Archives

Lacking the basics

Comment by Elmo Rodrigopulle

It is nice to be back and in the words of that Tom Jones perennial to touch the green, green grass of home, after the Victoria Bitter one-day cricket series in Australia.

Before going on to comment on the tour which was a disaster, we would like to share with our readers, the misfortune that struck us on arrival in Brisbane having to be hospitalised.

Before the tour began, I was admitted to the Royal Brisbane Hospital, diagnosed as having bleeding gastric ulcer. Thanks to the wonderful caring and prompt attention by Dr. Charles Denero and his team, the nursing staff and others concerned, they saw to my quick recovery and to the continuation of my covering the tour.

That out of the way, as for the tour, the Sri Lankan cricketers cut a very sorry figure losing six out of the eight one-day games fronting up against Australia and England.

The consensus in Australia and the euphoria among the Sri Lankans domiciled in Australia was that the Lankans were favourites to enter the best of three finals and contest Australia.

Their reasoning was that with England having been thrashed 4-1 in the Ashes series, and with injuries to their top players, they were not going to be a match to the Lankans who were upsetters in the 'cowboy game'.

The Lankans were coming out fresh. But once the tour began what unfolded was to say the least an utter disgrace. The Lankans looked like novices and there was nothing right that they could do. The three defeats in a row, one to Australia and two to England at the start told the story.

Then to add salt to their wounds, they were shot out for a beggarly 65 against an Australia 'A' side in Adelaide. The Lankans in Australia, were fuming at this poor show and were of the opinion that the Lankans should take the next plane home, without having more humiliation heaped on them.

But when everyone was disgusted, to their credit it must be said that they rose, phoenix-like from the ashes and went on to win the next two games against Australia and England and keep their chances alive.

But the greatness of any team is consistency. The Lankans sadly lacked this and capitulated in the remaining games and had to bow out leaving Australia and England to contest the finals which Australia won without having to raise a sweat.

While that tour is history now, it is futile to flog a dead horse. But from my experience, unless the Lankans could get their basics right in every aspect of the game, they are doomed to be also-rans in the World Cup beginning in South Africa next week.

First the cricketers must be told that cricket is a team game. Unless there is harmony and team spirit to expect success is blowing bubbles.

When success comes all bask in its glory. But when defeat follows, except the skipper, no one is there to take responsibility. That is sad and bad. Batting: The basics of batting is playing straight. True that in one-day cricket technique is thrown to the winds, because runs are what matter.

But one does not necessarily have to play a horizontal bat to accumulate runs. Marvan Atapattu proved this point scoring heavily with a straight bat.

Our batsmen were completely at sea against the rising delivery. They were sitting ducks, lacking the ability to get out of the way and not play. They tried to hook only to scoop catches.

Then the running between wickets was putrid. Here too they were lacking the basics. The ball in front of the wicket is the striker's call and the ball behind the striker is the non-striker's call. The several run outs tell the story. Batsmen 9, 10 and jack were hopelessly non-batsmen. We are told that tailenders are seldom allowed a knock at the nets. If that is so, then like the above shortcomings, it is poor coaching.

Bowling: Initially the bowlers sprayed the ball all over. Bowling wicket to wicket is what this game is all about. They were not bowling to their fields. No balls and wides were more the rule than the exception. Dilhara Fernando was the chief offender in this respect.

Fielding: The first lesson in fielding is to watch the ball into the hands. Catches went down, butter fingers like hot potatoes. In one-day cricket there can be no fielding flaws.

In the final analysis it will be seen that the cricketers were not doing the basics right in every aspect. In addition they seemed not to know what to do in tricky situations.

It is hoped that the Lankans would have put right these shortcomings before leaving for South Africa. Unless they perform the basics right, there is absolutely no chance of even touching the cup.

Having taken the team to task, I make bold to say that, if they can get their act together, believe in themselves and play as we know they can, they can bring home the World Cup.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager