South Africans in driving seat

At the time of writing which is the end of the third day's play the final Test between Sri Lanka and South Africa at the P. Sara Stadium, the visitors seem poised to win and square the Two-Test series.

Like I said earlier, the playing of Two Tests is the height of absurdity. The International Cricket Council is doing a good job probing every avenue to do things for the game. But they will be appreciated if they tell all Test playing nations to shed the Two Test syndrome and to at least play three Tests which would be more meaningful.

Initially it was agreed to play three tests when Sri Lanka tours New Zealand later this year. But the three test were reduced to two, to accommodate two twenty20 games.

True that the limited overs game brings in the big money. While all that is well and good because funds are essential to further develop the game, it must be remembered and not forgotten that Test cricket is what the game is all about.

Bouncy wicket

The P. Sara Stadium wicket saw a lot of bounce on the first day and then began to take spin as the game progressed. That is usually how a wicket plays and no side could grumble.

Sri Lanka would have loved to have Dilhara Fernando on the first day with them. The wicket had a lot of bounce and Fernando with his high arm action and tremendous speed could have done a lot of damage to the South African batting.

But unfortunately Fernando suffered a leg injury during a warm up session and the selectors had no other alternative than to play Ferveez Maharoof who came good with the bat when it was most needed.

It was the solid stand of 161 for the 5th wicket between skipper Ashwell Prince 86 and 95 from A.B. de Villiers and the lusty hitting of Shaun Pollock 57 that took the South Africans to an imposing score of 361 Muralitheran as has now become common place strangled the opposing batting with another five wickets.

The Lankan batting was salvaged by Chaminda Vaas and Ferveez Maharoof after Prasanna Jayawardena and Chamara Kapugedera added 105 for the 5th wicket, they came together with Sri Lanka in a bad way at 191 and added 117 to take the score to respectability.

But the South Africans enjoyed the psychological advantage of a first innings lead.

At the end of the third day the South Africans have a lead of 293 and if they can get up to a lead of 350, and with the wicket tending to favour the bowlers, the Lankans will be up against it.

The frontline batsmen will have to put their heads down and make it their business to get the runs required for victory and give continuity to their winning streak.

If the Lankans lose this Test it could be a setback and all the good work done could be wasted. P. Sara Stadium

The P. Sara Stadium, earlier known as the Colombo Oval looked a picture before the start of the Second Test.

The Tamil Union authorities had it all spruced up and dressed for the occasion and it was heartening to see big cricket coming to the once famous ground.

For this everyone will say a big thank you to President C.T.A. Schaffter, the President of TU and Balan Asiriwathan, the efficient secretary, who was like the will-o-the-wisp, here, there and everywhere seeing to it that everything was tickety boo.

Schaffter who is the Managing Director of Janashakthi Insurance has done wonders for the club and it is hoped that this will signal the giving of more Tests to the Tamil Union.

In fact cricket connoisseurs were wondering as to why the Cricket Board headquarters were not set up here. The Oval saw some of the legends perform there and that was the only ground that could have hosted a game in our formative years. That venue should have been Lanka's Lord's.

Incidentally in mentioning the Sathasivam, Coomaraswamy and the Mirando stands I had forgotten to mention the T. Murugesar stand.

Murugesar did a lot for the game and was manager of the Lankan World Cup team in England in 1983.

Murugesar was one of my captains when as a schoolboy I was playing for the TU. The others being Schaffter, Parathalingam, the great Sathasivam and R. Brekenbridge. Mind your language

The other day I had several calls from cricket fans who had been watching the TV and were disgusted by the shouting of - gahapang -, alhapang and dhuapang on the field which came out loud and clear on the TV.

They say that it is a bad example to the youngsters watching the action. More refined language should be taught the cricketers, they reckon.