The Swallow that did not make the Summer for Sri Lanka Cricket

To balance the euphoria of that historic victory in the Second Test against South Africa in Durban, we warned in these columns last week that one swallow does not make a summer and we expressed the hope that it will not lead to critics saying that the victory was a flash in the pan.

But sadly that flash in the pan turned out to be so intense and blinding that Sri Lankan cricketers capitulated inside four days by 10 wickets in the Final Test to hand over a 2-1 series victory, virtually on a platter, to the South Africans. This resulted not only in a diminishing of our image but also the coffers of the tournament as we deprived the gate of takings.

The defeat was inexplicable considering their outstanding performance in Durban. The Lankans should have been exuding confidence walking in to Newlands Ground in Cape Town, because the pressure was on the South Africans to redeem themselves and regain lost prestige.

Misreading the wicket

But when skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan won the toss and with the thinktanks in the team misreading the wicket and asking the home team in first spelled disaster which effectively signed, sealed, gift-wrapped and delivered a win to the Proteas.

It is the accepted norm for captains winning the toss to always bat first. It is said that if you win the toss you, think, think, rethink and the final decision is to bat first. But the captain and the thinktanks in a moment of noon madness asked the opponents to bat and didn’t the home team make a sumptuous meal of that very tempting menu. Apparently the Lankan thinktanks would have been fooled into thinking that the curator in Newlands would prepare a green top wicket like the one at the Supersport Park in Pretoria and not wanting to take a chance asked the Proteas to bat first expecting them to swallow the bait.

Not a positive move

Asking the opponents to bat first was not a positive move, given that the thinkers in the Sri Lankan team and selectors are experienced hands. It showed uncertainty. And did not the South African batsmen revel on that dream batting wicket and excellent conditions to post a massive 580 for 4 and then they declared. From that point the game was as good as over for the visitors. The Lankans could manage only 239 and 342.

The poor tactical decision dashed any hopes of a historic series triumph for the first time in Protea land.

There is now no point in crying over spilled milk. We hope the think tanks will learn, because when a postmortem on the demise of Sri Lanka’s cricket at Newlands is held, the final verdict and the blame will be on skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan for winning the toss and asking the home team in. The think tanks will go Scott free. Those are the vicissitudes of being captain.

Little analysis

A little analysis on the tour from Sri Lanka’s point of view the man-of-the-series was right hander Thilan Samaraweera. Samaraweera who was not in the original tour party was a late slot in as cover for the injured Mahela Jayawardena.

The selectors had their reasons for omitting him. The selectors know their job and they cannot be taken to task. There have been instances where a batsman or a bowler has been dropped, only to be reconsidered and come good. It was a vindication for him that Samaraweera obliged-that too with two fabulous centuries.

The only concern was the loss of form of former Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardena as batsman. He has it in him to come good. He will always be in my team for his brilliant slip catching and for the influence he instills in the team. The selectors have all been cricketers and they know.

Looking ahead, we shall need to take a deep and hard look at the strategic aspects of Sri Lanka Cricket so that some important and needed changes are made to the team to put it back on the rails. This is the challenge that the selectors will need to address in short order. Cricket fans are pinning their hopes on the wisdom of the selectors.

Clarke the executive

That inspiring and leading by example skipper of Australia Michael Clarke not only rewrote the record books with a scintillating triple century 329 not out, but earned kudos from every quarter for his refusal to go for further records by declaring at that score.

And Australia with 659 for 4 beat India by innings - 191 and 400 and go 2-0 up in the four match Test series.

Clarke was simply marvellous. With elegance, amazing timing and nimble footwork he took on the Indian bowlers - Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and the spin of Ravichandran Ashwin and scattered them all over the Sydney Cricket Ground. He hit 39 fours and one six in that marathon innings on his home ground.

The Aussie media saluted him for his determination to go for victory and not for personal milestones. The records of 334 by Sir Donald Bradman, Mark Taylor and the 380 by Matthew Hayden were all there for the breaking.

But for all Aussie teams, winning is not everything, but winning is the thing. Had the cricketing gods decreed he could even have gone past the world batting record of 400 not out held by the great West Indian Brian Lara, but records were far from his mind.

In the run feast

Also joining in the run feast were Ricky Ponting 134 and Michael Hussey 150 not out. Critics were baying for their necks. But they hit back with a vengeance and now the critics were silenced - at least for the moment.

But the Aussie selectors and critics can be unforgiving. Ponting and Hussey are aware of this and this should spur them on to accumulating more runs and retaining their slots in Aussie team that seems to be gathering momentum and on the familiar victory streets when Allan Border, Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting swept aside opponents and were top of the world.

The Aussie have promised not let Indian batting demi-god Sachin Tendulkar get that elusive record breaking 100th hundred in the game in Aussie terrain. This time round the great man went for 41 and 81. But Sachin is a man who takes on a challenge like a duck takes to water. So, the question remains, will he cock a snook at his detractors in the Third Test. Your guess is good as mine.And if it happens, then it may give the Indians some appeasement in a series that has been a disaster for the World Cup champs.

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