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Monday 12th June, 2006 11 Review by Rex Clementine in maintaining the pressure. ri Lanka's thrilling win in the Tharanga and Kapugedara third and final Test match against Chamara Kapugedara certainly SEngland squared the series at 1-1, looks the man who'll carry the nation's but there's no doubt that the tourists hopes in the years to come and Upul had more reasons to celebrate than Sri Lanka's remarkable Tharanga is not far behind. What has Andrew Flintoff's men. If not for some made Kapugedara so special is his abili- atrocious umpiring decisions and poor ty to remain cool whatever the situa- team selections, Sri Lanka could have, tion, and his first Test fifty was full of in fact, won the series. On the whole, the class. Test series was a success and provided Tharanga was consistent during the Sri Lanka with many positives. The pre- series, except when he got a pair at diction was for a 3-0 whitewash, once fight back Edgbaston. At Nottingham he came up they went down to England 'A' by ten with scores of 34 and 46. It'll be interest- wickets in a warm up game at ing to see how they will fare in the ODIs. Worcester. To finish the series at 1-1 was Kumar Sangakkara virtually opened definitely a creditable performance. the innings on both occasions after The final Test saw the senior and Michael Vandort’s early dismissal and young players coming up with their best did exceptionally well. In the second and they thoroughly deserved the victo- innings, especially, he looked set for a ry. Muttiah Muralitharan would have big hundred, until a lapse of concentra- finished the game as the Man of the tion brought about his downfall. Match and Man of the Series, but as he Shame on SLC very rightly and genuinely said, it It's a shame that only a privileged few wouldn't have been possible without had the opportunity of seeing Sri Chaminda Vaas. Lanka's amazing victory through cable Vaas got two vital first innings wick- TV,while millions of people were grum- ets, but more than his bowling it was his bling that they couldn't witness the stubborn knocks with the bat that action. It's been almost one week since changed the game in Sri Lanka's favour. the win at Nottingham and it's surpris- He made an unbeaten 38 in the first ing that there's been no effort taken to innings and then another 34 not out in show at least the highlights of the game. the second innings and the contribu- Sri Lanka Cricket's stance on the tions were worth more than gold. issue has been shocking to say the least, Vaas was sensational and so was as they seem to have made absolutely no Muralitharan. Before the Test, you effort to persuade TV companies to could see Murali preparing for the game reach a compromise to telecast at least meticulously and after the net session the highlights. he took Sri Lanka's reserve wicketkeep- SLC could have spoken to the ECB er Prasanna Jayawardene to a side and and if they had done so, there could practiced his deliveries for more than received a positive response as the an hour. English authorities have come under Why would a pro like Murali do that? intense criticism for selling their rights It's another example of his commitment to Sky Sports, which you can view only and the hours of practice he puts in by paying or they could fund it on their helps him to be good at what he does. own for the benefit of the supporters of Foundation. Gunasekara Foundation is given out caught behind after an Sanath Jayasuriya, at the age of 36 had Hard work, indeed, can take you places. the game. But it seems, sadly, SLC is a charity that both Vaas and Andrew Flintoff delivery brushed his England vs Gunasekara Foundation been given a new role in the Test match busy preparing for the impending crick- Muralitharan promote in a big way and thigh pad and went through to the keep- Both the premier bowlers were the and he didn't disappoint with two wick- et elections and nothing worthwhile is they added 62 runs for the last wicket. er and from 84 for one Sri Lanka were 86 main architects of Sri Lanka's victory ets in the first innings and another in going to happen during that time. The After Mahela Jayawardene won the for four at lunch as Tharanga and the and as they were performing the role of the second. While everyone was speak- Sports Minister should call for an expla- toss and elected to bat first, things were captain departed in successive overs. batsmen in Sri Lanka's first innings, nation asking what efforts SLC has going smoothly for Sri Lanka as Kumar ing about the 30 over spell Murali after yet another collapse, one of the taken to do justice to the cricket loving Sangakkara and Upul Tharanga added bowled from the Pavilion End, local journalists commented that it was- New role for the veteran public. But then again, the Sports 82 runs for the second wicket. Jayasuriya was the man who applied n't England playing Sri Lanka but After making 231, Sri Lanka did well Minister too is busy sorting out the But with ten minutes to go for lunch, the pressure from the other end, bowl- mess he is in and the genuine support- England playing the Gunasekara to restrict England to 229. Veteran Darrel Hair struck. Sangakkara was ing 23 overs and was extremely effective ers of the game are suffering. t is an old cliché, yet one forgive the glibness of the com- Atapattu, no one would have have an awful habit of explod- Or maybe it was Vaas. the great Windies escape on the still worth repeating ment. complained. ing in the face of those touting Whatever. The ploy worked final afternoon. IYahaluweni; records are But while others were gaw- The point here is that such claims. South Africa are well. Mahinder Dhoni was belting there to be broken. ping at some minor sideshow in Atapattu had nursed the side four points ahead of Sri Lanka All that is heard, however, is sixes to most areas of the Anyone though, who Germany, the real showpiece along under his careful tute- who are marginally ahead of the bleating of those who feel Antigua Recreation Ground as watched Virender Sehwag’s was of the first day of the sec- lage. Despite the poor form of New Zealand. that the coaches should have Rahul Dravid considered a dec- assault on the social league ond Test in this Caribbean the batsmen in India and dur- The need is to understand the miracle cure. In a mind laration. style bowling offered by the series was at Beausejour, not ing the second innings debacle the role of the coaching team of game such as this, it takes time What with so many sixes off West Indies on Saturday would too far north of the St. Lucia against Pakistan at Asgiriya Tom Moody and Trevor Penney. to develop such strategies and one over from West Indies wrist have grimaced at the way he capital Castries, on this vol- when they were seriously It is a serious matter of being why a three or four Test series spinner David Mohammad, the squandered a chance to join an canic island. The way Sehwag undone by some quality by patient, but too many are all too is of far more value to the team camerawork became carried elite club. And for those with a put his innings together, howev- Mohammad Asif, this team now often in a hurry to bury the axe than a two-match jog along, away to the extent that the ‘six’ memory that stretches as far er, gave the impression that the has few growing pains. in the back of Messrs Moody where sorting out priorities are being tracked over mid-wicket back as the dawn of this centu- human volcano had finally Yeah . the proletariat will and Penney without thinking often a problem. ended up being ‘caught’ by ry, he came far closer than did exploded on this tour. argue how the limited overs gig ahead. More to the point though is Daren Ganga. Well that was the Sanath Jayasuriya at The elusive three- is Sri Lanka’s real strength. It takes time to develop a Murali’s comments earlier this initial story. The umpires were Galle in the first Test figure total which has month of how and why the Sri uncertain and Pakistan’s Asad against South Africa eluded him on this Lanka domestic system is a Rauf asked Billy Doctrove, the in 2000 to reach the tour until now, was joke. He is not the only one TV umpire to make a decision. magical milestone of marshalled against frustrated by an overburdened Doctrove, after viewing a fuzzy a three-figure total bowling that at times Magic structure forced on the Interim picture of the incident, decided before lunch on the was sub-standard for a Committee through a set of he couldn’t make a decision first day of a Test. Test attack. Why, even inherited circumstances. based on the TV replay and Scoring 99 was not Bangladesh have man- Here is a man who under- tossed it back to Rauf. quite enough to go aged to mount a better stands the problem of a young, The problem was that it had into the records.

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