Former captain and star batsman Kumar Sangakkara wants an urgent review of Sri Lankan cricket, and has said first-class structure should be overhauled on the lines of Australian cricket.
Former captain and star batsman Kumar Sangakkara wants an urgent review of Sri Lankan cricket, and has said first-class structure should be overhauled on the lines of Australian cricket.
Kumar Sangakkara prepares to bat in the nets yesterday. Pic/AFP
On the eve of Sri Lanka's ODI against India, Sangakkara said it was high time that shortcomings in the country's cricket structure was paid attention and warned that natural talent won't take the nation far enough.
"It's very important to have great first-class structure, I think in Sri Lanka that is something to address very strongly," Sangakkara told reporters at the Adelaide Oval here yesterday.
Sangakkara said Sri Lanka needs to follow Australia's way of cricket. "That is one reason why Australia has been so good over the years, and I think that is an example that you can't dismiss.
"I think it's a case of where you really need to sit down and assess your first-class system and not just copy something, but take the lessons from it and adapt it to something that works really for you. In Sri Lanka we need to do that very quickly," he said.
Sri Lankan cricket has been plagued with government interference and Sangakkara was among six one-day captains in the past decade. Former captain Mahela Jayawardene is back leading the side for the current tour following the resignation of Tillakaratne Dilshan.
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