Poor wickets come in for questioning - SLC must take note

When everything was set for an interesting and more relaxed series, after the pressure that was the 2012 Twenty20 World Cup, pity that rains had to come down in buckets and abandon the first T20 and One-Day International between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Pallekele.

The teams were gearing up for a keenly contested series. New Zealand who, if luck favoured them should have at least contested the semi-finals of The T20 WC, were looking to put that disappointment behind them and move on..

Sri Lanka too were looking forward to kick that disappointment of losing to the West Indies in a final that looked theirs when they had WI all wrapped up for 137, until an insensible rush saw them fall well short of the victory target.

History now

That final is history now and there is no need for the Sri Lankan cricketers to cry over spilt milk or sulk on what might have been, but to take it from here and move forward which is what the game is all about.

With the flooding of the R.Premadasa Stadium, the two one-day internationals penciled to be played there had to be shifted to the Pallekele Stadium. At the time of writing, there was bright sunshine in Pallekele,but it suddenly turned bad and the second one-day international had to be decided on the D/L system. Sri Lanka Cricket was probing to have the tour postponed for a later date. But that did not look plausible proposition given that other engagements would be compromised.

Taken to Pallekele

Thankfully the tour will go on. In the midst of rain and no play, comes the lashing by the New Zealanders led by skipper Ross Taylor and spinner Nathan McCullum that the wicket prepared for the T20 in Pallekele was sub-standard.

What probably led the skipper and McCullum to hit out was because the Kiwis batting first in overcast conditions failed to counter the Sri Lankan seamers – Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulesekera and Thisara Perera and the wily spin of Akila Dhananjaya.

Losers find solace

It is always the case when a side collapses or loses to find solace and blame the wicket, the weather or the umpires, like a Pakistan captain once did when they lost an unofficial Test at the Colombo Oval. The PCB took the captain to task and that captain never played cricket again.

While we are not challenging Ross Taylor and Nathan McCullum for voicing their opinions and concerns of the wicket,but would like to remind them that the wicket was the same for both teams.

In saying this we are certainly not absolving the curator of any blame. But in his favour it must be said that the prevailing bad weather would not have been ideal for the preparation of a fair wicket.

Poor approach

To us it was apparent, that the Kiwi batting collapse in losing 7 for 74 was simply a poor approach and technically they were unprepared. .The seam bowlers were getting good movement and the Kiwi batsmen lacked the technique to get in line before executing. Getting in line with the moving ball is the basic when playing swing bowling.The Kiwis would do well to get their batting techniques right, before seeking solace by blaming the wicket as sub-standard.

Second one-dayer

When this column appears, the Kiwis would have played the second one day international in Pallekele and with three more game to be played, one more in Pallekele, two in Hambantota and Two Test matches in Galle and Colombo, we hope the Kiwis will concentrate on the game and endeavor to be formidable opponents to the Sri Lankans.

The Kiwis have spoken and former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram also voiced similar sentiments on the wicket that was made for the T20 semi-final between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the R.Premadasa.It is time now that curator Anurudha Polonowita took notice of the adverse comments made, and buckle down to using his vast experience and expertise that his mentor the late Abu Fuard, who was a wicket maker and reader of wickets par excellence, showed him to prepare wickets meant for good games of cricket.

Inverarity speaks out

Australian Chairman of Selectors and former opening batsman John Inverarity spoke words of wisdom and hit out and urged caution on spin bowlers,especially in Australia who are learning to bowl the controversial ‘doosra’.

He did not want chuckers in Australia by being taught the ‘doosra’ to aspiring young spin bowlers. Inverarity cautioned against the clamour among the Australia’s spin fraternity to embrace the ‘doosra’.

Here’s what Inveraity told a cricket luncheon in Melbourne recently speaking on the ‘doosra’ which has been a key weapon for leading slow bowlers in the sub-continent made famous by Pakistani off spinner Saqulan Mushtaq.

Keep our integrity

‘It’s a serious issue. We’ve got to keep our integrity. We’ve got to teach our bowlers to bowl properly. I’m all for them learning it but it has got to be within the rules, for the integrity of the game and Australia’s cricket heritage.

‘We should always run a measure over them to make sure they’re bowling legitimately – according to the 15-degree threshold rule for elbo flexion -.Inverarity has spoken and it is now left to the authorities to keep the game clean.

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