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| Tuesday, 10 August 2004 |
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Proteas happy with a draw Comment By Elmo Rodrigopulle It is said that if you can't win then you must try hard not to lose. The South Africans did just that and full marks to them for holding Sri Lanka to a draw in the first of two Tests at the Galle International Cricket Stadium. Set 325 for victory on a pitch that continued to play slower and slower, the Proteas finished on 203 for 3. Only the Aussies could have chased 300 and over on the last day and won. Match eve predictions were that the game would end in three or four days. That those predictions did not materialise, proves once again, like we said last week it is not easy nor could anyone predict how a wicket would play, until the game is in progress. No amount of rolling or watering or careful preparations could get a wicket to play to predictions. So it would do the game a lot of good, if wicket making experts and wicket reading experts not look silly by committing themselves. In this aspect it would be worth mentioning what former daring skipper of Australia and now TV commentator Ian Chappel said about wickets and its preparations. He said that if ACB or now Cricket Australia told the curator of a Test playing venue in Australia that they wanted a wicket that would play like this or one to suit the Australian bowlers, the curator would ask CA to go fly a kite or something to that effect. Quite right. The curator must be allowed to play his game and do up a wicket that would bring out the best in both teams. There have been instances where wickets have been prepared to suit the home team bowlers only to see the opponents dominate and thrash the home team. With leading Test wicket taker Muttiah Muralitheran skipping the tour of Australia and coming back against the South Africans, he was expected to have the visitors in a flat spin and increase his tally and also bowl Sri Lanka to victory. But he is not the bowler that he was. Stripped off his 'doosra', Murali now looks a sad sight, unable to worry baffle, bemuse and skittle batsmen like he used to do. The way he performed in Galle, on a wicket that was taking spin proved this. Part timer Dilshan got more turn than the leading Test wicket taker. When Sri Lanka batted and ran up a huge 486 helped by a stylish and patient 237 from vice captain Mahela Jayawardene, it was obvious that the Proteas would be fighting to save the game, with no chances of probing for a victory. They were helped in their endeavour of saving the Test by a gallant and determined century by left hander Jacques Rudolph who made a three figure score. Like his name sake Rudolph the red nosed reindeer, Rudolph would go down in history for his long stay at the wicket, which was of vital importance to his team. With a lead of over a 100 runs, one expected the Lankans to score at a rapid rate second time, gain a lead and dangle a carrot and tempt the South Africans to go for it and fall. A target of 300 runs would have been a safe one for Lanka and would have been tempting to the visitors. Skipper Atapattu who is settling down in his new assignment would not have been faulted had he declared at the fall of the 8th wicket. Had he done this he would have had more overs to bowl in the closing stages on the fourth day which would have been worrying to the batting side. One also could not understand why he sent Muralitheran ahead of Mahroof, if quick runs was the need. It did not make sense. It was hilarious what former Aussie batsman Dean Jones said when Murali played his first shot. Jones said: Murali swings with his eyes shut and doesn't know where its going. It is accepted that winning or losing is not what matters but how one played the game. Then it was sad and a shame to see umpire David Shepherd warning Chandana for running on the wicket. Obviously he would have been instructed to do so. Asia Cup success While enjoying the Asia Cup victory, one must also compliment former cricketer and DIG and now secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket, Lourence Amarasena for expertly handling the security side of the tourney. Amarasena used his police experience cleverly and intelligently to provide top security that came in for praise from all participating teams. Amarasena was pinched for reminding the sponsors that dress code is essential. It became an issue because some of the sponsors showed ignorance. |
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