Quantcast

Mathews weighs in on Smith debate

Rival skipper airs his thoughts on the decision that's split the cricket world

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews has weighed into the controversy surrounding his rival skipper Steve Smith’s premature withdrawal from the current ODI Series, claiming it’s not a move he would have considered.

Mathews, who captained Sri Lanka through a winless Test and ODI tour against England immediately prior to their stunning turnaround against Australia over the past month, said today he was surprised when he learned that Smith was returning to Australia after the first two matches of the five-game series that is level at 1-1.

But he added that it was a decision based on workload management taken by the Australian selection panel and it was not a matter that would provoke widespread discussion among his team when the third ODI begins at Dambulla tomorrow.

"I think they have their own player management system," Mathews said of the selectors’ decision for Smith to fly home from Colombo last Wednesday to prepare for upcoming ODI and Test campaigns in South Africa and Australia.

"But honestly if it was me I wouldn’t have (pulled out).

"It is a tough tour obviously, and you need the captain alongside the playing XI.

"But they (Australia) have decided to rest him and I don’t think we as players have any issues with that.

"But I think regardless of Steve (Smith) or David (Warner) being the captain we’ve got to play our best cricket to beat them."

Warner will lead the team for the remaining three ODIs and the two T20 Internationals that immediately follow them in the absence of Smith, whose return to Australia to freshen up has prompted debate around the cricket world.

Read more: New title, same style for Warner

The significant difference for Mathews is that Sri Lanka’s upcoming schedule is not quite as jam-packed as the one which Smith and his Test, ODI and T20 teams face over the next seven months.

While Australia face back-to-back campaigns in South Africa, at home (hosting South Africa, Pakistan and New Zealand), in New Zealand and a Test tour to India, Sri Lanka’s workload is not quite so intense.

They face away tours to Zimbabwe and South Africa as well as a handful of T20 Internationals in Australia next February, and host Bangladesh in Sri Lanka.

And it is with an eye to the schedule that looms as much, or more than the work already completed that loomed large in the decision by the selection panel chaired by Rod Marsh with coach Darren Lehmann, Mark Waugh and Trevor Hohns.

Read more: How Smith's schedule stacks up to past captains

Warner has already spoken with his players ahead of his international captaincy debut tomorrow, putting the bowlers on notice that they must implement their own strategies and that he will back those plans to the hilt.

"Obviously he’s got a lot of experience in all three formats, and he captained over in the Indian Premier League as well and did really well," allrounder James Faulkner said prior to Australia’s optional training session at the expansive, windswept Dambulla Stadium today.

"I know one thing, he’s put the onus back on the bowlers with their fields and he says he’s going to back each and every one of us.

"Much the same as Smithy, they are both very good leaders, they’ve got a lot of presence on the ground and their record suggests that as well.

"I’m sure David will fill the position really well and that when Steve is back he’s obviously doing a great job.

"So we’ve got plenty of leaders in our group."