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Comment by Elmo Rodrigopulle

Skipper Sanath Jayasuriya showed his true potential after a long time and led Sri Lanka to superb victories over two of the best one-day teams to bring home the Morocco Cup and US dollars 120 thousand.

It was for the first time in his career that he won the man of the series and man of the match awards. His most memorable award was being adjudged the Most Valuable Player in the 1996 World Cup where his dazzling display with the bat helped Sri Lanka win the World Cup. For some unknown reason he was not his usual self on the tour of England. He dropped form in all departments which led to his side's undoing in the Tests as well as the one-day series.

When he returned from England some of his critics were baying for his blood. But Minister Johnston Fernando played the master stroke and allowed him reign until the next World Cup and with this effort in Morocco he has justified the Minister's confidence in him. If Jayasuriya fires then the team fires. That has been underlined after this tour. It is hoped that Jayasuriya will continue in this form so that the country's cricket will reach unassailable heights like it did before the tour to England.

After his splendid run a ball 71 in the final against South Africa he took a marvellous catch running backwards to get rid of the fearsome Herschelle Gibbs to prove the adage that catches win matches.

Gibbs' early dismissal unsettled the Proteas and from that moment they were always facing the hangman.

We hope that those who matter will not rush Jayasuriya, like they did Muralitheran after somewhat of a similar injury, but allow him full convalescence before throwing him into the ICC mini World Cup beginning here early in September.

The question now asked is: If Jayasuriya is out who will lead Sri Lanka ? Odds favour Marvan Atapattu who led admirably in the Morocco Cup final after Jayasuriya went out in the first over. But a little bird whispers that veteran Aravinda de Silva will also come into contention. However the Lankans must not get carried away by the success in Morocco. Critics took them apart after the English tour. They must remember that if they do well they are heroes. To capitulate means to be outcasts.

The once discarded Aravinda de Silva let his bat do the talking. He was most of the time on the backfoot, playing the ball on its merits and he showed that big hitting is not everything in this type of game as he pushed and nudged the ball around to score his match winning and man of the match award winning runs.

Muralitheran too seems to be getting back to his devastating best. The urgency is back again and this augurs well for the spinner and the game.

Two former dashing batsmen Duleep Mendis (advisor) and Ajit Jaysekera (manager) too seem to have brought fortune that had deserted the team for some time. Mendis' exploits with the bat like good wine needs no bush. But the present generation must be told that Jayasekera was also a dashing opening batsman for the school by the sea and later for the Adastrians. In school he was involved in many a fine opening stand with the present Warden at STCML David Ponniah.

After our comments last week headlined: 'Roger Telemachus a disgrace' It was funny to watch Ten Sports telecasting the chewing gum incident as one of the funny sides in this tournament. It would probably have been funny to Ten Sports but not to the millions watching this ugly, unacceptable and deplorable incident.

It must be noted that Sri Lanka's success in Morocco was achieved without a batting and bowling coach.

Tendulkar delivers

India's batting ace, the consistent Sachin Tendulkar scored his 30th Test century to go past the famous Sir Donald Bradman's mark of 29 centuries, in the Third Test against England at Headingley.

After going past the great man's record the likeable Tendulkar shrugged off comparisons with the legend that was the Australian.

Tendular is now five centuries away from going past former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar. Only just 29 he has many more Tests ahead of pushing Gavaskar to second slot.

Tendulkar's amazing efforts with the bat have been attributed to his determination to keep fit and hold his head high when failures dog him. He is one of those rare batsmen who underlines the saying: when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. The late great Bradman has said that Tendulkar looks a lot like him in strokeplay. There is no challenging that fact.

Tendulkar is set to end as the cricketer with the most centuries in Tests as well as one-day cricket. Indian cricket authorities must guide him along.

Former Colombo Oval rewarded

In these columns some time back we mentioned that the famous Colombo Oval should have been the Lord's of Sri Lanka cricket.

The Oval where most famous world cricketers showed their prowess when Sri Lanka was an emerging force as a cricketing nation as once again come into recognition after being kept in the wilderness for far too long.

The Interim Committee of the BCCSL headed by the irrepressible Hemaka Amarasuriya who is always out to help a worthy cause has given the Tamil Union the honour of conducting the First Test between Australia and Pakistan from October 3.

When this news was conveyed, the TU authorities were delighted and at once set things in motion to successfully conduct this Test. For President of the TU Tryphon Mirando it is a feather in his cap.

The Colombo Oval, now named the P. Sara Stadium after one of their famous cricketing sons, is one of the most picturesque grounds in the world. Of late a lot of redevelopment has been done and when the two teams play they will certainly be amazed by the true wicket, the fast outfield, the hospitality and the lovely surroundings.

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