Mahela’s exemplary leadership
... helps Lanka win Asia Cup
Ranjan SAMARASINGHE
Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup for the first time outside our country on
6th July 2008. This will soon be history.
Mahela |
Mahela Jayawardena was put on the chopping block by many local
pundits who called for his removal a few months ago, after the Windies
tour. Where are these critics now? Why don’t they identify themselves
and admit their ignorance and stupidity, where cricket is concerned?
They remain silent as they have no guts or backbone to face reality.
They are not gentlemen. They will remain silent until they get another
opportunity to decapitate someone, in fact anyone, to get some
recognition in the cricketing world. An achievement which probably has
eluded them in real life (as cricketers).
Those who followed and watched the Asia Cup will recollect comments
made before the event.
Even Arjuna Ranatunge, the President of Sri Lanka Cricket had stated
that India and Pakistan will go in as favourites. Maybe, he wanted to
lure them into a false sense of confidence which would in the end
benefit Sri Lanka through complacency.
Mahela Jayawardena maintained that every tournament that we
participate, we go to win. If we think otherwise, it will not be a
positive attitude for the team to embark on a tour of importance.
A statement well made, and by the person who knows his team best, and
a person who has full confidence in himself and his players. That is why
he is Captain. That is why he commands the respect of his team, and they
give him more than 100%.
That is why, when Sri Lanka was down, in the finals with 60 odd runs
for 4 wickets ( with Sangakkara, Mahela, Kapugedera and Silva back in
the pavilion) the last two recognized batsmen, Sanath Jayasuriya and T.M.
Dilshan staged a match winning recovery.
Jayasuriya played an unbelievable innings, explosive at the start in
the way only he can perform against the faster bowlers, and later
continued in a subdued manner against the spinners to ensure building up
of a fighting score for his team.
The experienced Dilshan gave him the much needed support, curbing his
natural attacking style for the sake of the team.
Further useful contributions came from Nuwan Kulasekera, Mirando and
Vaas to ensure Sri Lanka had a respectable and defendable total. It was
indeed a team effort, when the chips were down. This type of effort is
only possible from a team which has belief in themselves, have self
respect and give of their best to the Captain.
India was not going in to lose either. They have very strong batting
line-up, and are a very proud team. They went in as favourites.
But, Mahela had different plans. He rested his new found weapon of
destruction ( from SL Army) the smiling, childish looking Ajantha Mendis
and the experienced Chaminda Vaas from the previous match two days
before. Thus depriving the Indians of getting too familiar with Mendis.
He did not mind losing that game, as Sri Lanka were already sure of
being in the Finals.
This move would undoubtedly have had a psychological influence on the
Indians, instilling some overconfidence, and complacency.
As a result, Sri Lanka lost a battle but won the War. Excellent
planning, and preparation indeed. Another quality of good leadership and
management. No doubt, with inputs from the Coach and team members.
Sanath |
India were going well with Sehwag leading the way and were on target
initially. But young Mendis who entered the fray around the tenth over
completely turned this match with his flicking finger, dismissing the
dangerous Sehwag and then Yuvraj Singh (first ball) in his first over.
Although M.S.Dhoni stuck on to establish some sort of recovery for
the Indians, Mendis continued to destroy the remaining Indian batting
line-up with effortless ease. He not only confused the batsmen but also
the umpires and commentators. Nobody, except may be Sangakkara, had a
clue as to what was happening.
Mahela used Mendis in short spells, maybe 2-3 overs at a time, and
changed him even though he got wickets. In the end he had bowled only 8
overs,and got 6 wickets for 13 runs. A record breaking performance. He
may have got 7 or 8 wickets if he had bowled his quota. People asked why
Mahela changed him.
When the last pair was in, although they had no clue to Mendis’s
bowling they were just playing him down. They did not try to score off
him.
In my perception, Mahela did not want the match to drag on, as tail
enders who are clueless can scratch around and get on your nerves. He
brought on Kulasekera,and he cleaned up the last man. He did it for the
team, and he did not want Mendis to get frustrated.
Ajantha Mendis is a find of a century. When we were wondering as to
who will take-up Muralitharan’s role, as he too is a freak and is still
causing untold misery to batsmen all over the world, this man Mendis, an
uncut gem, yet to be polished, turns up from an unrecognized Army team,
to take the cricketing world by storm.
Even the grumpy Bishen Singh Bedi acclaims that Mendis as a
revelation, and is a clean bowler. Hats off to the Army, and especially
Maj. Gen. V.R. Silva who is his mentor, and Chairman of Army Cricket. He
has been responsible for uplifting the image of Army Cricket. A new turf
wicket has been laid in Panagoda, and new recruits are being enrolled
into the service to play Cricket and all facilities provided by the
Army.
But for how long can we hide Ajantha Mendis and expose him only for
vital games ? Already, I am certain he must be under a microscope, and
his every move and peculiarities studied by scientists, doctors and
analysts. Coaches will burn midnight oil trying to figure out what this
guy is doing.
Before long, Mendis will also be countered, like Muralitharan, but
only by a few exceptional batsmen. Before that Mendis will have to get
maximum wickets and win matches for Sri Lanka.
We, as a nation stand duty bound to preserve and protect Mendis, and
Sri Lanka Cricket to develop his skills to enable him to achieve the
great heights that he is capable of.
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