Herath, 'the stone the builders rejected......'

Richard Dwight

Rangana Herath, apart from being a fine left-arm spinner, is also a compact tidy batsman and a nippy alert fielder. The essential attributes, all rolled into one, as found in this highly enthusiastic cricketer. But his forte however lies in his ability to spin the ball with his left arm, for which apparently there is a dearth.

On this score, he did have the opportunity of representing the country, in a few odd Test matches quite some years ago. But that's how far he went in playing for Sri Lanka - for thereafter for reasons best known to those in authority at that time, he was dropped. He did not come into the reckoning of being selected to the team or the squad in question.

The pity of it is, that Herath had to languish in the backyard of Sri Lanka Cricket for a considerable period of time.

Not quite pleased with this and committed as he was to the game and, in order to put his talents and skills to good use, he played league cricket in England, with much success. In doing so he lived out the saying 'that a prophet is not without honour, save in his own country.'

The moment of opportune did arrive for Herath, when Murali opted out of the first two Tests through injury - with Herath responding positively to the SLC's call to fill in the breach.

Those in authority currently at the SLC, went to great lengths to get Herath down and, did as well ensure that he had a comfortable journey to Sri Lanka. Such kindness displayed by the SLC, could be killing enough to overawe Herath. And thus a tremendous responsibility devolved on him to come good, for otherwise it would have been a wasted exercise on the part of the SLC.

Its history, now that he more than justified his inclusion in the team - for he was in a sense the pathfinder to our Test victories in Galle and at the P. Sara Oval. The other two, in Nuwan Kulasekera and Thushara bowled around him through the infectious pressure exerted by Herath.

The Pakistani batsmen were tied down to tentatively bat against him, whilst Nuwan and Thushara soared to great heights as well. In that crucial decisive Pakistani second innings he claimed four wickets to bring about a sensational Sri Lankan victory at Galle. Then at the P. Sara Oval.

When Pakistan in their second innings had made 285 for 2, collapsed dramatically through Herath's splendid 5 for 99 to be all out 320 and victory was ours after making the required runs.

Herath certainly did not believe the trust reposed in him, and did rise to the occasion, in a very fitting manner of him it could be said 'that the stone the builders rejected, had become the corner stone'. Indeed you cannot keep a good man down.

The way in which the Pakistani batsmen collapsed in Galle and at the P. Sara Oval, we were reminded of this - as the birth of the baby became imminent the father telephoned the hospital. Unfortunately, he got through to the local cricket club by mistake. 'Has anything happened'? He asked.

The man almost fainted when the voice at the other end of the line replied, "Oh, yes they are all out...... the last three were ducks!"