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Comment by Elmo Rodrigopulle

The Sri Lankan cricketers have entered the semi-finals of the World Cup tourney in South Africa and will confront Australia at St. George's Park today.

We wish them success and would like to reiterate that they must lift their game all round and not always look for luck that has helped them so far in the tournament.

In saying that it was luck that once again saw them beat Zimbabwe, we are certainly not trying to belittle their effort or condemn it. Like in life, luck is necessary even in sport.

When Sri Lanka made 255, the Zimbabweans in turn were going well at 140 for three and threatening with the Flower brothers Andrew and Grant settling to take the game away from the Lankans.

It was then that luck looked their way again, when left hander Andy was surprisingly and unfortunately ruled out leg before. The batsman was at full stretch when he was struck. He was offering a stroke and even if the ball did hit the leg he could not have been out.

But what made the batsman look thunderstruck when he was ruled out was that it was off the bat. There was no way that an umpire could have ruled Flower out whichever way he looked at it.

Not only was the batsman dejected and disgusted, it also signalled the start of the end of the Zimbabweans making a match of it and taking the Lankans to the wire.

Umpire Brian Jerling who raised the dreaded finger will live to rue this unfair decision for the rest of his umpiring life. True umpires are human and make mistakes. But this decision was sacrilegious.

It was a sad end to a cricketer who was playing his final innings for his country. Flower served his country to the best of his ability. He served Zimbabwe in all departments like a true sportsman from the time they came in to the big league.

He stood up and wanted to be counted when he along with team mate Henry Olanga wore black arm bands in protest against the inhumanity of his government. As a cricketer he was an example. He was a model to the youth. Zim cricket will certainly miss his steadying influence.

Skipper Sanath Jayasuriya after the victory had said that he is confident of beating the Australians on a wicket that is conducive to spin at Port Elizabeth. Jayasuriya will do well to remember that wicket mannerisms could change overnight.

Even if the wicket is spin-friendly the only spinner he has in the true sense of the word is Muttiah Muralitheran. Aravinda de Silva, Russel Arnold and himself are poor versions of spin bowlers. Now that Jayasuriya is convinced that the wicket will take spin, he will do well to drop one of the fast men and re-include Mahela Jayawardena.

Jayawardena can bowl a bit of off spin and with his ability to bat and field better than most could be an asset.

Jayasuriya will do well not to take the Australians for granted. They are a top side and the envy of all other teams. But the Aussies have brushed aside all opposition and if the law of averages play true, then they are due for a loss and may be it could be against Sri Lanka.

True that the skipper must urge his players. But he will do well not to keep constantly shouting at his players. The other day in the Zim game Jayasuriya was heard shouting, urging his players to play as a team if they are to win. Is he making it obvious that they are not playing as a team?

On form the Aussies will not be easy beats. They are strong and well served in every department with a top cricketing brain Ricky Ponting leading them.

Also in addition to their batsmen, their fast men Glen McGrath, Brett Lee and Andy Bichel are bowling at their best. Lee specially is devastating. He aims at the rib cage and can be life threatening at times.

Opener Marvan Atapattu is the only reliable and consistent batsman we have. It was his intelligent and controlled century innings that took us to a big score against Zimbabwe. He will have to stay put at the wicket and show the others how.

Luck has been with the Lankans. Against the awesome Aussies, not only luck they will also require divine intervention if they are to win and face India in the final. All the best from us to Jayasuriya and his willow wielders.

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