Can we repeat the 1996 feat?

Bro. Nimal Gurusinghe

In 1995/1996 our cricketers toured Australia. During that Test series and Tri-Nation cricket tournament our lads had to undergo so many difficulties. But all those problems made our team very tough and prepared to face any problem.

Mentally our lads became very strong. Immediately after that World Cup was played in subcontinent. Our players had the passion and determination to win the World Cricket Cup.

Our lads did it in style by winning all their matches. Unfortunately Australians and West Indians did not come to Sri Lanka making lame excuses, but our lads made mighty Aussies eat humble pie at Lahore in the finals. Reminder that Sri Lanka was the first team to become world champions by winning all their matches.

United bunch

Our lads in Australia won the one day series. When we see our players they really play well. It looks that they are a very united bunch of players playing with a lot of commitment and each player giving hundred percent to the side. Any cricket lover can observe that there is team spirit among the players. I am sure if this spirit prevails our team can be invincible at least for another five to six years. In 2011 World Cup will be played in our conditions. So winning the world cricket crown won’t be that difficult, if our players continue to play the way they performed on Kangaroos soil.

But on the other hand no country will give us the World Cup on a platter. Every country who plays against us will battle it out till the last ball is bowled to win. We must never take any match lightly. Our players have to put their heart and soul and play hard right through the tournament.

Good form

From now our players must remain in good form. All of them should be in a good frame of mind. There cannot be any differences among the players. All should be able to put the nation before self. Then winning this prestigious cricket plum will not be very difficult. But they should keep in their mind that every match is very important, especially when it comes to the second round and knock out stage.

One off day or missing a vital catch or missing a run out or one silly shot by a batsman or getting run out, can deprive us of the golden opportunity. Every player has to remember this and give his best to the team.

I am sure Sangakkara and his band of players are eager to engrave the Sri Lankan name in the 2011 World Cricket Cup. With all the Sri Lankan cricket fans I wish them best of luck. Let our lion hearted cricketers show the world that we are ‘Kings of Cricket’.