Two legends predict 2011 World Cup for Sri Lanka

The stakes for Sri Lanka Cricket have been raised as predictions begin! Two cricket legends - Imran Khan and Arjuna Ranatunga who led their teams to win the 1992 and 1995/96 World Cup have wagered for Sri Lanka to carry away the 2011 World Cup to be contested in the sub-continent.

Khan and Ranatunga expressed their candid opinions at the mega ceremony held in connection with the launch of the ESPN, Star Sports World Cup 2011 to make known the special plans.

The glittering ceremony was held at the New Delhi Oberoi Hotel which was attended by a dazzling array of former captains, cricketers and VIPs according to Dinesh Weerawansa.

Magical moment

While Khan and Ranatunga plonked for Sri Lanka, former Indian skipper Kapil Dev tipped India to be the next victors. This is good because it raises the stakes even more! Kapil Dev steered India to proudly hold aloft the World Cup at Lords, England in 1983. It brought back nostalgic memories of a hard fought series which this columnist witnessed while covering that memorable Indian triumph for the erstwhile Times of Ceylon.

Joining Dev and putting his money on India was former West Indian master blaster Vivian Richards who played in two Caribbean World Cup winning teams - 1975 and 1979 under the leadership of Clive Lloyd who has a century to his credit in the 1979 World Cup final.

According to Weerawansa the 2011 mega event will become the most widely viewed cricket event in cricket history. ESPN Star Sports will take the event live to 200 territories and to an estimated billion viewers.

First time

But what is great is that the Senaka Weeraratne concept of the Umpires Decision Referral System will be made law and introduced for the first time in a cricketing event organized and conducted by the International Cricket Council.

For once the ICC has shed its ‘toothless tiger’ image and got all teams to adhere and play to this system. This columnist who has to the point of nauseating repetition advocated the system draws comfort with some pardonable vindication. The Indians were the prime objectors to this system. Good that they have relented and seen reason and agreed to let the UDRS function.

With the 2011 World Cup tournament being brought to the sub continent after 15 years, it is everyone’s prayer that things will work out well; that the organizers in the three countries, Sri Lanka included, will rise to the occasion to make sure that in the run up no stone is left unturned.

Spin ace Warne again?

It would have come as a surprise to the former leg spinning sensation Shane Warne to learn that there has been a call from his legion of fans to sport cricketing gear return and come to the rescue of his beleaguered compatriots who seem to be sinking as if the anchor was tied to their shoes with likelihood that they would surrender the Ashes to England, this time in Australia.

It is absurd to think that Warne can come back and do what the present set of Aussies cannot do to their cricket. Lift it and give the Brits a run. Surprising that no smart Alec thought of asking former pace menace Glen McGrath to also make a return.

Warne magic

Warne was last seen spinning a ball in competitive cricket in last year’s Indian Premier League. That was Twenty20 cricket. Test cricket is what the game is all about and it would not be easy for the champion to return and perform his magic having not played the longer version of the game for nearly four years.

The mesmerizing stuff that Warne bowled and were unplayable—-it took hours and hours of sweat, tears and toil to perfect. It is not a bowling art that can be found, regained and controlled in a few minutes or hours.

Leg spin/googly bowling and the other repertoire of deliveries that Warne packed in his armoury are the most difficult and agonizing to master. During his tenure he ruled, let him not be forced back and made to suffer humiliation.

Anyway the call from his fans to come back brought Warne back into the news and the headlines that he was renowned for during his playing days. Probably the call was done in jest and a story made out of nothing and Warne must be enjoying a chuckle.

Battle of the Ians

It would have resembled a Mike Tyson- Evander Holyfield title fight where Tyson earned the tag of ‘Ear biter’ when he chewed Holyfield’s ear in frustration had the ‘Battle of the Ians’ - Chappell and Botham allowed to take place at Adelaide car Park.

The Ians have been at loggerheads from the time the two nearly slugged it out in a Melbourne Pub in 1977. Apparently from reports, Chappell had cast some remarks not at Botham after the Test that Australia lost. But within hearing distance which made Botham ask Chappell to repeat the remarks.

The titans nearly locked horns and another non-title fight would have ensued, had it not been for the fellow TV staff who was at the scene and who moved in to separate the two. But bets are on that the fight could take place before the series ends!

Chappell and Botham are both abrasive. Chappell a former Australian captain was a rebel, at times even taking on the establishment. He led and proved himself against cricket’s might and helped the Aussies dominate.

Surprise victory

In Botham’s case he came into the scene and showed his heroics when the cream of cricketers were doing duty for Kerry Packer. Botham is best remembered for raising England from the dead in a Test at Leeds and giving them a surprise victory against Australia with a scintillating century.

Chappell and Botham were stormy petrels and during their time made cricket exciting and worth watching. Chappell was a brilliant captain, best batsman of spin bowling and occasional leg spinner. He was a specialist in the slips.

Botham also is on record going for former cricketer and renowned TV cricket commentator Henry Bloefeld and threatening him. So as fans down their beers they await the ‘fight of the Ians’ soon to give some spike to an otherwise predictable outcome of a Test series.

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