Sri Lanka's eternal search for the elusive all-rounder

Sri Lanka have been on a wild goose chase for a genuine seam-bowling all-rounder - someone who can lend balance to the side and tilt the scales in our favour.

- BY REX CLEMENTINE

Yet, despite scouring the length and breadth of our cricketing landscape, success has remained as elusive as a Test win in Australia.

Sure, we've unearthed a handful of spin-bowling all-rounders over the years, but let's face it they're about as effective overseas as a canned fish on Unawatuna beach. What Sri Lanka desperately need is a seam-bowling workhorse who can chip in with the ball and wag the tail with the bat. Sadly, that cupboard remains bare.

While India boast the explosive Hardik Pandya, England flaunt the talismanic Ben Stokes, and Australia have pinned hopes on the towering Cameron Green while the South Africans have the nasty Wiaan Mulder. Sri Lanka have had no one in the same postcode, let alone the same league. Our pursuit for a proper all-rounder has lasted longer than Malaysia's search for MH370 or closer to home, longer than the CID's chase for Arjun Mahendran.

The term 'all-rounder' is often tossed around rather casually in Sri Lanka. Anyone who could roll his arm over and bat a bit is called an all-rounder. After all, we are a country that allowed Cabraal to run the Central Bank.