Lankans win hearts of cricket fans

Cricket: Although the Sri Lankan cricketers were unfortunate to lose the World Cup 2007 final to the Australians, they won the hearts of the millions of cricket fans all over the globe.

And the winning of the hearts was more important than lifting the World Cup. In the final the cricketers who were always led admirably and intelligently by Mahela Jayawardena showed the cricketing world that it is not the winning or losing that matters, but how one played the game.

This adage was never better displayed than when they agreed to play the final three overs in total darkness. They had every right to come back the next day and face those three overs and rub salt on the International Cricket Council wounds, but that would have been a sad exercise.

The cricketers by playing excellent cricket throughout the tournament - group stage, super 8, semi-final and final showed the world their true capabilities. If there were awards for the Most Popular team, or the Best Behaved team, the Lankans would not have had to face a poll to pocket those awards.

They could well be called cricketing diplomats. By their prowess in the game they made the world to stand up and take notice, and what they achieved, would have shamed our diplomats.

The cricketers from the moment they beat Bermuda in the first group stage match, won the hearts of cricket lovers in the Caribbean. When they continued to make progress, everyone, everywhere, even in the pubs, clubs, roadsides and even in market places were supporting them and wagering on the Lankans, teaching the Australians a lesson and being worthy winners of the trophy and the big money that went with it.

That the Lankans lost the final could not be believed. The supporters had nothing but sympathy on the Lankans and were convinced that it was the foul weather in Barbados that day that deprived them of bringing the hopping kangaroos down to earth.

After the final it was a contended Mahela Jayawardena who faced a packed house of media personnel and answered questions -some good and some irritating - bowled at him with great aplomb. Jayawardena since his appointment as captain, has been an example as cricketer, leader, ambassador and darling of the media. He could one day make a wonderful diplomat for the country.

What made Jayawardena's onerous duties that much easier was because he had 100 per cent and more support from his teammates. Arguably he was captain outstanding and he should reign for many, many more years. He struck with the bat when most needed. When the Lankans took wing to the Caribbean, not many expected them to make much progress. That was because the middle order batting was suspect.

In all other aspects the Lankans were blessed with the best which most other teams lacked. When the middle order of Chamara Silva, Tillekeratne Dilshan and Russel Arnold began to make runs, it lifted the prowess of the team and that is what made them go on a roll.

Of the batsmen, Sanath Jayasuriya was the most outstanding with two hundreds against Bangladesh and West Indies and was only second to Matthew Hayden of Australia who notched up three centuries.

Ten years after winning the 'Most valuable player of the tournament', Jayasuriya is still showing the fleetness of foot, the sweet timing and the brutal power that he showed then.

He had West Indian written all over him when he was on song and didn't the Caribbean love him.

Kumar Sangakkara did not make the big scores expected of him. But his knock in the final was a heroic one. But his wicket keeping form was out of this world and the stumping of Brian Lara especially was unbelievable.

Of the bowlers, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan were excellent. The reducing of overs in the final curbed their attacking prowess.

The fielding was top class and an example and lesson to the other teams.

Coach Tom Moody and his management team along with former Sri Lanka captain Michael Tissera as manager played their parts to perfection and they were one happy family and that contributed to their success.

(Aussies and their dirty tactics tomorrow)