World Beaters to World Jokers

Just before the start of Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, one of Kumar Sangakkara's interviews with Sky Sports went viral on social media in which he said 'We know how to win a World Cup,' and went on to discuss the nation's performances in ICC events from 1996 to 2014 which would have given some of the cricket fanatics goosebumps as to how far Sri Lanka had gone despite being a tiny little Island in the Indian Ocean.

The fans have been truly supportive in an era where Sri Lanka was no short of superior talents. In 2007, when Sri Lanka came second in the 50-over World Cup, the team had a red carpet welcome because despite not clinching the title everyone understood what had been achieved, which is why today the cricket-loving fans are left absolutely frustrated with how this great cricket nation has been transformed from World Beaters to World Jokers.

On Monday, Sri Lanka were handed another humiliating defeat by Australia to literally end their hopes of making a semi-final in the ongoing World Cup.

With Dasun Shanaka out injured Sri Lanka had a new Captain in Kusal Mendis and everything seemed to go right when Kusal Janith Perera and Pathum Nissanka put up a brilliant opening partnership, but then everything became normal again.

What is most noticeable in the current Sri Lanka squad is want of ruthlessness. 15 years ago, Sri Lanka with a side like that would have buried the game inside the first innings itself but on Monday, Mendis and co. handed the game over to the Aussies.

Mathews the Solution?

Sri Lanka have thus far been beaten by South Africa, Pakistan and Australia. In each of these defeats, one of the standouts has been middle-order collapses.

Dhananjaya de Silva who has occupied the number six position in the squad has a dreadful record with the bat and is more or less a Test cricketer at best.

Shanaka is injured but he scores once in a blue moon. Chairth Asalanka has been Sri Lanka's saviour on a couple of times when the team is down and out, but rarely takes the opportunity to kill the game off when there is an advantage.

However, there is a bloke somewhere in Sri Lanka who goes by the name of Angelo Mathews - probably watching the World Cup on television, who could do it all.

One cannot deny the fact that Mathews was given his chance in New Zealand and he miserably failed on conditions which are totally different to India. However, in Mathews, you have a batsman who averages over 40 in ODIs, it's hard to believe how selectors could ignore the fact that Mathews could have been a superb option in India.

Just before the World Cup, the selectors had serious doubts over Shanaka leading the national team. In fact, many reported that Shanaka was on the verge of being dropped from the side, but things changed pretty quickly and he remained as the captain. The only way Mathews could have made it to the Sri Lanka Squad was at that moment, and that's when Sri Lanka lost the World Cup.

Every single selector, the head coach and everyone at the SLC who backed the decision now face the consequences of Sri Lanka being a laughing stock at the World Cup. (Harsha Amarasinghe)