Rex Clementine in The Island. …. where the title is different
The axe is set to fall on Test captain Dhananjaya de Silva following his uninspiring leadership during Sri Lanka’s 1-0 series defeat to India at home last month. Sri Lanka’s next assignment in the World Test Championship is a two-Test series in Pakistan and The Island learns that Dhananjaya is unlikely to lead the side. More significantly, he could even find himself fighting to retain his place in the XI.
Although Dhananjaya served as Dimuth Karunaratne’s deputy for a couple of years, there was always a feeling that when Dimuth’s long tenure as Test captain ended (2019-2024), [that the succession would be an isssue]. Dhananjaya inherited the job largely by default rather than through a carefully planned succession.
For too long, Sri Lanka’s selectors had stopped grooming future captains. Leadership was handed down largely on seniority, leaving precious little opportunity to identify and develop the next generation of leaders.
Dhananjaya’s tenure has done little to silence those concerns. Off the field, he has often appeared aloof and laid back; on it, he has struggled to stamp his authority, too often allowing games to drift rather than forcing the issue.
His tactics during the two Tests against India came under particular scrutiny. Sri Lanka went defensive with the ball far too early on several occasions, surrendering the initiative instead of attempting to wrest it back.
Admittedly, Dhananjaya does not possess an arsenal that allows him to call the shots like an Ian Chappell or Clive Lloyd. But captains such as Arjuna Ranatunga and Sourav Ganguly showed that limited resources need not prevent a leader from imposing himself on a contest.
Those are admittedly enormous boots to fill, but at the very least Dhananjaya was expected to be more assertive.
The Island learns that the selectors contemplated a change midway through the India series but were persuaded against it by Head Coach Gary Kirsten. What appears increasingly clear, however, is that Dhananjaya’s days as captain are numbered and the selectors may not wait until the end of the current World Test Championship cycle to pull the trigger.
Chief Selector Kapila Wijegunawardene was asked at Wednesday’s media briefing about Dhananjaya’s defensive captaincy, but played a straight bat, saying it was too early to comment. Behind closed doors, however, the former Sri Lanka seamer is understood to favour a change.
That leaves the selectors with an awkward question of their own: who takes over?
Having failed to groom a successor, they are now searching for someone to assume the reins immediately, a problem that should have been addressed long before the captaincy reached this crossroads.
White ball captain Kusal Mendis is one of the front runners, along with Kamindu Mendis, although the latter was recently stripped of the vice-captaincy after being appointed deputy across all three formats in June.
There are understood to be concerns among the authorities over Kamindu’s attitude, with his removal from the vice-captaincy intended to send a clear message that no player is indispensable.
Charith Asalanka is another name in the frame, although he has not played a Test in more than four years and at present, would struggle to command a place in the side. A productive limited overs series in England, however, could strengthen his case considerably.
Then there is the intriguing fourth option Sonal Dinusha. Young and relatively raw at international level, Dinusha has captained CCC with considerable success over the past couple of years and is understood to possess many of the leadership qualities the selectors are searching for.
A keen student of the game, Dinusha’s cricketing nous and the qualities he has brought to the dressing room have impressed the team management. The selectors may decide that handing him the reins now is a gamble too, but his name being seriously discussed is itself significant.
Should they take the plunge, Dinusha could become the second youngest Sri Lankan to captain the Test side after Angelo Mathews.
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