A Slow Batting Innings Polarized The Cricket World

As pugnacious Victoria opener Marcus Harris had a war of words with his ex-teammates as tea was called on the opening day of the Sheffield Shield final, 21-year-old Ashley Chandrasinghe appeared almost oblivious to the escalating tension.

Sporting a blank expression, he walked right past the warring to Victoria’s dressing room as if he was in a trance. His robotic demeanour made sense after Chandrasinghe garnered worldwide attention for his remarkable stonewall of 46 from 280 balls to carry his bat in Victoria’s underwhelming first innings.

He batted the entire day one at a snail’s pace even though there was a need for him to score faster given the bonus points situation enforced to ensure teams don’t play out excruciating draws which had blighted some finals in the past.

Chandrasinghe seemingly didn’t get the memo and he was often mocked from a typically rowdy WACA faithful who cheered whenever he finally scored. It was painstaking batting and tough to watch in a grind of an innings that is rarely seen these days amid the fast and furious T20 cricket and ‘Baz Ball’ – where England tackle the red-ball as if they are wearing colored clothing.

As he continually stoutly defended to defy WA’s attack – who it was difficult to distinguish whether they were frustrated at being unable to dismiss him or rather preferred him keep chewing up deliveries – Chandrasinghe appeared to come out of a time warp from a more sedate time in cricket.

Much public debate ensued over Chandrasinghe’s approach with some praising his fight and not succumbing to the lack of runs, while others believed he had cost his team who were trying to make amends in a rematch of last year’s decider.

But what a lot of critics probably didn’t know was that an out-of-form Chandrasinghe had been told three days before the match by Victoria coach Chris Rogers that he would be dropped.

He had started his debut season impressively, marked by 119 off 333 balls in his maiden professional appearance, with his focus and innate ability to dig in a feature. But as the season wore on, Chandrasinghe fell away as teams strategized for him and bowlers preyed on his shortcomings.

It all led to him having to endure the heartbreak of missing a Shield final until being granted a late reprieve when veteran opener Travis Dean suffered an injury during training the day before the match.

Having to deal with the range of emotions, Chandrasinghe was then confronted by WA’s star-studded attack boosted by the menacing presence of speedster Lance Morris raring to go after two months on the sidelines.

The pitch may not have been a minefield like other WACA surfaces this season, but was still difficult to bat on and accounted for Chandrasinghe’s under-performing senior teammates.

“There’s a lot of opinion from people who don’t know what the young man has gone through,” Rogers said. “It’s his first year of Shield cricket, We recognize that there is work to do on his game. He’s completely honest about that.”

Unperturbed by the stalled scoreboard and mockery from the crowd, Chandrasinghe impressively appeared to be unruffled by an innings that was being put under the microscope from those at the ground and beyond.

“So many young guys would get into that position and almost feel a little bit embarrassed and just throw their wicket away,” Rogers said. “The fact that he fought all the way through and didn’t get out…that determination and to never quit is something in-built.

“It’s an extraordinary effort and I’m so proud of him.”

Perhaps he’ll have to live with the jibes for some time, but you feel Chandrasinghe won’t be fazed knowing he mustered an extraordinary fight against the odds in the toughest of circumstances.

Ashley Chandrasinghe is a player to watch in the future – and that’s not an oxymoron.