Sword of Damocles hanging over the Lankan cricketers

The sword of Damocles is hanging over the Sri Lanka cricketers who are now in Hobart, trying desperately to beat India at the Bellerive Oval today and keep their slim hopes of entering the best of three Commonwealth Bank finals.

If the Lankans manage to get the better of the Indians, they won't be still out of the woods, because they will then have to down the rampaging Australians when they meet at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.

On current form, it will be a garguantan task for the Sri Lankans to beat both India and Australia. That is because both teams are playing at their peak now and beating them would only be a dream.

But then it is said that cricket is a funny game and who knows if the numbers fall right for the Lankans, they can still figure in the finals. But if the Lankans were to lose today, then it will be goodbye to the Commonwealth Bank Series, that will never be played again.

It is a pity that the Lankans who shook the cricket world by entering the finals of the World Cup in the Caribbean last year are in this predicament. Apparently it is due to their own seeking. At times they have played excellent one-day cricket. But most times it has been lackadaisical. One can't understand the see saw. The Lankans were better known for this style of cricket. But sadly it is not so on this tour.

There are the critics who are now baying for the selectors. The selectors do a job to the best of their ability. True they do not get it right at all times. But that is how selections go. Trying to be wise after the event is the refuge of the scoundrels.

When the Lankans take the field today, they must rid themselves of the past, and take on the Indians as a new beginning. They must stay focused, not think that they are the second best, but go hard at the Indians with the belief that they can punch the Indians. It is said that those who dare win.

It is also said that fortune favours the brave. If the Lankans believe in this and play the way we know they can, then there is no reason why they can't throttle the Indians.

One-day cricket is a pressure game. And the way the Lankans can pressurize the Indians, is firstly if they win the toss batting first and posting a formidable total so that the Indians would then have the pressure on them.

To win the toss and ask the opponents in is poor thinking. That can be done if they are dead certain that they can bundle the opponents for a low and easily chaseable score. Otherwise like the Sinhala saying, it is asking and eating.

Owing to the poor starts, the Lankans have been forced to manipulate their openers. So it will be seen that initially the Lankans are uncertain. Pity.

With this game being a must win one,the Lankans must put their best side out. Now that they have tried Tillekeratne Dilshan and Dilruwan Perera as partners for Sanath Jayasuriya, it would not be a bad idea to throw the big hitting Ferveez Maharoof in the number one slot and ask him to bang, as did Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharne during the World Cup winning era where they went for a near 90 to 100 in the first 15 overs.

The Lankans must have the courage to be different and change their game to suit the occasion and its demands.

Also if the Lankans are contemplating changing the batting order, it might be sensible to slot Jayasuriya in the middle and get the inform Kumar Sangakkara to open, considering that Sangakkara has more or less done the job of opener, because the openers have not delivered.

But that is a dilemma for the selectors on tour. Whatever happens, the end result should be nothing but a victory. Anything short of that would be a calamity.

Ponting peaks

Ricky Ponting the Aussie captain who has had a wretched run with the bat in this series, struck form at the right moment and made a three figure score against the Indians with a vengeance.

With Ponting in the runs the Aussie batting which was a bit uncertain, came good as the imposing 317 they made proves.

Ponting played his repertoire of strokes all round the wicket and it was a treat to watch him fighting his way back to form. Now that they are in the finals, the Aussie camp will be heaving a sigh of relief with their captain showing how. Ponting"s century which helped the Aussies to win, kept the Lankans still breathing.

After the Ponting heroics, left hander Gautam Gambhir played a grand century innings in India"s push for a victory. The youngster played like a veteran and if he continues in this form should be a batting success in the future and should serve Indian cricket well.

When the Aussies posted 317 for 7, it was a tall ask for the Indians. But all credit to them because they did not throw in the towel and surrender, but made the Aussies huff and puff for victory.

The Aussies and Indians played a wonderful game of cricket.