Jayasuriya: We have to start from the bottom
Sri Lanka's new chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya says he and his selection panel need to start from the bottom if they hope for the national side to improve on the field.
A former captain of the national side, this is Jayasuriya's second stint as chief selector having been in the role from February 2013 to March 2015.
The former opening batsman says the responsibility is much bigger this time around than when he first got the job as Sri Lanka have lost a few senior players over last 18 months and results have declined.
Jayasuriya told BBC Sinhala: "I did everything 100% for Sri Lankan cricket. But if even a little was detracted from that work, then we would have had substantial setbacks because of that.
"Now what we have to do is start from the bottom. There is a bigger responsibility for me in this stint, than there was when I was first a selector."
Jayasuriya's first order of business was to select a squad for the upcoming tour to England, a task that was difficult when you see that the national side have only won one game, a T20I against India, against a Full-member side in the last year.
The former left-handed batsman says he will not be afraid to look at players that were dropped in the past.
He said: "First we need to look at which players had been chosen in the past. Sometimes you pick young players and then later, these players are dropped and fresh players are brought in.
"When fresh players are brought in, it takes them a while to succeed, and the players you had been investing in are ignored."
Sri Lanka will play three Tests, five ODIs and one T20I against England plus two ODIs against Ireland on their trip to the UK.
Latest
-
News
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australia ‘sandpapergate’ ball-tampering controversy erupts
The incident led to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft being banned from playing for Australia.