Bravo Sri Lanka
WORLD CUP:Sri Lanka’s elegant passage to the World Cup final
of April 28 demonstrates that talent, intelligent tactics, physical
fitness, mental strength, and self-belief have combined to transform it
into a world-beating force in One Day Internationals.
The Lankans arrived in the Caribbean after losing a series in India
and, as the tournament progressed, they raised their level. Pitched
against the tactical nous of Stephen Fleming, Mahela Jayawardene was
just magnificent.
His master class in pacing a one-day innings yielded 115 of the
finest, a stroke-filled gem that should rank alongside Ricky Ponting’s
140 against India in the 2003 final and Vivian Richards’ undefeated 138
in the 1979 final against England.
Significant as Mahela’s innings was, the key to Lanka’s entry into
its second Cup final has been teamwork. If the batting has stood up to
serious examination, the bowling - featuring that unorthodox genius of
off-spin, Muttiah Muralitharan, and pacemen Chaminda Vaas and Lasith
Malinga - has been outstanding. The fielding too has been up there with
the best.
Eleven years ago, the Arjuna Ranatunga-led Lankans were surprise
winners. But Jayawardene’s side - rich in talent and thin on hype - has
all along been seen in this tournament as a serious contender. A harmony
in team composition has been reached.
Every player has put his hand up at some stage and adequately
compensated for another’s failure. When Jayasuriya and Sangakkara fall,
Tharanga and Jayawardene come to the party; and vice versa. Vaas and
Malinga are quite a handful under conditions that favour swing and
bounce.
Muralitharan, Test cricket’s second leading wicket-taker, almost
always delivers on any surface and, on the rare occasion he doesn’t, the
captain can turn confidently to Jayasuriya or Dilshan. Coach Tom Moody
has instilled an admirable sense of discipline without dispensing with
the flair and joie de vivre that have come to be associated with Sri
Lankan cricket.
Cricketers from the island nation delight in artistry, in suppleness
of wrist, in deception (there is no ball more feared in international
cricket than Murali’s doosra). But what makes this team a winning force
is the professionalism and focus that have been on display over the past
five weeks.
Mahela has led by example. His 2007 World Cup tally currently stands
at 529 runs, second only to Matthew Hayden’s 580.
After the early exits of India and Pakistan, Sri Lanka has managed to
keep interest alive in the sub-continent. Peaking in the final will see
it accomplish a feat - two World Cup triumphs - that only the West
Indies (1975, 1979) and Australia (1987, 1999, 2003) have managed to
pull off.
Hindu Editorial, 27-04-2007 |