|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Saturday, 20 March 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Sports | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Don't nurture young in 'one-day' mood - Keith Stackpole by Richard Dwight It does augur well for Sri Lanka cricket and the country as a whole, to find many cricket enthusiasts cum tourists, coming over here from Australia to witness their cricket team pit its might against Sri Lanka. Though not in the same vein as the English, who come along with their fun loving "Barmy Army' - indications however are, that Aussies will keep coming in larger numbers as the years roll by to watch cricket and, see as well the island. These visits into the country coinciding with cricket matches, are brought about by well planned and arranged tour operators. These organizations have done well, to ensure that they have with them a past test cricketer, who could provide the group with necessary information on matters related to cricket, often spoken of as the Manager. Here is Sri Lanka from the commencement of the 2nd Test match at Asgiriya, Kandy, was a group brought by Premium Sports Tours' of which the Manager is, former Australian Test cricketer, Keith Stackpole, with assistance from Mervyn Hughes, a one time Australian pacemen. This apart the group was made up of professionals, businessmen, teachers and a good many pensioners. They lamented on missing out on the Galle Test match, where the world of cricket stood still with millions on TV watching the action, with one question - would Shane Warne reach the 500 wicket mark. With much work and hard labours and the period of ban, he came out in splendid triumph to reach his goal, with the pleasant venue too, going into the book of records. Following quick on the heels of Warny, his erstwhile friend Murali took his 500th wicket at his home town ground. We were stirred with emotion, as the entire Australian crowd in the grand stand, stood to a man to give him a standing ovation - Dilshan did one better to lift him up heavenwards as it were, with other team mates surrounding him in exhilarated glee. To the cricket venues of Galle and Asgiriya went the pride and honour for the historic achievements of these two world's best spinners - which they achieved in one and the same series on Sri Lankan soil, where it did as well draw worldwide attention to the island. Keith Stackpole, the Australian test cricketer, who played as an opening batsman under Bill Lawry, Bob Simpson and vice captain to Ian Chapell, has 7 test centuries to his credit. Stackpole who after following the Asigiriya Test Match, will move over with the group to Colombo to witness the 3rd Test at the SSC grounds. Speaking to this writer at Asgiriya, Stackpole said that the batsmen in the subcontinent are well trained and coached, to be technically correct. He recalled that he had played against the elegant Michael Tissera and the enterprising Roy Dias, who was good as any Sri Lanka produced. It was a pity that Sri Lanka was not into test cricket, when they were at their best - Aravinda and Arjuna made quite an impression, as outstanding performers and were in his view fortunate to play Test cricket. All your past cricketers and the current senior players, Stackpole observed, can fall back on having their basics right and the benefit of good coaching. But what is necessary now he emphasised, was to ensure that the younger players are not allowed to develop, to get into a one day mood. Murali, he stressed is an extremely fine bowler and a potential threat to the opposition and, a side like yours is hard to beat in your home conditions. Having said that, Stackpole felt that though our batsmen are good, Sri Lanka, Apart from Murali, Vaas and Soysa, don't have bowlers to bowl sides out within manageable scores to contend with. His opinion on the now conducing Asgiriya Test Match was, that a target of 250 runs could be competitive for Sri Lanka, - will Stackpole be proved right or the Sri Lanka cricketers demonstrate otherwise. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
