|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Thursday, 24 June 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Sports | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Murali saying no, was no surprise By Richard Dwight As Murali, perhaps tentatively, weighed the pros and cons of his touring Australia - we here, were reminded of the Hamelitian mind "To be or not to be". In his case, to be more specific, it was a question of 'To go or not to go' to Aussieland. And after days of speculative thinking, the final outcome was that of this wizard of a spinner, deciding against going down under. For sometime now the aussies were asking for this. For through the years they did their worst and almost did him in, and so Murali had arrived at the stage, where enough was enough. No longer, we wish to think and want to believe, was he prepared to cow down and be bullied by a set of arrogant Aussies and, has therefore quite rightly turned his back on the forthcoming Australian tour. It's argued that all in Australia are not against Murali. If that is so, then wiser counsel from those that matter, not forgetting as well the PM, should have prevailed, to bring about a restraining influence on Murali's detractors over there. But this was not to be, for they allowed what his critics said and did to float around, in a patronizing attitude - hoping that things would turn out to be pretty hard and difficult for Murali, what with the brazenly stubborn Chris Broad doing duty as match referee. However the resilient Murali, was much more than a match to them, when he sent down the best of his 'Doosra' by saying no to Australia. Proving thereby that the days of buying us just over, have long past ended. It was a symbolic slap on the face, which surely must have come as a surprise to serve as an eye opener and, if even now the message has not seeped in, then it could be described as an incorrigible phase. Haven't we heard it being said, that if some People are not inclined to receive you well, then its best not to "cast our pearls before......" and further still to "shake off the very dust from your feet and move away" this is precisely what Murali is doing. In the arena of sports, Australia has so much to crow and shout about to be jubilant - But we at the moment have just Murali to keep the country in focus, and would the Aussies deny us of this, is what many question. Cricket all of us know is a batting game, W.G. Grace did emphasise that, then when the prolific batting machine, Sir Donald Bradman, had to counter Larwood, they called it bodyline Bowling and now when Murali is turning out to be a potential threat, they call him a chucker. The secret of Murali's success is not so much in his arm, but his supple flexible wrist that has made him an unique bowler, one in a million to be celebrated while it lasts. To those who doubt this, we will read to them a few lines from Ian Chappell "Most of the doubt in Muralitharan's action is created by an extremely flexible wrist. It's not right to penalize Muralitharan because he is Physically able to do things others aren't capable of achieving". We here have no grouse with Warne, the rapport he has with Murali and the people of this country are extremely good. And it is difficult therefore to reconcile with his reference to Murali, as being emotional to be over sensitive and being thin skinned. We ought to tell Warne that he has not had an iota of the humiliation, harassment, pain of mind and scrutiny that Murali has experienced, these past nine years. On the contrary, Warne being a mature adult was so naive to say that it was his mother who gave him the drug to take, which is being childish of the highest order. There are some here and abroad who say Murali must be a sportsman, after all it's a gentleman's game and that he must go. And yet at other times to suit their whims and fancy they, would yell cricket is no longer a gentleman's game, for it is highly commercialized to be professional and anything goes. In this game of cricket there is neither jew nor gentile, western or asian and, the ICC must at all times do well to hold the scale evenly, to ensure that justice and fair play prevail always. As we reflect on Murali, none of us can grudge this decision of his, for he has gone through much at the hand of the Aussies. Skipper Atapattu and the President SLC Mohan de Silva who have moved closely with Murali have understood it all and, fallen in line with his decision. To be far too parochial to be selfish, is to miss the point, that Murali after all is a human being endowed with feelings. True, the team without Murali could be likened to "Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark' - But then no man is indispensable and this is the time, that the entire team must rally round as never before in the name of the country and, fight as well the cause of Murali by redoubling their efforts out there in the middle, where it matters most. When the Australian played here last, they were without Steve Waugh, a shrewd captain and strategist - evidence of which was seen, when pacemen Vas and Zoysa created a dent in the confidence of the earlier batsmen, the strong batting line up caved in to be dismissed for 128 and 220 runs and escaped with victories that could be termed phyrric. If Vaas and Zoysa could do a repeat to shatter the confidence of the front line batsmen, then the series is bound to be absorbing, with Sri Lanka holding their own without Murali. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
