Friday 20th May, 2011 15 BY REX CLEMENTINE (Continued from yesterday) n this penultimate episode of the interview with Roy Dias in our segment ‘Lords at Lord’s,’ IDias reveals the role of Sir Gary Sobers, who coached Sri Lanka in the 1980s, in ensuring that the British respected the members of his young team. Dias recalls one particular incident where Sir Gary intervened during the 1983 Prudential World Cup in England when the receptionists at the team hotel were rude to some of the Sri Lankan players. He also dwells extensively on Sri Lanka’s deci- sion to bowl first in the famous 1998 Oval Test which marked Sri Lanka’s first ever Test win on English soil. He also recalls Sir Gary’s influence on his career and the tips he provided when he didn’t know how to get through nervousness before bat- ting and the roles played by Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu and Muttiah Muralitharan dur- ing that successful 1998 tour to England of which Dias was the Sri Lanka coach. Following are excerpts: Question: Tell us about the decision to bowl first at The Oval in 1998. Was it discussed exten- sively by the team management? Roy: We had already won the Emirates Cup tri series and we were determined to do well in the one off Test Match as well, at least to draw the game. The wicket was good. Ranjan Paranavithana (who covered the series for our sister paper ‘Divaina’) had a camera and he took a shot where Arjuna (Ranatunga), Ari (Aravinda de Silva) and I were looking at the wicket on one end and on the other end, David Graveney, Nasser Hussain and Alec Stewart were looking at the wicket as well. Both parties couldn’t decide what to do; whether to bat or bowl first. Then, ultimately we won the toss and we put them in and after the first day, they were 300 odd for four or something. Ranjit Fernando, who was the Manager of the side, told me that Simon Hughes was there to see me. I knew Simon well because we played for Colts together. Simon had become a journalist after his playing days. He asked me; ‘Roy, why did you decide to put Sir Gary Sobers with England in?’ I told him, ‘Simon, today is only the the one and only first day. There are four more days to go. Talk to M. Sathasivam me after the fourth or the fifth day.’ Then he said, ‘No, but I am just asking you Roy.’ I told him, ‘Simon, I know the bouncers you used to bowl at us at Colts in the side nets. But for this bouncer, I won’t get caught.’ Luckily for us, we got them out for 400 odd. Sanath got a fabulous double hundred and Ari got 150 odd. We put on a big total. Even our last pair; Suresh Perera and Murali, added some valuable runs, 50 odd I think. Then Murali as usual came up with his genius stuff and we won the game. After the game, I went up to Simon and told him, ‘Simon, you asked me a question on the first day?’ I told him, ‘Look, Murali is our match winner. If we had bat- ted and fielded second, Murali had to contin- ue bowling for three days (assuming Sri Lanka forced England to follow on). But we thought we’ll put England in and get a good score, give Murali a break in between the two innings so that he could come back for the sec- ond innings. That was a good answer. Even at that time, Murali was such a hard worker, he used to bowl and bowl. Even during the lunch break, when you have 40 odd minutes, he used to ask me, ‘shall we do some spot bowling?’ He was saying; ‘okay, this is going straight’, ‘this is turn- ing’ and he was also trying the particular delivery which could go the other way. I never got involved, but I think he worked on the doosra at that point. He used to ask me whether it went the other way or not. I had nothing to do with that, but I feel he was working on that. He got 16 wickets in that Test Match just by bowling off-spin. Question: But the decision to bowl first, was it discussed heavily? Roy: Yes, we discussed. We said we don’t know the wicket and let’s put the opposition and see how they go about it. In the first hour, there’s some- And when the girl said for the thing and we believed in Murali. The first day was third time, ‘call for Mr. Sobers,’ not so great and then we batted superbly and we had plenty of time to get them out. When you don’t Sir Gary went up to the recep- know the wicket, the best thing is to lose the toss. Question: Tell us about the feeling when you tionist and said; ‘Excuse me, is won? there a call for Sir Gary Sobers.’ Roy: Well, to be part of that team captained by Arjuna that won the Emirates Cup by beating Then the lady asked; ‘Are you England and South Africa and then the Test Match Mr. Sobers?’ That was it. He at The Oval, that’s special. That’s what most of the coaches want. said; ‘I am not Mr. Sobers. Your Question: Some of the shots that Sanath Jayasuriya played in that Test Match looked out of Queen gave this (title) to me. this world too? Not that I wanted it, so you bet- Roy: Well, you can speak of the Dilscoop, but the most amazing shot that I have seen was one Roy Dias ter call me Sir Gary.’ The girl Sanath hit when we were chasing 36 runs to win the Test. They were bouncing at Sanath and when (Pic by Nimal Dayaratne) was in a shock. She was so he cut Angus Fraser, he was off the ground some upset. The very next moment, three feet or so. He was square cutting Fraser for a six and that was one of the most amazing shots not all the keys were given and only I have seen, but those at the ground that day never watched. I didn’t want anyone to talk to me Murugasu, our Manager, went up to him and said, from the next morning onwards, saw as well. as well. Sir Gary, when he was coaching us, saw ‘Sir Gary, I think there’s a call for you.’ Sir Gary this and he once said, ‘Roy, you aren’t the type to replied, ‘No maan. That’s not for me. That’s for Mr. Question: Would you say that that was the when we went down, they used turnaround of Marvan Atapattu’s career as well? watch the game, are you?’ I said, ‘No sir, not when I Sobers!’ And when the girl said for the third time, Roy: I remember when Marvan was going am about to bat.’ ‘Then,’ he said, ‘There’s a couch ‘call for Mr. Sobers,’ Sir Gary went up to the recep- to tell us; ‘Good morning sir!,’ over there. Go and rest! When a wicket falls, I will tionist and said; ‘Excuse me, is there a call for Sir through that bad patch in India, we knew he was ‘What’s your room number sir?,’ too good a player to go through something like call you.’ Within me, I thought this is crazy Gary Sobers.’ Then the lady asked; ‘Are you Mr. that. I remember Anura Tennekoon telling me that because I can’t surely be sleeping. I did that for the Sobers?’ That was it. He said; ‘I am not Mr. Sobers. ‘Can I help you sir?’ and so on. if I were failing, the best position to bat was open- first time in a World Cup game against New Your Queen gave this (title) to me. Not that I want- ing the innings. Every batsman thinks that going Zealand and we went onto win that game. I remem- ed it, so you better call me Sir Gary.’ This girl was ber Brendon (Kuruppu) got a fifty and I also got a in a shock. She was so upset. The very next down the order will sort it out, but that’s wrong. there’s nothing wrong.’ Then we told him; ‘Sir, why fifty. I also believe that you have to watch a bowler moment, all the keys were given and from the next You become more nervous the more down you go. don’t you pick us a good horse.’ He said okay, but from his run up, not when he’s delivering. The morning onwards, when we went down, they used Whenever Anura failed, at number three or four, asked how much we were going to bet. We said, focus has to be there as he is running in. to tell us; ‘Good morning sir!,’ ‘What’s your room he started opening. He used to say, ‘I don’t know ‘one pound.’ He said; ‘Put five pounds!’ We looked Question: Tell us about Sir Garfield Sobers’ number sir?,’ ‘Can I help you sir?’ and so on. They the bowlers or the conditions and if I were to get at each other because five pounds meant too much contributions to our cricket? were highly respectful because of Sir Gary. We out, I will get out.’ We got Marvan to open for SSC that there wouldn’t be any dinner had we lost.