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| Tuesday, 24 December 2002 |
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Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from Australia The Sri Lankan cricketers gave yet another exhibition on how one-day cricket should not be played as they were slaughtered like lambs by the Australians in their third game of the VB triangular series under lights at the WACA, on Sunday night. This is Sri Lanka's third defeat in as many games and from the looks of it, unless they can raise their game all-round phoenix like, they will just be offering Australia and England practice for the best of three finals to be contested later on. True Sri Lanka are missing two of their most experienced campaigners in former captain Aravinda de Silva and wily spinner Muttiah Muralitheran. But that certainly is no excuse. One would not be faulted in asking the question as to why play De Silva and Muralitheran after Sri Lanka has tumbled out of the tourney? Muralitheran has been hard at training with his teammates, and one might ask the question as to why he is not being played. The question being asked among all Sri Lankan's here is; Is Muralitheran scared to ply his trade before his former tormentor Darrel Hair? Hair has now stood in two games that the Lankans have played and it will be interesting to see whether Hair will stand in other games that the Lankans will play. As for the cricket that the Lankans are playing it could be best described as meaningless. They don't seem to know what they are doing or should be doing. Every aspect of the "cowboy game" is being done and will be best described as being up side down. The batting, bowling and fielding has dropped to new low levels. Having been in the writing game for long, even before these cricketers were born ,I cannot recall when such low levels of fielding, especially catching had been witnessed. Any village green side will certainly field better. In one-day cricket it is vital and essential that fielding be tops. Poor fielding has no excuses. Leave alone trying to make catches of the slightest edges, they are unable to take what is called simple or regulation catches.Every Lankan here is disgusted with the way the Lankans are performing and are predicting a bleak future for the game unless drastic measures are adopted before we go to South Africa and attempt to win the World Cup as we did under Captain Cool Arjuna Ranatunga in 1996. While the fielding does not show signs of improving,the batting does not seem to be clicking. The sudden drop in form by skipper Sanath Jayasuriya has been the biggest worry. A good start from him is what is required to lift the rest of the batting. But unfortunately Jayasuriya is not delivering.As a result the batting is simply falling apart with Atapattu, Sangakkara, Jayawardene and Arnold struggling to give it life. Of the bowlers the most impressive has been the tall and strongly buily Dilhara Fernando.Everyone has nothing but sympathy for because he is not receiving the support from the fielders who drop catches off his bowling. Having said that the only way that the Lankans can improve is to believe in themselves then the pieces will fall right. Isn't it said that God helps those who help themselves? |
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