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| Friday, 20 February 2004 |
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Don't some Aussie bowlers chuck now and then? by Richard Dwight Aren't there bowlers with illegal deliveries in Aussie land, don't some of them ever think, they are so blameless to be above board? These are quite a few of the probing, unasked rhetoric that dwell in the minds of some of the ardent followers of cricket here. There may or may not be bowlers with suspect actions in those leading cricket playing nations. Nevertheless, it's always good for us to be circumspective and alert, to look for bowlers with improper actions in their quarters - without being lackadaisical to take things for granted. But then, who'd be bold enough here, to venture to pose the question and dare to query aloud in the open. For the pity of it all is, that we have yet not fully shrugged off our colonial thinking and attitudes. Vestiges of it still does appear to linger and the mind set is that - we meekly do at times, continue to adhere to and comply with, what the leading cricket playing nations do and say, as the gospel truth. This certainly is not a healthy prospect for Sri Lanka cricket, if we are to forge ahead. Heartening it is, that there have been a few, not many though, especially from India - who have had the courage of their convictions, to stand up for that which is just and fair against the uncharitable comments and remarks made by commentators and journalists from abroad. Sadly, the same cannot be said in this regard of a local commentator in our midst - whose compromising approach, for reasons best known to him, reveals a lack of character and indivuality. In the recent years aspersions rightly or wrongly, were cast on the legality of the bowling actions of Ruchira Perera, Kumara Dharmasena, Shoaib Akktar and yet others. With Dharmasena's and Akktar's deliveries now falling in line with the ICC rules, they have since been cleared. Interestingly most of them, against whom accusations have been made, are from the subcontinent. Not forgetting as well the bugging of our main wicket taker Murali, even after his bowling action was passed as proper - their intentions and motives for such bugging, is pretty obvious to the discerning. It's therefore time, that those abroad take a break by switching the emphasis from the subcontinent and, turn the searchlight inwards and see whether there is anything wrong in the cricketers of their respective squads. Some of us feel that all is not well with the action of an English paceman and that of an Australian speedster. Ah, but to reiterate what was said earlier, who would lead the way to bell the cat, to make the powers that be to take note. We cannot vouch for this but there is a school of thought which says that, medically, a paceman in accordance with his physical make up cannot humanly bowl beyond a certain speed, and if he does, it's extraordinary and could be at times, bowling with an action that does not comply with the rules. The Australians at the moment are right on top and oozing with confidence. Nothing that we say or do would disturb them, to create a dent in their morale. Yet, we would do well, rather than being passively submissive, as is our wont, but instead dwell on their weakness. We must speak first, before they do, for attack is the best form of defence. As we see it Ricky Ponting has yet to prove that he is as good or even better than the great Australian skipper Steve Waugh. Quite a few of the frontline Australian batsmen have made it a habit of making big scores. In doing so, they go on batting for long periods and during their prolonged stay at the wicket, the ball could have struck the pad a minimum of 5 to 6 times and at least one of them could have come close to being given out. In earlier times much was said and written about the foreign teams and their players visiting here. Little however was spoken of the local team and its players. But this has since changed and happily there is now adequate morale boosting publicity given to both teams which is how it always should be. This tour of the Australians is bound to be a memorable one with cricket of a high order in store for the cricket crazy fans here. |
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