Stars to glitter and shine in one-dayers

Sanath, Sachin and Sehwag:

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE

CRICKET: When the umpires call 'play', it will signal the start of the 'cowboy game' today when Sri Lanka front up to South Africa attired in coloured clothing, in day/night conditions at the lovely R. Premadasa Stadium.

The triangular will also feature India and the trophy to be contested for is the Unitech Trophy.

When this style of game is played - in coloured clothing and under lights, all should remember the late great Sir Kerry Packer, for it was he who made this possible and also enabled the participants and administrators to keep singing on their way to the banks.

On show will be three of the four most exciting and entertaining batsmen in this form of cricket - our own Sanath Jayasuriya, and India's Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag.

The man missing is Australia's Adam Gilchrist. Sanath, Sachin and Virender once they are on can be eye-catching and devastating and make bowlers ask what sin have they committed to suffer such bashing and ignominy.

Jayasuriya, Lanka and cricket's 'black superman', can be the enemy of all bowlers and can send their deliveries skidding to the fence or over it with excellent timing.

The square cut he launches into which invariably sails well over the fence is rocket propelled.

Written off by revengeful cyclops, Jayasuriya cut loose in England and had everyone including his critics watching in wonderment when he skinned and made a barbeque of the England bowlers.

He played a one-day knock in the final Test against South Africa which showed the way for the other batsmen to breast the victory tape.

If he continues in this form, then the bowlers would have their eyes moist and the turnstiles would be creaking with spectators storming for tickets to watch the champion at play.

Tendulkar is making a welcome return after injury and will be determined to regain and light his fireworks of old and keep the stadium aglow and the spectators glued to their seats with his wonderful strokeplay.

With an amazing brand of shots, Tendulkar will want to fine-tune and break out into his clever and breathtaking strokeplay.

Sehwag is another hater of bowlers. with a good eye and twinkle toed footwork, he has a wide array of strokes and once he gets into the mood and unless he makes a mistake and throws his wicket away, there are no bowlers who could lure him to his demise.

Sanath, Sachin and Virender like and have the penchant to hit the ball on the up and once they get the sweet feel of ball and resonant sounds on bat, everyone is assured of batsmanship that would not easily be seen and lapped up in this form of game.

Over then to the one-day arena weather permitting and at the end of it all, let everyone be heard singing - caribbean style - cricket luv'erly cricket in Lanka where I saw it.