Make or break game for Lanka

Aussies strengthened with return of Ricky Ponting:

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE

Weather permitting, the Sri Lankan cricketers must fire all cylinders and look for a victory to save face when the Final Test against Australia begins at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, today.

A victory will mean that Sri Lanka will square the series. A loss will be unacceptable and will be bad for the cricketer, the game and all that it stands for.

Sri Lank lost the Test series one-nil to England in England and if they perform similarly, it will mean that everything is not right in the selections and the team. Playing in conditions and wickets that they have been nurtured on and losing is inexplicable.

Congratulations Sanga

Before going to comment on the Test, we would like to offer our congratulations to former Sri Lanka Captain Kumar Sangakkara who will be joining a select band who has played for their country in 100 Test matches.

It is an achievement that any cricketer could be proud of. Here’s hoping and wishing that he will crown it by scoring a hundred which will be an unique event and that Sri Lankan cricketers will acknowledge it by winning the Test. Opportunity does not often knock.

Now that it has knocked on Sangakkara he must not miss it. A three figure score will be a lovely way to celebrate the event.

Having said that, back to the Test match and again winning the toss will be important and on which would depend the outcome of the game. After the continuous rain observed these days, the wicket will definitely be lively, especially before lunch.

It is time that selectors dare and have the courage to be different. It is said that those who dare win. There is no point in going in with a safety first team. This is a must win at all costs Tests and the selectors must go for a combination that can bring us a victory.

Selectors must not fear

If changes have to be made, the selectors must not fear. Playing players for the sake of playing them is poor thinking. They must field a team that will be positive and go for the jagular of the opponents from ball one.

Dilshan has a knack of winning tosses, and if he succeeds this time too, must be determined if he opens with Tharanga Paranavitana to make it their business to give the team a solid start. When batting, Sri Lanka’s woes have begun with poor openings.

In the second innings of the Second Test at Pallekele, Dilshan and Paranavitana put on stand of 81 and this inspired the batsmen following to consolidate. What is required is a good first innings opening stand. We hope the openers will oblige in this make or break test.

No bowlers

While Sri Lanka has the batsmen, it is sad that we don’t have bowlers who could win matches for us. Sri Lanka needs bowlers, who could not only take five wickets in one innings, but who could repeat in both innings.

In the past we had bowlers of the caliber of off spinners Abu Fuard, Neil Chanmugam and Lalith Kaluperuma who could singlehandedly win a match. Where are these types today? Left arm spinner Rangana Herath who had a good match in Galle is likely to be slotted in if he has recovered. Herath’s inclusion will mean that leg spinner Seekkuge Prasanna will be benched.

It would be better to keep faith and play Prasanna and dump one of the pacemen, either Chanaka Welegedera or Suranga Lakmal. Welegedera and Lakmal get just one wicket and that’s it.

Act positive

The selectors should act positive and go in with pace heavy or spin heavy. Playing two pacemen and two spinners is a safety first method which lacks imagination. We hope the selectors will have a change of heart this time round.

As for the Australians they are well knit combination, playing committed and positive cricket. They are led cleverly by Michael Clarke. The Aussies, now that they lead one-nil will want to add to that lead and pocket the series two-nil and will defend to death their lead.

Australia will be strengthened with the return of Ricky Ponting.

In addition to his determined batting, he is a brilliant fielder and has it in him to raise the spirits and the standard of their play. The Aussie player to miss out will be Usman Kawhaja. Shaun Marsh who hit a debut century will bat at number six Shane ‘Tarzan’ Watson has not had a big score and who knows this must be the Test he has been waiting to blast off.

Most successful

Australia will miss Harris who is suffering a hamstring strain and his place will be taken by Peter Siddle another menacing bowler. Over then to the SSC for cricket luver’ly cricket weather permitting.