Sri Lanka Cricket Spends Decade without ICC Silverware

The ongoing Champions Trophy is the first ICC tournament in decades that Sri Lanka are not taking part. The island nation's poor showing in the last fifty over World Cup meant that any chances of qualifying for the Champions Trophy 2025 was gone. 

Apart from the minnow-bashing in Zimbabwe a couple of years ago where Sri Lanka won a qualifying round to seal their spot in the 2023 which could be considered an ICC event, they have won nothing significant in the last decade. 

However, Sri Lanka has had some great success in ICC events in the past including the 50-over World Cup in 1996 and 2014 T20 Word Cup. Further Sri Lanka have also been runners-up in 2007,2009, 2011 and 2012. However, it's interesting to notice that almost all of Sri Lanka's heroics in ICC have been recorded on spin friendly pitches. Except for the 2009 T20 World Cup in which opener TM Dilshan pretty much carried the team on his shoulder until the final, every other win has been on wickets supporting the spin. 

However, over the last decade or so the game has evolved beyond a team enjoying home advantage. India for instance could prepare filthy wickets to help their spinners dominate, but over the last few years their match winners with the ball have been quicks such as Jasprit Bunrah, Mohamed Shami and Mohamed Siraj. 

Sri Lanka on the other hand, have many problems they are facing structurally. One of the biggest topics that's being discussed a lot is the fact they have way too many teams taking part in first class cricket, however arguably the biggest cricket club in Sri Lanka - SSC relegating to division 2 has probably left many scratching their heads. 

One of the most interesting stats though from the ongoing first class tournament of Sri Lanka is that the top 20 wicket takers are all spinners. The pitches in which the games are played, fast bowlers get nothing which means there is very little chance to find skilful bowlers because from the tenth over or so of a game, it will be all spin. 

The other issue with that is, the batsmen get so used to spin bowling and when they face a proper pace attack even on spin friendly wickets, they struggle to get runs - this is how Mitchell Starc gets six wickets on the two Test matches played on absolutely spin friendly wickets in Galle. 

As long as Sri Lanka play cricket on spin friendly wickets, they will win some completely useless bilateral series at home, but they will no chance of winning an ICC event.