Tuesday 30th November, 2010 Former, present stars reminisce glory days at Asgiriya BY REX CLEMENTINE Sri Lanka went onto lose Tests against finger wagging incident. Plenty of play- South Africa and England by seven runs ers were called up to the Match Referee’s Arjuna Duleep Arjuna sgiriya International Cricket and three wickets respectively after win- room and several of them were Ranatunga Stadium in Kandy has been the ning by an innings in previous Tests, penalised. Mendis Alocation for some unforgettable played against those teams in Galle. Asgiriya also saw the dreadful colli- (Played ten cricketing moments ever since the Horrendous umpiring decisions have sion between Stephen Waugh and Jason (Played four Tests at Asgiriya. Tests at venue became Sri Lanka’s second Test been in the spotlight too at Asgiriya, Gillespie. Waugh broke his nose while After being Asgiriya and cricket venue in 1983. most notably when umpire B. C. Cooray, Gillespie broke a bone in his shin. Both removed as cap- captained the tain in 1999, The venue saw Sri Lanka’s first and officiating his last Test Match, had a players were airlifted to Colombo for inaugural one only Test win against the Australians in very ordinary game in the 2001 Test immediate medical attention. There was Captain Cool played there. In played a crucial role as Sri Lanka 1999 and eight years later Muttiah between Sri Lanka and England. Next also another collision between Brian 1985 against beat Australia for the first time in a Muralitharan went past Shane Warne to day, newspapers were highly critical as Lara and Marvan Atapattu that resulted India, scored a half-century in Test where Sri Lanka chased a tar- become the highest wicket taker in Test one of them saying, ‘Umpire Cooray, in Lara dislocating his shoulder and fly- first innings and a match saving get of 94 shakily. He also scored a 90 cricket. bats for England’. The same Test saw ing back home. Sadly, that was his last century in the second) against them as a 19-year-old in The best knock here probably came Sanath Jayasuriya smashing his helmet appearance against Sri Lanka in Sri Asgiriya was hosting the last 1983.) from Marvan Atapattu when he went on the ground before entering the dress- Lanka. Test of the three-match series. A lot of people speak about that We were leading 1-0 having won onto compile a double hundred after ing room and throwing away his bat to We spoke to a host of former and win against Australia or my last at P. Sara Oval (Sri Lanka’s first being hit on the head by a Wasim Akram protest against an umpiring decision. In present Sri Lankan stars on the thrills Test at Asgiriya against South Test win). India came hard on us Africa where I got 80 odd runs and bouncer in 2000. the same game, Mike Atherton and and disappointments of playing at in the next Test. All what we There were heartbreaks as well as Kumar Sangakkara were involved in a Asgiriya. Here’s what they had to say. we came so close to winning. But I wanted was a draw to ensure a remember a Test at Asgiriya way first ever series win. I got a 50 in back in 1983 against Australia. That the first innings, but we were Australian team had all the stars; Aravinda de Silva to bat with the tail to ensure Sanath bowled out for 198. India had Chappell, Lillee, Hookes, Yallop, a draw. We lost seven wickets, dominated the game and they Border and Yardley. I got 90 in the Jayasuriya gave us four sessions to survive. (Played eight Tests at but managed to save the Test. Jayasuriya first innings. It felt bad when I got (Of his 14 Test We were new to Test cricket and Asgiriya. Remained not out The World Cup match was out, caught Lillee, bowled Yardley. hundreds, three India had some quality bowlers on 29 to save the 1985 Test sensational. We went onto But that knock gave me a lot of con- came in Kandy. like Kapil Dev, Chetan Sharma, against India after Mendis pile up 398, a World Record fidence. I was just 19 and to do well His 131 against Maninder Singh and Ravi Shastri and Dias had hit centuries. then. Our World Cup cam- against such a quality attack was Australia in 2004 and we lost three early wickets Also hit 145 off 115 balls in a paign certainly gained great. saved his place in for something like 35. Together World Cup match against momentum with that. I also the side. with Roy Dias, I batted for one Kenya. The highest individ- remember an under-23 match Jayasuriya danc- full day. Both of us got centuries ual score at Asgiriya in ODIs) against Pakistan in 1986. ing down the track to loft Shane (Roy made 106 and Duleep 124) In 1985, we were trying to save the Wasim Akram had just started Warne was a sight to watch.) and we saved the Test Match. It Tillekeratne Test Match against India and Duleep emerging and I went onto get a hun- The conditions at Asgiriya can was an awesome feeling. There and Roy had done the spade work, but dred. Plenty of good memories at Dilshan be demanding for the batsmen in had been two Tests played at had got out in the last session. I had Asgiriya and those will remain in my memory for time to come. the first session, particularly for Asgiriya before that and both (His return to the openers. Usually there’s a full Australia and New Zealand Test cricket in house at Asgiriya and people appre- thrashed us in those. With ball 2003 was at ciate good cricket. I remember in doing a bit many felt we will lose, Asgiriya and he Kumar you lose four or five wickets 2000 I was captaining the side and but we just hang in there and it made it count by lunch and then it settles Pakistan had beaten us in the first was great. For me, Asgiriya is an with a half-centu- Sangakkara down and it starts turning. two Tests and going into the final historical place and you wouldn’t ry in the first Moving Tests away from Test, there was some pressure. I get that kind of a setting any- innings and a century in the sec- (Scored over 1,000 runs at Asgiriya is something that went onto get 180 odd against a where else. We have to thank ond.) Asgiriya, most by any crick- cannot be controlled. good attack and added over 300 Trinity College for being so gen- I had been dropped from the eter and averages almost 60 Hopefully one day, Test runs for the first wicket with erous in giving us the venue. To side and was recalled for the Test at his school ground, more be honest, we were unfair on cricket can be played at both Marvan. But the knock I remember series against England. Didn’t play than his career average. In Trinity, because as the curators the first Test in Galle, but was grounds. I had a magical most is the 131 against Australia. 2001, he missed his maiden had to spend a fair bit of time in given a chance in Kandy and I experience growing up and That was one of my better knocks. Test hundred when he gave preparing the wicket, Trinity had made it count with a century and there were some great coach- Also under pressure against a very Robert Croft the charge on 95 and was to stop all other sports. A word a fifty.It’s challenging to bat earli- es too and finally to play a Test good attack. At the end it was disap- stumped) pointing to lose by some 20 odd on Mr. Gamini Dissanayake as er on but turns out to be a good Match at Asgiriya was even better. A I love playing at Asgiriya. It was a runs, but was extremely happy to well. If not for him this wouldn’t batting track. It’s a fast outfield lot of good memories of Trinity and fantastic cricket wicket and it’s pro- take it very close against such a have been a Test venue. and that century against England Asgiriya, but life goes on. duced great results. If you bat first good side. secured my place in the side. Sanga replaces Lankan stars support people living Pollard named in Sachin as with AIDS on World Aids Day International cricket will that cricketers show their sup- infection,” said Sangakkara. number one show its support for people liv- port for the Think Wise initia- “This lack of awareness is Windies ODI/T-20 Squad Sri Lanka ing with HIV and AIDS this tive, a joint partnership compounded by the discrimi- week with leading players between the ICC, UNAIDS, nation that those living with captain Kumar Hard hitting “This will be a wearing red ribbons on their UNICEF and the Global Media HIV and AIDS undergo. It is Sangakkara has playing shirts in international AIDS Initiative that has been therefore important to create middle order very important regained the top matches to help celebrate running since 2003. awareness to stop the spread batsman Kieron series for us as spot from World Aids Day as part of the The initiative aims to raise of the virus while also curb- Pollard has been we look ahead to India’s Sachin Think Wise partnership.