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| Tuesday, 27 April 2004 |
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Comment Why bash Lara? by Dr. Elmo Rodrigopulle Brian Charles Lara, the black pearl of world cricket has been criticised by some scribes for going for the world individual batting record, and not probing for victory against England in the final Test. Now as for us the final Test was of little significance. The West Indies had lost the earlier Three Tests resoundingly and the final one from all accounts was only of academic interest. Lara who did not have a good series as captain and batsman, got the opportunity to bash the England bowlers around, who had done much damage to his batsmen, and seek a bit of revenge. And that Lara did elegantly and in style. It poured fours and sixes as the left-hander got back his rhythm and the England bowlers were made to look ordinary. With a victory for the Caribbean cricketers not being of much value or importance, Lara did the next best thing and that was to go for his record that was earlier taken away by Australian dashing opening batsmen Matthew Hayden. Lara must be admired and applauded because he secured the record and made it all his own, 10 years after he first took the record from the great Sir Garfield Sobers. The England cricketers would certainly have felt very bad, because once again it was they who were caned by the great man. If the final Test and winning it was going to tilt the series in West Indies favour, and if Lara kept batting looking for the record, then he could have been faulted. But with nothing to lose, as for us Lara did the right thing in going for the record. And weren't there rejoicing and celebration in the Caribbean when Lara took the record away from Hayden. So critics would do well to tribute Lara, than to try and bash him around. But if what is happening in Zimbabwe is an indication where the Sri Lankans are playing about with their weak opponents, then Lara's record is in danger of being shattered. Some of the Sri Lankan batsmen would be eyeing that record. And as we have always said a record is a record who or whatever the opposition. So the Lankan batsmen must attempt the record. After the Lankans leave, the mighty Aussie batting wagon would arrive in Mugabe land, and one shudders to think what they would do with the Zimbabwe attack that to say the least is just up and down. The Zim bowlers are just going through the motions. Blasters such as Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist and skipper Ricky Ponting must be licking their lips, waiting like tigers to devour Lara's record. Hayden who made mincemeat of a much better Zimbabwe attack in Perth to lower Lara's earlier record of 375 must be polishing his bat and spending sleepless nights to again grab the record that was taken away by Brian Lara. Lankans having a ball If the results of the first three one-dayers are an indication, then the Sri Lankans are having ball in Zimbabwe. Before the Lankans arrived there, the game in Zimland was set on fire by its skipper Heath Streak insisting that there be a change in the selection committee. The Zim Cricket Union quite rightly told Streak to go to hell and refused to cow down to his wishes. By not letting Streak have his way, what the ZCU was telling Streak was that administration is not his business. His business was playing the game. Then it all happened with the issue becoming racist. Now before doing what he did Streak should have thought of the consequences. Talks were set in motion among the warring factions to bring about a amicable settlement. But with Streak refusing to budge, he was supported by his white team mates and what has now happened is that untold damage and disgrace has been heaped on Zimbabwe cricket that was slowly beginning to rise. We who were there twice covering Sri Lankan tours, were stunned to see the Zimbabweans playing in the big league, thanks to the generosity of the lords at Lord's considering that infrastructure was sadly lacking. They had only two grounds, one at Harare and the other at Bulawayo. Other facilities were wanting, while press facilities were a disgrace. But with the Zimbabweans continuing to do better, the administration too followed suit and now facilities have improved. But it is sad to note that no extra grounds have been constructed. When we realised that Zim would be fronting up a second string against the Lankans, we said that a record is a record whatever the opposition and that the Lankans must set their sights doing just that. One record has been set up with the Lankans dismissing the opponents for 35. The Lankans previously bundled cut Canada for 36 in a World Cup game which was the lowest in a one-day international. The Lankans have wrapped up the five match one-day series 3-0 with skipper Atapattu winning all three previous tosses. If Mahela Jayawardena wins the toss he must bat first, thereby letting the frontline batsmen to have a fling at Pakistani Saeed Anwar's best individual batting effort of 194. Congratulations to Chaminda Vaas for picking up his 300th wicket in the 'cowboy game'. Umpire Harmer no more Umpire Granville Harmer, who was one of our outstanding umpires passed away after a brief illness. He did his job before Lanka attained Test status and before the elite umpiring fashion, which now brings in a lot of money came into being. He was respected by cricketers of that era because he did his job without fear or favour. Russel Harmer was one of his sons and what a outstanding wicket keeper - batsman he was for Sri Lanka. May Granville's soul rest in peace. |
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