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Comment by Elmo Rodrigopulle

Victory for the Sri Lankans in the Final Test against the South Africans was so near and yet so far. After a very much better performance in the Test considering the very poor effort in the First Test, the Lankans certainly deserved victory at the Centurion.

That victory eluded them, was just bad luck and the Lankans were certainly not disgraced in defeat as they were at the Wanderers. When the homesters were 44 for 5 and tumbling to defeat as it seemed, for no apparent reason, skipper Marvan Atapattu took off destroyer Dilhara Fernando from the attack and the noose was removed from the South African batting neck.

Fernando had Ashwell Prince caught behind by a delighted Kumar Sangakkara and the South Africans were shaky in the knees. With the removal of Fernando went any chance the Lankans had of victory and it paved the way for a South African victory, that looked very unlikely when they were tottering at 44 for 5. May be Atapattu thought that Fernando was too tired to continue. But it is an accepted norm that bowlers who are getting wickets are never tired and could go on bowling.

Until that vital miss, Atapattu led admirably and it should be noted that Sri Lanka has a clever captain to take over once incumbent skipper Sanath Jayasuriya decides that enough is enough.

It was also sad to note that spinning sensation Muttiah Muralitheran had somewhat lost his effectiveness. Muralitheran was one who could spin on any surface even on ice.

He obtained turn, but not the vicious turn that he is capable of and this failure too went to deprive the visitors of a victory. With the South Africans on 44 for 5, Muralitheran would have stung and strangled the rest of the batting. But Muralitheran failed to produce his venom and the Test ended with the South Africans chalking up a victory that they did not deserve.

England poor opponents

The best thing the England cricketers could do is to take the next plane home so as to stall the disgrace and humilation that is being heaped on them by Steve Waugh's rampaging Australians.

Beaten by a huge margin of 384 runs in the First Test at the Gabba, the Englishmen capitulated to another defeat by an innings and 51 runs at the Adelaide Oval.

True winning and losing is part and parcel of the game.

But the way the Englishmen are conceding is to say the least disgraceful. The Tests have ended in three and four days and everyone involved with the series must be suffering heavy financial losses.

The English TV commentators - the two Davids, Lloyd and Gower, Paul Allot, Bob Willis and Ian Botham - when describing the poor effort of their countrymen are lamenting the lack of discipline and the inability to do the basics right.

Nasser Hussain's men have so far put up a very pathetic effort and if the two Tests that have been completed are an indication, then the Australians will chalk up their eighth ashes series win in a row.

A slur on the English game, considering the fact that they gave the game to the world.

Rugby in the river of no return

Sri Lanka's rugby like that perennial favourite is in the river of no return.

Never has the game suffered such ignominy as it is doing today.

Losing by big margins as has been witnessed has never been seen before.

Followers of the game have been comparing these big scores to our ruggerites playing cricket on the rugby field. With the game now at its lowest ebb, it is time that the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Johnston Fernando steps in and stops this rot.

Having been a ruggerite, a keen follower of the game and promoter, Fernando need not be told what ails the game. He is well aware and must spare time from his busy schedule to meet with former ruggerites and supporters and find a panacea for the rugby ills.

There are a host of former players and supporters waiting in the wings to be called to put an end to falling standards and improving the game. The Minister will do well to secure the help of these friends in need.

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