that can hit any team hard. Having said that they are still a good team. Other teams especially from the sub-continent have started playing better. As all major teams have been visiting Asia often these days they are used to the slow surfaces and heat and know what to expect. Frequent trips by A sides have also helped them do well here. Australia, South Africa and England all have a good chance of winning the title.
Q: Kumar Sangakkara had recently said the selection committee has to ruthless. As chief selector how close are you to picking the final combination for the World Cup? Is Sanath Jayasuriya still in contention?
Yes, we have to be ruthless at times in order to get the best combination. It’s our duty to give the players all the confidence before a major tournament. Everyone knows what Sanath is capable of. The door is not shut on him, not on anyone for that matter. There is still time left for the World Cup and performance will be sole criterion for selection.
Q: Looks like T20 is taking over other formats, Can Test cricket and ODIs survive?
It’s important for all three formats to do well. T20 provides the money and it cannot be overlooked. With proper planning by the administrators all three formats can co-exist. There is scope and space for that to materialise. Players will have to make the required adjustments. And with what we have seen in the last three seasons, the players don’t seem to have a problem.