Lankans need not be overly bothered

That the Sri Lankans failed to win the one-day series against India, after their resounding success in the Test series is just one of those things and they need not be overly bothered.

Test cricket is what the game of cricket is all about and that they dumped the might of the Indians in that form of the game is what matters and the Lankans could be happy with that.

After thrashing the Indians in the Asia Cup final, the onus was on the Lankans and everyone was expecting a repeat performance. Just because you won one day does not mean that you can be winners always.

Congrats to the Indians for turning things round and flying away with the Idea Cup one-day series.

Sri Lankan supporters will always be putting forward the ‘Ifs’ and ‘Buts’ in the defence of the cricketers. But ‘Ifs’ and ‘Buts’ are good for argument sake. But what matters is what happens on the field of play.

There is no denying the fact that the Indians under their Twenty20/winning captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni played the better and more enterprising cricket. For that all credit to them.

It was nice to see cricket making its presence in Dambulla again. The first two one-dayers were played on that picturesque ground, with the two games being shared.

When former Cricket Board President Thilanga Sumapthipala built that Stadium, he did so after much thought, having in mind first and foremost the weather. He probably would have had a peep into his crystal ball and had the fortune of doing up this stadium, so that the game could be played at this venue, if the weather gods turned spoil sports.

But while everything at this venue is picturesque, it is the wicket that leaves room for criticism. Once the wicket is ready for the game, on the surface, it looks run laden.

So much so that the TV commentators giving their views on the wicket and how it would play, would have been surprised to note that the wicket was not playing the way they predicted it to play.

It is not easy to be 100 percent correct as to how the wicket would play, until one has a go on it. No wonder then that it is said that the proof of the pudding, is in the eating.

Obviously the wicket is not what it should be, because constant cricket is not played on it. As a result the wicket does not receive the attention it should receive.

A lot of work goes into it, once a game has been earmarked to be played on it. But that would not suffice. The wicket, for that matter any wicket has to be nursed and nurtured for it to play true. We hope that those who matter would pay more attention to this aspect.

That Sri Lanka lost the one-day series does not mean that they must get upset and press the panic button. Their target is the next World Cup. They have enough time to plan and execute their squad for that all-important tournament.

Skipper Mahela Jayawardena on whom rests a heavy burden to fine tune the team for the World Cup knows what is expected from him. He can be relied on to deliver when World Cup time comes round.

ICC Champions Trophy

Pity that the ICC Champions Trophy one-day tournament will not take place as scheduled in Pakistan next month. It has been put off for next year.

The main reason for putting off the tournament was security concerns. Australia, New Zealand, England and South Africa led the band for the putting off the tournament citing terrorist activity because bombs were going off in Pakistan.

But the Pakistan Cricket Board, did everything possible to allay these fears promising the objectors the best of security. But that did not seem to suffice and so the postponing of the tournament.

Sri Lanka were showing willingness to host the tournament here. But there was no way because India, who are calling the shots now were fully behind Pakistan and made it known that unless the tournament is played in Pakistan, they would not allow it to be moved elsewhere and certainly not Sri Lanka.

This Indian attitude was because, of late the relationship between them and Sri Lanka has been strained and damaged beyond repair. The reasons for this is well known and need not be reiterated here.

Who will bell the cat or put humpty, dumpty together again will be interesting to watch.

It was the insensible, arrogant, abrupt and abrasive attitude and talk that led to the severing of the splendid relationships that existed between India and Sri Lanka when it came to the game. Pity.

Pakistan Cricket Board had spent a lot of money to do up the venues and other things connected with the tournament, which is a Mini World Cup. And that it had to be finally called off was sad.

‘Mathi’ baulked again

K. Mathivanan the Interim Committee member and secretary who has been censored, apparently because the only sin he has committed is offering a straight bat in everything he did.

Mathivanan who has done wonders for the Colts Cricket Club after he took over as president, we learn had wanted to purchase tickets for the one-dayers against India to be given to the players and some of his dear ones. But what is inexplicable is that the Interim Committee apparently had refused to sell tickets to him.

Apparently the players, who are the men who matter and who provide the action were not given enough complimentary tickets. The coffers of the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket fills up due to the players. Then their demands need to be granted, and not the demands of the hangers on.

Finally saner counsel prevailed and Mathivanan was allowed to purchase the tickets he needed. Delving into this fiasco one is reminded of the ‘Crazy Boys’ movie that had film goers rolling with laughter.

Anyway Mathivanan who has always played straight, will continue to do so, because having played cricket at the highest level for Saracens, he is aware that bowlers find it difficult to dismiss a batsman who plays straight. That’s the style Mathi.