Sri Lankans looking for clean sweep

Elmo Rodrigopulle

Final Test against Pakistan begins at the SSC today

Vaas will be the cynosure of all eyes

The Sri Lankan cricketers, now that they have won the Three Test series Two - nil, will walk the Sinhalese Sports Club ground looking to clean sweep the Pakistanis and go three-nil up when the final Test begins at the SSC today.

In their endeavour for this, the Lankans would not be tinkering with the match winning combination but will be tossing in that great-hearted left arm medium pacer Chaminda Vaas and seating mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis on the bench.

Now Vaas who has always been a trier deserves to be in the starting line. He has delivered in all forms of the game and he is sure to grab his recall and be concerned at the finish by proving that he has a lot more bowling to do and taking wickets for the country.

If the Lankans bowl first, Vaas will definitely, now that the rains have set in and the wicket covered, use the moisture on the wicket to rattle the Pakistani batsmen.In recent times Vaas has quite rightly sacrificed pace for swing and swerve and should be a difficult customer for the opposing batsmen to face and counter. Indications are that Vaas is probably playing his final Test match for the country.

If that is the case then he should be all the more determined to go out in a blaze of glory by bowling his team to victory and that is if he is used regularly and not sparingly by skipper Kumar Sangakkara.

At one time Vaas was being spoken of as being captaincy material. But how that did not materialize only those who mattered at that time would be able to provide an answer. But Vaaa did not allow that setback to stall his future, but kept performing, because for him the game was the thing.

To the Test and the Pakistanis who gifted both previous Tests to the hosts,will be determined to rise Phoenix like from the ashes and not tarnish their reputation by being slapped a three-nil defeat.

True they are a team in a crisis with allegations being made by some of their former greats who allege that there is a split in the team, factionalism and other allegations. The only way the Pakistanis can hit back at their critics is by performing. The cricketers must take the criticism in the spirit in which it is made and perform. There is no other way out.

The Pakistanis were in winning positions in both previous Tests, but blew it all by some irresponsible batting. Had they grabbed those opportunities and won the games, their critics would have remained silent.

The SSC wicket has been a sporting one favouring both, batsmen and bowlers. And it should be no different this time round. But if the wicket has been affected by the recent rains, then it could be unfriendly to the batsmen and be more bowler friendly.

The Two previous Tests have finished well inside the distance. We hope there won”t be a repeat and that the Pakistanis will front up with more courage and determination and endeavour to give the Lankans a fright and if possible chalk up a face saving victory.

Another beating and Pakistan cricket could well be in the river of no return.We need not remind the Pakistanis that no excuses however good are acceptable once in the big league.

Here’s hoping for cricket lu”verly cricket, as the West Indians would say it, will be played out at the SSC from today.