Sri Lanka have been playing Test cricket for just over 30 years but in that relatively short period they have had the good fortune of having some really outstanding captains. Arjuna Ranatunga, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara come immediately to mind. But if his record so far is anything to go by Angelo Mathews has it in him to surpass their feats and emerge as the best- ever Sri Lankan captain. There was never any doubt as to Mathews’ leadership qualities. A successful captain during his college days and subsequently when at the helm of the Sri Lankan Under-19 team he had given enough evidence that he was a future national captain. Fortunately the selectors were quick to realize this and adopting the sooner rather than later policy they elevated him to the captaincy at the age of 25 making him the country’s youngest Test captain. Mentally strong with sound tactical acumen and the ability to lead from the front Mathews has been an instant success as recent events in England have proved. Victory in the
lone T-20 international was followed by a 3-2 win the ODI series and then came about arguably Sri Lanka’s greatest ever feat – a Test series triumph in England something that was reckoned as beyond the islanders given the fact that much of their cricket is played in the sub continent. Many of their batsmen have been dismissed as flat track bullies though as events have proved over the years this is not entirely true. In any case a historic triumph is always something special and Mathews must be given credit for instilling a sense of self belief in his generally young and inexperienced side especially where the bowling was concerned. Indeed Mathews is very much a cricketer of his times, tough, no nonsense in his approach, aggressive without crossing the limits. The manner in which he backed his bowler Sachithra Senanayake without hesitation in the Mankading episode in the ODI at Birmingham, the way he took on Joe Root during the confrontation on the final day of the second Test at Leeds and his calm, cool, assured handling of situations whenever there was a crisis marks him out as a master in man management. His tactical skills are best exemplified by the way he handled the bowling during the obdurate last wicket partnership between Moeen Ali and James Anderson that threatened to save for match for England. Even as things seemed to be slipping away with the pair batting out over after over fairly comfortably, Mathews never gave up. He maintained his composure and changed the bowlers over and over again in a bid to unsettle the concentration of the batsmen and the move finally paid off with Anderson falling to the penultimate ball of a pulsating Test. Outstanding too was his field setting as the shrewdly placed in and out field cut out all escape routes for the batsmen.
Mathews’ ubiquitous qualities make him an ideal player in limited overs cricket and his figures underline this – 2726 runs with 19 half centuries in 127 ODIs at a strike rate of 84 allied to 77 wickets at an average of 35 with a best of six for 20. His robust batting, nagging accuracy with the ball and athleticism in the field make him a priceless asset. All the same he is quick to leave the wicket taking in Tests to the four specialist bowlers that Sri Lanka generally field in the final eleven. In cricket’s traditional format his role is that of a specialist batsman and here he has improved by leaps and bounds.
Like Ray Illingworth the former England captain who scored both his Test hundreds after he was put in charge Mathews too thrives on responsibility. Three of his four Test hundreds have come as captain including centuries in both the Tests in England last month. Mathews has now scored 946 runs in nine Tests as Sri Lankan captain at an average of 78.83clear proof that he is enjoying the job, that he doesn’t feel any pressure and that leading from the front comes naturally to him. Incidentally his average as a non-captain for Sri Lanka was 39.71. Right now his career average has leapt past 48 and it will surprise no one if it crosses the half century mark soon. Also he is bound to add substantially to his current tally of 2614 runs.
As exemplary hundreds that have turned the tide in their side’s favour Mathews’s 160 at Leeds must rank very high. Sri Lanka were 108 runs behind on the first innings and were 176 for four when Mathews came in late on the third evening. A little before lunch on the fourth day Sri Lanka were 277 for seven and cricket followers were already discussing about when England would win and the margin of that victory. Instead Mathews turned the game around with a sublime knock and with the help of the tail he saw Sri Lanka reach 457. His record eighth wicket partnership of 149 with Rangana Herath was a major turning point. Mathews himself was ninth out for his highest Test score but not before he batted over five hours. The bowlers inspired by their captain’s courage responded by dismissing England in a thrilling finish setting the seal on a famous victory. For once Mathews was in the forefront as a bowler too for he had his Test best figures of four for 44 in the first innings.
The just concluded enormously successful tour of England could well be the defining moment of Mathews’ rising career. Only 27 and with perhaps a decade of cricket still left in him Mathews has the potential to become one of the finest players produced by Sri Lanka as well as the most successful captain.
SOURCE-http://www.crictoday.com/
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