Vandort prepared to play the waiting game

Sa'adi Thawfeeq reporting from England

CRICKET: For Michael Vandort, the six and a half foot tall left-handed opener scoring a Test hundred against England at Edgbaston has not only given him immense satisfaction personally but also silenced many of his critics who had questioned his ability to score runs at the highest level other than against Bangladesh.

Going into the second Test Vandort had made all his runs in his short Test career against Bangladesh for it is against this nation that he had been selected to play his four Tests for no fault of his. Despite the weak opposition he still proved himself by averaging 68.20 in the Tests with one century and two fifties.

A pair in the four-day game against England 'A' at Worcester reduced his chances of forming an opening partnership with Upul Tharanga on the tour. But Jehan Mubarak's failure in the first Test at Lord's gave him the break as the team management thought it was only fair to give him the opportunity to stake a claim for the opener's berth.

"Most of the guys had a bad game there. You couldn't put the full blame on the wicket. We played some bad shots as well. I didn't give up but I kept practicing in the bowling machine and with the coaches who were encouraging me and helping me," said Vandort. "A lot has to do with the encouragement and belief in you.

It was a matter of getting your chance and when you get it you need to cash in." Grabs opportunity Vandort grabbed it with both hands and although his marathon knock of 105 in six and half hours failed to prevent his team from a six-wicket defeat, it may have eventually saved his Test place as an opener.

"I am really confident now and proven to my self that I can make runs at international arenas and shown everyone that I can stay at the wicket and get my runs. That's the most important thing," said Vandort. "I played every ball on its merits and just stuck it in there. Sometimes I do tend to premeditate and play shots. That has led most of the time to my downfall.

I thought on this occasion I play the ball on its merits and it worked for me really well." "Every hundred is important. To get one against England other than Bangladesh was really important. I thought I concentrate hard and somehow get some runs underneath my belt and for my team, which didn't do well in the first innings.

Everyone needed to put their heads down and bat and I managed to do that to a certain extent. I could have gone on without getting out at 105. Even though I was batting with Murali at the other end I could have stuck it in there and got another 30-40 runs at least to give England a fight," said Vandort.

The moment to savour came when he pushed Andrew Flintoff for a single to extra cover.

"It was a satisfactory hundred which I've been working hard for even back in Colombo and after coming here with coaches Tom (Moody) and TP (Trevor Penney). A lot of credit should go to them as well as my team mates. They supported me a lot throughout this tour," said Vandort. "Everyone back at home has been encouraging me and supporting me.

It was a really important innings. I was really happy that everything that I had worked hard for finally came through." "I was trying to establish myself as an opener and I think it was a good innings.

I showed some patience, which I had not shown in the past even at club and international cricket. The century gives me a certain amount of satisfaction because the concentration power that was lacking a couple of years back had improved. I am really satisfied with the innings but would have been more satisfied if the result was different," he said.

What has really worked for Vandort to improve his powers of concentration was the time he spent with sports psychologist Sandy Gordon at the start of the tour. "Sandy has been a great help to me and most of the team members.

It is a good thing to have someone like him to guide us when we are in tough situations. On the field if you are sledged and there is no crowd support sometimes it tends to put pressure on you. Sandy told us not to listen to them but to focus on ourselves. I focussed myself not thinking of anything else and concentrating on each and every ball," said Vandort.

Biggest influence

The biggest influence in Vandort's career has been his father Patrick Vandort who played some good cricket for St. John's College, Dematagoda and Nomads SC.

"My dad has been coaching me ever since I was nine years old. He still comes for every match I play in Colombo or outstation. Unfortunately he didn't get a chance of coming to England.

He has been very supportive of me and a lot of credit should go to him," said Vandort. "I spoke to him after the Test and he was really happy. Although I got a hundred he had watched me on TV and gave me a few tips on some mistakes I made during the innings. He said that I should have left a few more balls outside off stump. I am really happy to take his words and all the coaching he does for me."

Although Vandort hails from a Dutch background he is not so much familiar with his family roots. "I don't have any idea how far it goes except that my father and grandfather had played cricket."

Although educated at St. Joseph's College, Colombo Vandort played only one match for the first eleven team. His career really blossomed after joining CCC where in his first season he slammed two double centuries and a century in five matches. That remains his best season so far in an eight-year first-class career.

At 26 years, Vandort is still willing to bide his time. "Sanath (Jayasuriya) and Marvan (Atapattu) have been great players to the country. No matter how well you perform if they are there they will have to play until they retire or whatever. I think patience is the key. You need to keep performing and be patient and when you get your opportunity try and cash in," said Vandort.