Image courtesy of: The Times
“The problem is they don’t want [to] learn”
Sri Lanka fast bowling coach Chaminda Vaas has announced that the country’s younger bowlers lack the “killer instinct” that will make them into formidable weapons.
Vaas added that none of the younger bowlers he has worked closely with seem remotely ready to play international cricket.
“They don’t know how to plan their future,” Vaas said. “Those days when we bowled at the nets we learned something from each net session. We asked the batsman if there was anything wrong with our bowling or if we had made any mistakes, in order to improve our skills.
“But nowadays fast bowlers don’t ask such questions. Either they are afraid to ask, or they are soft or their thinking pattern is different. So we have to keep telling them all the time what to do. It will take a long time for them to learn, but the only way to do it is by pushing them because they are not pushing themselves on their own.”
Vaas recently coached New Zealand’s pace bowlers and noted that they were always willing to accept criticism and learn, while the Sri Lankan bowlers don’t want to do anything.
“The problem is they don’t want [to] learn,” he said. “Only a few of them are keen others don’t even want to watch a match to at least analyse their performance what their mistakes are. They’ve got to think like professionals. Bowlers from other countries know exactly what to do. You don’t have to push them. That’s what we have to learn from them and instill in our fast bowlers.”
While Sri Lanka’s pitches do not provide much assistance for pace bowlers, Vaas refuses to believe it is the sole reason behind the national team’s struggles.
Vaas revealed that he has constantly preached about maintaining a consistent line and length since it would be effective on any surface and in all kinds of conditions as well.
“What I have advised these youngsters is being fast bowlers they should be prepared to bowl on any kind of surface,” he said. “Whether it’s a wicket suiting spin or batting, they have to bend their backs and bowl. At all the sessions I’ve been talking to them and training their mind as well as their fitness. The guys are a bit soft – some don’t have the fast bowler’s killer instinct.”
As of right now, Vaas has picked out Vishwa Fernando, Kanishka Alvitigala, Kasun Rajitha and Rukmal Fernando as a “few guys who have been identified as future fast bowlers”.
“We have about 10 good fast bowlers from a squad of 20,” Vaas added. “It will take at least another three years for them to get into the side.”