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Comment by Elmo Rodrigopulle

It is said that the days of miracles are not yet over. And performing a cricketing miracle before the lords at Lord's and millions the world over were the Indian cricketers to win the NatWest trophy.

Led by the Prince of Calcutta Sourav Ganguly the Indian cricketers left Nasser Hussain's Englishmen stunned when they rose phoenix like from the ashes to stuff the Brits in one of the most amazing games of one-day cricket witnessed.

When the homesters made 325 in their 50 overs and when the Indians slid to 146 for 5, the game was as good as won by England. They had lost their top five batsmen Shewag, Ganguly, Mongia, Dravid and Tendulakar.

It was then that Yuvraj Singh and Mohammed Kaif got together to perform the miracle and lead the Indians to a victory that they will cherish for the rest of their lives.

When the England batsmen Trescothick 109 and Hussain 115 thrashed the Indian attack and led them to an impregnable looking 325 for 5, the TV commentators were prompted to speculate as to how the Indians should chase such a imposing target.

The commentators reasoned that they should open with the little master Sachin Tendulkar. But skipper Ganguly had other ideas. He who has been under attack for his captaincy and failing to win a Test series abroad for a long time did not flinch.

Ganguly realised that he was in a win and nothing else situation. He opened with Shewag and what a lesson in chasing runs they exhibited. Ganguly accepted the challenge and set about blasting the England bowlers.

He showed what leading from the front means. No England bowler could bowl line or length or Hussain set a run saving field as he tore into the bowling with some audacious strokeplay that was a lesson to the batsmen to follow.

Now this is what captaincy is all about. His innings of 61 was the rock on which the Indian victory was built. He would have been a disappointed man when the Indians tumbled to 146 for 5. But two of India's young and most promising batsmen Singh 69 and Kaif 87 no. made the English joy shortlived as they got on top of the bowling to shower it to all corners of the field and give their side a victory that will he remembered for eternity.

When the victory was achieved what joy did the Indians exult. Backed by a vociferously cheering band of supporters the Indians did a lap of honour round the ground punching the air in delight.

It was a victory achieved against all odds and the Indians proved that if there is a will there is a way. Well done Ganguly and his cricketing warriors.

The Indians will soon front up to the English in Three Test matches. Although this is a different ball game, one hopes that they will deliver and pocket the series too.

Whatmore's lame excuses

One must be man enough to stand up and be counted and if there is any shortcoming to accept the blame and not make lame excuses.

Putting on a cry baby act shows poor values and is unacceptable.

Cricket coach Dav Whatmore who was credited with helping Sri Lanka win the World Cup in 1996 and was subsequently rewarded with national honours, cut a very sorry figure when he blamed the match schedule as the reason for his team capitulating from the NatWest trophy tri nation series in England.

The NatWest trophy schedule would have reached Whatmore and the team months before they left for England. It is only after being bundled out of the tourney that Whatmore has come to detest the schedule.

The cry baby act shows that Whatmore cannot take up defeat. The excuse is typical of a coach and a team in a crisis.

Indian captain Ganguly sees nothing wrong in the schedule. The fact is that the Lankans were not playing the better cricket. The teams that played the better cricket England and Indian won, while Lnaka played very poor cricket and so their ousting.

Whatmore sure would have known that the home team calls the shots. Not only in drawing up the schedule, but even in the preparation of wickets, the home team enjoys the advantage.

The Lankan coach has not been in the losing end for a long time hence his poor excuses for the defeat. He must learn to be determined in defeat and humble in victory.

All the ills and the shortcomings that afflicted the Sri Lankan team was due to the absence of champion off-spinner Muttiah Muralitheran. With Muralitheran consistently winning games for the country the cracks in the coach, the captain and the team were not visible. No Murali, no win is what has now come to be accepted whether those who matter like it or not.

The other day at a sports function I happened to get talking with one of the best motivators of sport in the country a former sportsman and leading businessman Kishin Butani of rugby fame.

When it came to talking cricket and Sri Lanka's dismal showing in England I told Butani that it was due to cruel weather the absence of Murali the swinging ball etc. that Sri Lnaka is struggling.

Butani's retort was: 'Once you are in the big league, no excuse however good is acceptable'. How true. Butani knows what he is talking about because it was under his care that the CH and FC ruled the rugby world winning many trophies not so long ago.

Later Butani along with Malik Samarawickrema another ruggerite, ruby lover and benefactor took Kandy Sports Club under their wings and showed them the winning formula which they are still maintaining and filling their cupboards with trophies.

Sadly Butani is now not in the rugby scene.

Samarawickrama is the prop on which Kandy SC have built their invincibility in rugby.

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