Despite losing consecutive Test series at home to Pakistan and India, Sri Lanka’s chief selector Kapila Wjegunawardene has backed the side to bounce back to with the visit of the West Indies.

After 2-1 defeats against the subcontinent sides, the hosts have a chance to get back to winning ways with two Tests, three ODIs and two T20Is against the men from the Caribbean.

"We don't need to be unduly concerned because we know that the talent is there, it's just a matter of getting all the team dynamics right and getting it together as a unit," Wijegunawardene said.

"I am convinced we have the resources that we need. The team environment with all the members fulfilling their roles is a vital thing.

"Not everybody was able to deliver those objectives. There were gaps and it was very clearly reflected in the end results. There were naturally shortcomings in the delivery of one's role.

“Those are things we need to work out and ensure that every member of the team fits into the role he plays in the larger scheme of things."

"It could be inexperience and players being a little over eager, lots of things that one can sight but you can't really pinpoint and say this was the reason.

"From the bowling side they really performed creditably, the gaps were in the batting. The six or seven batters we had in the side were not able to chip in. In all the games, if all the batters had chipped in with 25-30 runs we would have met those shortfalls, which was the winning margin for the opposition.

“The fact that we had those shortcomings is generally not a concern but those are little areas we need to improve on."

Having lost considerable experience over the past year, in Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, the side have a number of high profile positions to fill.

Wijegunawardene believes the series against the West Indies presents a further chance for batsmen to nail down their spot in the team.

"Every series we strategise to win whilst working towards that objective," he said.

"There is some element of experimentation also that we are compelled to carry out in order to identify the best combination with the resources at our disposal and to come up with a more sustainable long-term plan.


"We are convinced that Thirimanne's got the talent. In fairness to him he's hit a rough patch, which can happen to any player.

"Being the talented player he is, I am sure he can work his way out of the rough. Now that Kumar is no longer in the equation those are the things that we are working on.

"If you analyse our team composition in the last 15-20 years we've always had batsmen who deputised as keepers, because whether we can afford to have a genuine keeper is questionable.

"It's a vital position no doubt but working out the batsmen we need to balance the side.

"Kusal missed one chance but you cannot hang somebody for a mistake. He can naturally improve on his wicket keeping.

“We all know if he had survived a few more overs we would have won that game at SSC. He is going to be a very exciting prospect for Sri Lanka in that position.

"Dickwella is on the 'A' tour to NZ. He is definitely one of the strong candidates we are looking at and he is keeping very well at the moment, but we don't want to tinker around too much. We will keep an open mind on how things pan out, but right now we are looking at a more stable run for Kusal in that role.

"Given Chandimal's talent we would like him to bat higher up in the order, that is the role we have identified for him. We know that he has got the talent to do it."

 

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