Can our cricketers deliver the goods abroad as in Sri Lanka?

Bro. Nimal Gurusinghe, F.S.C.

Our recent performance in Sri Lanka was very praiseworthy. We could dictate terms to Pakistan and New Zealand. Also very heartening to see many young players performing well and bringing glory to Mother Lanka. It seems to me any team beating our national team in Sri Lanka is extremely difficult. It shows that our team has learnt the art of winning at home. I consider it a great achievement.

We should be able to carry all before us whenever we play here. after all, this is our country and our players are more familiar with these pitches and conditions. at present our national cricketers can show their superiority with any country when matches are played in their home. We should always try to maintain this record. No one will like to lose in their own den. If it happens it is a great humiliation.

When Sri Lanka were babes to Test and One Day cricket many countries came here and massacred our team. In the future it will not be very easy to do so. Visitors have to be very strong and play at their very best to beat Sri Lanka in the conditions.

But on the other hand we have to look forward further ahead. It is always good to win on home soil, but we should be able to show our class when we tour other countries. If a team wins only in their land they cannot call themselves the best team in the world. When Clive Loyd was leading the West Indian side they could beat any team anywhere. During his era they were masters on slow pitches as well as fast bouncy itches.

It was a treat to watch them playing in any conditions. The whole world knew they were cricket giants. For them where they played was immaterial. The whole team put their heart and soul and played the game. They won 95% of their matches. That was the very reason they were considered as the unofficial would cricket champions.

Can our national cricketers be triumphant when they tour other countries? It is a million dollar question. Have we ever won a Test match in Australia or South Africa? On the whole what is our record outside Sri Lanka? As intelligent cricket fans it is good to ponder on these lines. What are the steps our Cricket Interim Committee has taken to improve our performance away from Sri Lanka, especially when we meet cricket giants in their own dens.

If we can show our colours when we play in their countries we can be proud of our national cricket heroes. When we win in Sri Lanka we should not get carried away. Any team faces the real challenge when they perform away from home.

It will not be very easy and it will not come to us smoothly. Our Cricket Interim Committee has to have a plan to prepare our players to face the real test. There are no short-cuts for success and there is no substitute for hard work. Our players should be immersed in an astrosphere of foreign conditions before they make a tour.

They have to undergo a solid training to play on fast and bouncy pitches. Also they should learn to play in any climatic conditions. Then they will be a threat to any opponent. If men in authority are lethargic and won't take any steps we will be always underdogs when we make a tour and will eat humble pie. But if our Interim Committee has a clear cut plan and execute it our team can go a long way. I hope and pray that day will dawn very soon.

People who read this article may misunderstand me. They might think that I am always critical. My intention is not to criticize anyone, as a lover of cricket I love my country.

I love our national team. Therefore I would like Sri Lanka to be above board than any other country at least in cricket. When I see the wealth of talent in this island it is not impossible. In 1996 we showed to the whole world that we could win and bring the most prestigious Cricket cup to Sri Lanka.