Lanka team’s unity - an example to all
WORLD CUP: Muttiah Muralitharan the star off-spinner who is one of
three survivors from the team that beat Australia in the 1996 final,
said a victory would be a timely boost for the Indian Ocean Island.
Muralitharan, who has taken 23 wickets at this tournament compared to
his seven in 1996, said: “It helps all the country rather than anything
else.
We have all nationalities in our team and peace as well because we
get together and play.
The hope is that Saturday’s final will also see a suspension of
hostilities with the island, despite the time
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Muttiah Muralitharan
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difference, set to come to a standstill as fans gather round TV
sets and radios to follow their heroes’ progress.
Sri Lanka’s cricket team has been hailed as an example of how
religious and racial differences can be put to one side for a common
purpose in the country.
Murali himself is a Tamil Hindu, opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya a
Sinhala Buddhist, pace bowler Farveez Maharoof a Muslim, batsman Russel
Arnold a Tamil Catholic and left-arm quick Chaminda Vaas a Sinhala
Catholic.
Meanwhile, the 35-year-old Muralitharan also believes victory on
Saturday would cap his stunning and colourful career.
“This will be the biggest moment in my life,” Murali said.
“I had moments in 1996, I was very young and I didn’t know much about
it. Now I know about what it takes to win a World Cup.
“This may be my last World Cup so if we can win it will be the
greatest moment in my life rather than my individual records,” added
Muralitharan who is set to line up alongside fellow 1996 winners
Jayasuriya and Vaas at Kensington Oval here Saturday.
However, the entire team face a daunting task if they are to stop
Australia, unbeaten at the World Cup since 1999, from winning a third
straight title but Murali said the team’s batsmen could hold the key to
success.
“We have batsmen of the calibre of Jayasuriya, (Mahela) Jayawardene,
(Kumar) Sangakkara, and (Upul) Tharanga,” he said.
“If they click, the way we played in England, we had total domination
(Sri Lanka whitewashed their hosts 5-0 in a one-day series last year)
and I only played in two matches.
“If our batsmen get set we will be more dangerous than any other team
in the world because we can play more shots than any other players.”
And he said Sri Lanka’s professional pride was just as strong as
Australia’s.
“We have to win, that’s the motivation. If you want to keep your job,
you have to perform,” Murali, closing in on Wasim Akram’s record of 502
one-day wickets, said.
World Cup leading wicket takers
Bowler Country Matches RS Wkts BW Avg
Glenn McGrath (AUS) 10 326 25 3/14 13.04
Muttiah Muralitharan (SRI) 9 307 23 4/19 13.34
Shaun Tait (AUS) 10 425 23 4/39 18.47
Brad Hogg (AUS) 10 313 20 4/27 15.65
Lasith Malinga (SRI) 7 235 16 4/54 14.68
Daniel Vettori (NZL) 10 447 16 4/23 27.93
Nathan Bracken (AUS) 9 224 15 4/19 14.93
Andrew Flintoff (ENG) 8 298 14 4/43 21.28
Andrew Hall (RSA) 9 335 14 5/18 23.92
Charl Langeveldt (RSA) 8 361 14 5/39 25.78
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Friday, AFP
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