Terrific performance showing resilience of Lankan cricketers

To say that the Sri Lankan team confounded all doubting Thomas’s is an understatement. With all odds stacked against them, the Sri Lankan cricketers showed that while many of us were writing them off, there is such resilience in the side that it bodes well for the future. Now the team can hold their heads high and walk with a spring in their step. Congratulations to the Sri Lankan cricketers on their historic victory over South Africa in the Second of Three Test matches which levelled the series one-all with the final Test starting today at Cape Town.

The Sri Lankans went with victory in the three previous tours and this victory would have tasted all the more sweet. But in the euphoria of this triumph, the Lankan cricketers will do well not to forget that adage that one swallow does not make a summer.

The Lankans attribute victory to former South African captain Keplar Wessels. Before the series began Wessels is on record urging the SA selectors to field an ‘A’ team against Sri Lanka because the tourists were poor performers.

Press briefing

At the end of match press briefing captain Tillakaratne Dilshan paid a mock tribute to Wessels thanking him and saying that his comments motivated them to victory! What a fine retort, although on the face of it Wessels was in a crude sense making the point that the Lankans were beaten by innings inside three days in the First Test as so nothing much could be expected.

If it is Wessels who motivated them, then Sri Lanka Cricket must take note and would be applauded if they inveigle Wessels to be the team’s motivator and psychologist. The cricketers badly need a psychologist and Wessels could be the man.

It would be interesting to watch how the Lankans will fare in the Final Test. Will Wessels comments still rub off on the Lankans or would that victory in Durban be termed a flash in the pan?

Those who dare win

It is said that only those who dare, ultimately win. And it was skipper Dilshan’s daring where he won the toss and elected to bat first that wrote the introduction to Sri Lanka’s historic victory script. In this victory we tribute Thilan Samaraweera, debutant Dinesh Chandimal for his memorable double half tons and excellent glove work, bowlers Chanaka Welegedera and Rangana Herath, Mahela Jayawardena for his sure catching in the slips and Kumar Sangakkara’s century in the second innings. These were all match winning contributions.

In the crucial Test beginning today,the Lankan must believe in themselves,remembering that the South Africans are also human and if they do the basics right there is no reason why they should not pocket the series 2-1.

Aussies dump the Indians

Playing the better and well thought out cricket, the Australians led cleverly by Michael Clarke drew first blood by beating India convincingly by 122 runs in the First of Four Tests to set up a mouth watering remainder of the series.

‘THUNDER DOWN UNDER’, was the theme for this series between the two countries after India’s previous tour to Australia ended in acrimony, which incidents need not be reiterated here.

This Test too did not lack for want of excitement and drama. The incidents that took place between Virender Sehwag, James Pattinson with Peter Siddle joining in was in the heat of the moment. However alls well that ends well and after a few verbals, the game moved on.

Game not for sissies

Cricket needs a bit of this style of play. This is not a game for sissies. A bit of sledging and a bit of teasing is well and good because it keeps the two teams on edge and helps bring the best out in the middle.

As long as it does not go beyond the boundary, it is well and good. So both teams must at all times endeavour to keep the game clean and play to the rules, so that not only the 22 actors, but the spectators, the TV viewers and the radio listeners will all enjoy the action.

The action and the interest would have been at its highest had not the International Cricket Council played the role of spoil sport.

They need to be padded up at all times and be wary of what’s happening in the cauldron of Test cricket.

ICC needs to wake up

With the series between the two countries going to be a no quarter asked or given series, the ICC sheiks in Dubai should have convinced the Indians to play to the UDRS. Had that been done, there would have been no room for complaints or heart breaks and the series would have been more interesting.

The two incidents that marred this Test - the not outs of Ed Cowans and Michael Hussey which prompted the Aussie media, the players concerned and former Aussie skipper Greg Chappell to justifiably attack the ICC could have been avoided had the UDRS been a part of this series.

Better late than never it is said and although it cannot be introduced in this series now, it is time now for ICC to shed the ‘Toothless Tiger’ image that they have been happy to carry with them for long, put their feet down and make the UDRS law for all teams.

Will the ICC dare?.

Tendulkar fails again

Before the game of more than ordinary interest was whether Sachin Tendulkar would reach that landmark of 100 hundreds in the game. He was going well, but a snorter from Peter Siddle got through his gate and rattled his stumps for 73. He failed in the second.

Sydney Cricket Ground where the Second Tests begins today has been his happy hunting ground.

Will he achieve his dream and get it over with? Well the end of the Test will tell.

Australia would be exuding confidence after their victory and Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey whose necks were on the blocks would be heaving sighs of relief after their confidence boosting knocks. [email protected]