Bid Farewell to the Heroes Whether He Will Get a Bowl
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Monday 4th October, 2010 15 Aravinda and Co need to spell it out as a nation prepares to ... since 2007 as well as South Africa (since Telling old heroes that it is time to 2006) explains the flaws in the rankings quit is as brutal as it gets. system. Ask any selector entrusted to grasp As the Australians play leg-spin bet- this thorny nettle, Yahaluweni, and he ter than anyone, it begs the question will admit in some cases it needs more Bid farewell to the heroes whether he will get a bowl. As it is the than a just telephone call. The stings, selectors have turned their back on barbs and accusations along with the Malinga Bandara, who might be think- acrimony leave their scars long after the degree, the clubs in the various centres), position for the selectors. As good as even at Test level requires a lot more ing of telling them what they can do final innings or bowling spell. it was quickly realised from the Indian they have been in the service of the thought. There was often no third man with selection for the A side in future. A Unlike Muttiah Muralitharan, who exercise how the years of isolation had game and the country and gentlemen as or fine leg. talent going to waste and this is after a by his own admission, his body had told caught up with them. they are, when it is time to go, it is time. There were late cuts and square cuts good season in England. him it was time to retire as a Test player In the chapter on Rice in the ‘Cricket In South Africa in 2003, Vaas bowled that had the red-haired skipper desper- It has been suggested that Mendis (“My knees are in need of a rest”), there Captains of South Africa’ (Zebra 2003), with style, cunning and managed a hat ate to plug the leaks. went to the right school to earn his selec- are others, despite a certain age, who written in collaboration with Jackie trick as well. His left-arm bowling style Only an errant bootlace prevented tion, while Dinesh Chandimal has a feel they still have the ability to deliver McGlew, the realisation was that neither has long been acknowledged for the way Jayasuriya from becoming the fifth bats- quality bout him that oozes an ability to edge-cutting match-winning performanc- Rice nor Cook were as sharp or mentally he helped Sri Lanka to win games away man to score a Test century before lunch play a high-level game. It is why the es past the mid to late thirties or those fit for the game at limited-overs interna- as well as at home. Being awarded the on the opening day of a Test. Captaincy Australian tour will test his skills as it nudging into the lower forties; even at tional level. Such harsh judgements prize as the top 20/20 player in England was not a burden to the man from will Suraj Randiv. This top class off-spin- the shorter version of the game. were criticised at the time, but there was this past year is a tribute to his ability. Matara who thrilled the game in 1996. ner, who with more luck would have Sentiment is one thing, fraught as it no escaping the facts from the results of pushed India hard to win that third Test can be with emotion. Reality is, the that seven day first visit to the subconti- at Saravanamuttu Oval, had the fields- game at international level is tough nent. men been more alert. But Tillakaratne enough without trying to win with play- All this is pointed out in pages 198 The Chesterfield Files Dilshan’s sharpness is left for other ers who are hanging around to indulge and 199 of the book, saying how “South The point is, that just as sneaky practices, of which Randiv was in a “last hurrah” which ends up costing African complacency was swiftly blown past conveners and again the unfair victim. a side their chance to winning the title. away by the brief, historic tour of India Dilshan had better no try such tricks Selectors have to be realistic and know in November 1991. It was all too obvious, selection panels have in Oz. He will cop more than his share of the way ahead is tough enough without even after the euphoric win under lights made major changes for criticism. Anyway, he still owes Randiv a being saddled with the added trepidation in a New Delhi athletics stadium, South public apology for that miscreant act at of aging players retarding a team’s Africa (and the older players) had much the sake of taking the Dambulla. One which Sri Lanka Cricket, development. to learn in the close combat encounters team forward (1999 is run by a pestilential non-elected govern- In January 1992 South Africa’s selec- demanded by international limited-overs ment appointed ad-hoc interim commit- tors took the plunge and axed Clive Rice games.” an example of how this tee handed down. and Jimmy Cook in as their first World They were quickly classified by can be achieved for the At least Ijaz Butt realised what a Cup loomed after isolation. Rice was in English journalists who were shocked, clowning buffoon he has been with his the midst of his forty-second year and labelling them as a team of “visitors good of the players), arbitrary stance on the England team Cook thirty-five. They were not the only from a bygone age”. India were far too Chaminda Vaas and and the bookies issue as well as the spot- ones failing to make the CWC92 event streetwise, tactically better and more fixing story. His climb-down from his who had been part of the historic team psychologically prepared. This is despite Sanath Jayasuriya can- hobbyhorse was as humiliating as it on that politically motivated tour of players such as Cook and Rice having should be. He was a poor fieldsman and India in November 1991; a replacement the benefit and experience of county not expect to have is a poor administrator. tour for the cancelled Pakistan visit cricket in England. Rice had spent a places held open for It was only after the Pakistan Cricket because of political violence by a group decade playing for Nottinghamshire and Board lawyers in London gave him what of fundamentalists. Cook several seasons for Somerset when them in what is a tricky amounted similar to the ultimatum Mandy Yachad, Tim Shaw and Clive he felt he needed to experience a form of position for the selec- Sharad Pawar dished out in Mumbai a Eksteen were others who failed to make international competition. couple of weeks ago that he realised it to CWC92, while Peter Kirsten almost Cook played his first Test in 1992/93 tors. what damage he was doing to the game didn’t earn inclusion; yet he put together against India when he became the first BY TREVOR CHESTERFIELD in Pakistan. This as well after the a fine performance against Australian batsman in Test history to be dismissed England and Wales Cricket Board went side in the Sydney Cricket Ground on a on his debut for a first ball duck. He But to carry that into the 50 overs game Rather keep those memories than the out of their way to help what is sadly a baking, humid February evening to help toured Sri Lanka in 1993 and played his and a World Cup tournament, despite it struggling T20 efforts. side of itinerants, unable to play at win that first game. last Test at Moratuwa, which even then being in home conditions, is going to It is why the team for Australia with- home because of the fundamentalists Comparisons are not so much odious was a decrepit venue. Not much has need more that T20 expertise applied to a out them makes a lot of sense, despite trying to wreck the county. as misleading when it comes to teams, changed. game at county level. some doubt about players such as Butt still owes the Sri Lanka team a players and performances. If the think- The point is, that just as past conven- We have all thrilled to the Matara Thilina Kandamby (on standby for grovelling public apology along with ing is tired and strategies out of date, no ers and selection panels have made Mauler’s flashing bat and run-making Angelo Mathews), Chamara Silva and match referee Chris Broad and the matter the quality of the player, it will major changes for the sake of taking the skills as well as ability to pile on the Jeevan Mendis and whether they are umpires involved in the Wild West style always be shown up at international team forward (1999 is an example of how pressure against bowlers. Recall if you good enough to tackle the Australians. shootout in Lahore. It is a miracle the level. One of the problems with South this can be achieved for the good of the will his execution of batsmanship at Historically Sri Lanka’s record is poor terrorist thugs didn’t get into the bus Africa in 1991/92 was that despite the players), Chaminda Vaas and Sanath Galle in 2000 against South Africa where in Australia, and how they managed to and take the players hostage. That is a highly competitive domestic provincial Jayasuriya cannot expect to have places he taught Shaun Pollock, in his first Test climb to three in the ICC rankings with- vision too horrific to contemplate.