During Thursday’s (September 1) important Asia Cup 2022 match against Bangladesh, Sri Lankan coach Chris Silverwood used secret signals to talk to his players. During the game, the head coach and team analyst were seen delivering coded instructions like “2D” and “D5” to Sri Lanka’s captain and his men. This did not go down well on social media or with Bangladesh supporters.
Silverwood, on the other hand, clarified the situation following the team’s unexpected victory in the game. Silverwood explained why the signals were displayed, stating that the usage of codes was just to provide suggestions and not to control the captain’s functions.
It’s not rocket science. They are simply suggestions to the captain as to what would be a good match at a specific juncture for a batsman on strike. There are a number of teams doing it today; it’s truly that simple. It’s just giving the captain ideas to think about, not telling him how to run the ship. “It was merely a proposal from the side,” Silverwood explained.
This wasn’t the first time Silverwood used codes during a game. He used them when he was coaching England, and the team’s captain at the time, Eoin Morgan, defended the method more than once.
“It is completely within the spirit of the game.” There’s nothing suspicious about it. It’s about making the most of the information we’re getting and comparing it to things like coaches’ advice, data, and what’s going on, “ESPNcricinfo reported Morgan as saying.
Sri Lanka appears to be following in the footsteps of England. The English squad used real-time coded signals from the dressing room during the T20 series against South Africa in 2020. It was used on the field to communicate with then-captain Eoin Morgan.
Several cricket players, though, have expressed conflicting feelings about this approach. Former England captain Michael Vaughan slammed it, but Morgan defended its use. Earlier, the ECB claimed the signalling system was being trialled and was “intended as a live informational resource that the captain may choose to use or ignore as he likes”. It went on to say, “They are neither commands nor instructions, and all decisions are made on the field.”
Even though Silverwood and his team may have had good reasons for using coded messages, their supporters were not happy. “If signals are sent from the locker room, what role does a captain play on the field?” “Cricket isn’t the same as football.” A supporter contended that Sri Lanka was conveying messages to their players.
The Bangladesh-Sri Lanka match was critical because, prior to the game, Shanaka referred to Bangladesh as an “easier opponent” than Afghanistan, while Khaled Mahmud, Bangladesh’s team director, retorted that Sri Lanka has “no world-class bowlers.”
However, following a nail-biting contest between the two sides, Sri Lanka emerged victorious.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz (38) and Afif Hossain (37) helped Bangladesh reach 183/7 in 20 overs (39). Mahmudullah and Mosaddek Hossain both made late appearances, scoring 27 and 24 points, respectively.
During the chase game, Sri Lanka’s middle order fell apart, but Kusal Mendis (60 off 37 deliveries) and captain Dasun Shanaka (45 off 33 deliveries) did a great job of keeping the game together. Chamika Karunaratne (16 off 10 balls) and Asitha Fernando (10* off 3 balls) gave the Sri Lankans a late boost that helped them win.
Sri Lanka, along with Afghanistan, has now qualified for the Super 4 stage. It would be interesting to observe how both teams do in the remaining Asia Cup 2022 matches.
