Wedensday 11th May, 2011 15

Manager of the Sri Lankan team , right, poses for a photograph with and coach at the team hotel in after beat England at Lord’s to win the Emirates Trophy in 1998.

We also felt that they were not really pre- pared to give us the respect they should give a Test side. There was this incident where the umpires tried to treat us like schoolboys, trying to discipline us for too much of appealing and things like that, which I don’t think they would have done to any of the other sides. In fact when this was first pointed out to us, we said: ‘Look this is the way we play our cricket. We are not over appealing. Whenever there is a doubt, we ask a question.’

BY REX CLEMENTINE and Aravinda (de Silva) captained the previous three Sri Lankan Tests in England. What was he modern generation knows Ranjit also looked forward to was the Emirates Trophy, verts. They are reserved. I feel that influence Fernando mostly as a television expert a tri-nation competition among South Africa, may have been the reason for his sudden rise in Tand his contributions to Sri Lankan crick- England and us. I don’t think the lead up was form and that hundred would have given him all et as a player and administrator are hardly high- very bright though. Roy Dias, as you know, was the confidence. He batted like a champion that lighted. Fernando, who represented the country the coach. I should say that Roy is a very dedi- day. as a wicketkeeper batsman in the 1960s and cated coach. He knows his cricket and he’s high- Question: Were you disappointed that 1970s, played in the inaugural World Cup in ly respected by the players. More than being England once again offered Sri Lanka just a one England in 1975. His snub from the 1979 World someone who will get up and talk, his greatest off Test? Cup, also played in England, raised many eye- strength is that he was a very fine one-to-one Ranjit: It has always been the case in point brows and from there on Fernando concentrated coach. One is that he has the respect of the play- and bone of contention with the players and offi- on nurturing young talent at his beloved NCC ers as he had his own ability. He was able to put cials of Sri Lanka Cricket that England never felt and later graduated to the national level. himself on to their positions when he spoke it fit to give us more than one Test Match. They Fernando was the Assistant Manager to to them on any subject. From my point of had been virtually going on with this for a long Anura Tennekoon in Sri Lanka’s first ever over- view, I had a bit of a dual role to play. Roy time. Another reason why we were more con- seas Test tour (to Pakistan in March 1982) and left most of it to me apart from just han- cerned about this one off Test issue was that from thereon was heavily involved with the dling the cricket. My perception of more often this one off Test was played with very administration of the game. He managed the Arjuna is that he’s someone who backs little practice and we were caught up with a situ- side during the 1992 World Cup in Australia and the management to the hilt. I had ation where we were not even acclimatised. Once New Zealand and one of the highlights during absolutely no problem at all managing you lose it, you have to come back with nothing. his involvement with the national cricket team that team, because I knew that I had If I am not wrong, this was a tour we had a lot was managing the side to England in 1998 when the captain virtually by my shoulder at more preparation. That (preparation) held us in Sri Lanka recorded their first ever Test win on every point in every decision I made. good stead. The weather in England wasn’t really English soil and won a tri-nation competition That is a great source of strength. My good when we went there. We lost badly to involving the hosts and South Africa. style of management has been to have Glamorgan and I think we got out for 50 odd. We He was also the Manager during Sri Lanka’s total control. We also had Alex Kountouri also felt that they were not really prepared to give tour of Australia in 1998-99 where the team man- who was virtually one of us. I also listened us the respect they should give a Test side. There agement was tested to the extreme when to the players’ point of view on what they was this incident where the umpires tried to was called for throwing. say. treat us like schoolboys, trying to discipline us More recently, Fernando was part of the nation- Question: The final of the Emirates for too much of appealing and things like that, al selection committee leading up to the 2011 Trophy was against England at Lord’s. What are which I don’t think they would have done to any ICC Cricket World Cup. your memories of that epic encounter? of the other sides. In fact when this was first In today’s ‘Lords at Lord’s’, Ranjit Fernando Ranjit: It was a brilliant final and we won pointed out to us, we said: ‘Look this is the way tells us some of the untold stories during that comfortably. got a brilliant time. we play our cricket. This is our culture. We are successful campaign, such as the roles played by hundred. That’s one of the finest ODI not over appealing. Whenever there is a doubt we captain Arjuna Ranatunga and coach Roy Dias, that you see from a top order batsman. Marvan Question: It’s very well known that Marvan ask a question.’ At that time, there was nothing and what helped Marvan Atapattu to make that is never looked upon as someone who would be had a disappointing start to his international to say that you should be fined or sanctioned on tour a breakthrough in his career and lots more. devastating because he had to partner Sanath. career. He made an unbeaten 132 at Lord’s in the things like that. Here are the excerpts: The focus always has been on Sanath, the man final of the Emirates Cup. Was that the turning They were just trying to test our nerves to see Question: Talk us through the lead up to Sri who did the attacking. Marvan looked so bril- point of his career? whether we would get rattled from situations like Lanka’s tour of England in 1998 which you man- liant. I think he would consider that knock as Ranjit: Those days, Marvan was a type of that. My belief is that when it started happening, aged. What were the expectations before you one of his best innings. We were very much in player whom you needed to encourage as much Arjuna had decided that he was not going to be started the campaign? control. However, the match where we came as possible. Maybe the Roy Dias connection subdued by any of these actions. From my point Ranjit: England was one of the key tours at from behind and won was against South Africa. helped him too. If I look for comparisons of view, as manager, I had to carry out a tight bal- that time. Playing England in England has been It was see-sawing as we didn’t have a big score between the two, there are lots of similarities. ancing act by ensuring that peace is not broken the dream of every cricketer. Again we were to defend. Suddenly started to fall and Both are perfectionists in . Their batting totally, but at the same time to back the captain offered one Test Match, similar to what we had we won that game showing the never-give-up is very much from the text book and they have as much as I thought reasonable. earlier. Duleep (Mendis), Ranjan (Madugalle) attitude the players had developed around that great style. They are not guys who are extro- (To be continued tomorrow)