Sanath - end of an era

The saying that all good things must come to an end, finally caught up with 'Black Superman' Sanath Jayasuriya who announced that he has had enough of Test cricket and that he would be bowing out of the established game at the end of the Test now in progress at Asgiriya against Pakistan.

When the umpires remove the bails to signal the end of the Test, Jayasuriya, we are sure would be given a rousing send off, not only by his team-mates, by Sri Lanka Cricket and all concerned and associated with the game.

Hailing from St. Servatius, Matara, a little known-school that plays the game, Jayasuriya showed immense talent and continued that talent coming to Colombo and doing wonders with the bat, he put to shame those who emerged from the elite schools.

On a tour to Pakistan with the 'A' team, Jayasuriya served notice of his prowess reeling off two double hundreds which stunned some of the Pakistani former greats who were watching this left-handed Bradman in action.

His achievements from the time he sported the Test cap are too numerous to mention. But one knock that would always stay etched in memory would be the record score of 340 he made against India at the R. Premadasa Stadium and the record partnership he enjoyed with Roshan Mahanama.

He has targetted the next World Cup in the Caribbean to hang up all that is associated with the game, after which he could spend time with his wife, children, grandchildren and god willing even great grandchildren telling them that when he was in the game he played it always with a 'straight bat' maintaining its lofty ideals and that he went out of the game with his head held high.

Inzy a bad example

Inzamam ul Haq, the Pakistan Captain, undoubtedly is one of the best batsmen playing the game today. He has always been performing with the bat and playing some of the finest knocks seen. But sadly the same cannot be said of his running between wickets and especially his grounding or creasing of the bat.

How Inzamam continued in the game without correcting this fault will always remain one of the mysteries of Pakistan cricket.

He never creases or grounds his bat. Now this is an aspect that is taught a cricketer when he first takes hold of a bat. But apparently his coaches of that time had not told him and showed him how, or it may be that he was told, but he refused to learn.

To say the least he is a bad example, not only to his teammates, but especially to youngsters watching him. This ugly running has also rubbed off on his teammates.

We won't blame coach Bob Woolmer for this. He certainly would have told and shown Inzamam especially how, but apparently Inzamam must be refusing to obey orders or do this simple thing right.

Also it was a disgrace to watch experienced batsmen of the calibre of Sahid Afridi and Younis Khan hitting against the break and being bowled Muralitharan's off-breaks.

These are fundamentals that apparently have not been taught to them in their formative years. How sad.

In my previous article I said that only Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan can out-think batsmen and lure them to their demise and that the other bowlers are just trundlers turning their arms over.

I was proved right with Sri Lanka not being able to beat the Pakistanis in the First Test at the SSC. Muralitharan did the damage on the fourth day getting two early wickets.

On the final day with the wicket not providing Muralitharan with bounce and quick spin, he could not weave his magic and with the other bowlers not being able to deliver, a game that could well have been won, ended in a draw.

Had Vaas been there, the story would have been different

Not fair on Vandort

Pity the way that Michael Vandort is being treated by the selectors. Vandort stylish, and looking like England's Michael Trescothick must be asking himself as do all his admirers what has he done wrong to be completely ignored.

He did well in Bangladesh and one expected him to partner Upul Tharanga against the Pakistanis and continue what would be a strong bond in the future.

But lo and behold it was not to be. Not only is he out of the picture against the Pakistanis, but has also been left out of the 'A' team now touring Bangladesh.

For how long are the selectors going to ignore him and keeping bowling dot balls at him to stall him from scoring for the country?

What has irked everyone is that Vandort has been ignored to give a blue-eyed boy a chance to make it to England. What a shame and what a sin on Vandort.

Need we hammer it into the selectors that - none are so blind than those who refuse to see.