The Island, Tuesday 21st November, 2006 Last chance for Arnold to make things come good by Rex Clementine ‘The Island’ at Sri Lanka Cricket Not too long ago, Sri Lanka’s headquarters yesterday shortly cricket selectors were speaking of before the ‘A’ team left for a three Russel Arnold as a candidate to week tour of the Caribbean. take over the captaincy of the “I have asked the question national side. When the left-han- why. It has happened on numer- der was scoring loads of runs for ous occasions, but I couldn’t find Sri Lanka in both Tests and ODIs a particular reason. But then from 1999 to 2002, he was a vital there were several good things in cog in the wheel, but four years my career as well over the years on, he’s even struggling to make and ups and downs are a part of it to Sri Lanka ‘A’. life I guess,” he said philosophi- Such a prolific scorer earlier cally. on in his career, Arnold’s ability He’s been guilty of not mak- to remain calm when the going ing use of opportunities and with gets tough helped Sri Lanka several young players coming immensely. His off-breaks have through, this could be the last A ceremony to felicitate country’s cricket team and the coaching staff was held by President Mahinda Rajapakse at the Temple come in handy on numerous occa- Russel Arnold opportunity for the NCC batsman at the age 33 although he feels Trees yesterday. The national cricket team came up with some remarkable performances during their tour of England and in the sions, particularly dur- otherwise. home series against South Africa. Sri Lanka’s Australian coach Tom Moody was among those who were felicitated and here he ing that unforgettable “Maybe not. It’ll be the last receives a memento from the President. Pic by Sajith Jayasekara. World Cup Super Six opportunity before the World Cup game against South for sure. But overall, there’ll be 7 Africa in 2003 at Durban other opportunities. All what I that ended in a tie and got to do is to make sure that I Gayle and Ganga lead put South Africa out of make some big scores and prove the tournament. His my form and make it a stepping fielding was sharp, too, stone for the World Cup,” he said. and Arnold was easily Arnold has featured in two West Indies strong reply one of the popular play- World Cup squads (1999 and 2003) ers in the Sri Lankan and a few impressive knocks in MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) - Gayle completed his half SCOREBOARD dressing room for his the Caribbean will put him in the Chris Gayle and Daren Ganga century off 101 balls with seven unselfish approach. picture. If Arnold is able to bring led the West Indies resounding fours while Ganga reached the Pakistan first innings (Overnight 263-4) Captains have argued back that grit in him that has reply with an unbeaten century mark soon off 123 balls when he Mohammad Hafeez c Ramdin b Taylor 36 with selectors for hours served so well for Sri Lanka, it’ll opening partnership after fast drove paceman Gul for his ninth Imran Farhat c Lara b Bravo 74 demanding his selection help him and the team as well. bowler Jerome Taylor's five- boundary of the innings. Younis Khan c Morton b Taylor 56 for he was the ultimate “I know my role in the team. I wicket haul restricted Pakistan "West Indies had a very good Mohammad Yousuf c Lara b Gayle 56 team player, but current- am no longer considered for the to 357 in the second cricket test. day today," Pakistan coach Bob Inzamam-ul-Haq c Ramdin b Taylor 31 ly everything has gone to longer version of the game and Left-handed Gayle was bat- Woolmer said. "Gayle and Ganga Shoaib Malik c Bravo b Collymore 42 pieces for the ex-Peterite. the message is simple. If I can ting on a resolute 87 with 10 batted extremely well and it was Abdul Razzaq not out 16 What exactly went score runs consistently, I’ll back fours and a six while Ganga was a hard work for us." Kamran Akmal c Bravo b Collymore 17 wrong for Russel Arnold? in the senior side,” he said. unbeaten on 59 as the West Earlier, fast bowlers Taylor Shahid Nazir lbw b Taylor 7 Umar Gul c Bravo b Taylor 7 “I don’t know. I really Arnold has represented Sri Indies ended the second day on a and Corey Collymore hit back Danish Kaneria run out 0 don’t know,” Arnold told Lanka in 44 Tests and 165 ODIs. commanding 151-0. It was the with the new ball in the first ses- Extras: (9b, 4lb, 2nb) 15 West Indies' first century open- sion and kept Pakistan's run TOTAL: (all out) 357 ing partnership in 20 test match- scoring in check. Overs: 124 es in Pakistan. Despite some shoddy fielding Fall of wickets: 1-83, 2-125, 3-212, 4-250, The West Indies now trails that saw the West Indies drop a 5-269., 6-315, 7-333, Pakistan by 206 runs with all its couple of catches in the slips, Jones sympathises 8-346, 9-357, 10-357. 10 wickets in hand. Pakistan lost six wickets - five to Bowling:Taylor 26-6-91-5, Collymore 31- Pakistan new-ball pair of Taylor and Collymore - in the 9-67-2, Powell 14-4-50-0 (1nb), Gayle 22- with rival Read Umar Gul and Shahid Nazir, session and was bowled out for 6-52-1, Bravo 19-6-41-1 (1nb), who shared 15 wickets in the 357 in the last over before lunch. Geraint Jones has insisted he is still on good Mohammed 11-1-39-0, Morton 1-0-4-0 first test at Lahore last week that "The ball started swinging terms with Chris Read after replacing him as West Indies first innings England keeper for the first Ashes Test in Pakistan won by nine wickets, after three or four overs in the Chris Gayle not out 87 Brisbane. struggled to separate the two day which was disappointing Daren Ganga not out 59 Jones was dropped during the summer but West Indian openers on a flat and that was a crucial factor," Extras: (4lb, 1nb) 5 coach Duncan Fletcher made an early decision to Multan Cricket Stadium wicket. Woolmer said. TOTAL: (for 0 wicket) 151 reinstate him after the team's arrival in Australia. Both Gayle and Ganga, after "We would have liked to Overs: 57 "It was difficult for him when I found out I was a cautious start, punished the score more runs but West Indies Still to bat: Brian Lara, Shivnarine playing [in the Test]. lose deliveries in the last session, bowled very well with the new Chanderpaul, Runako Morton, "I felt for him in that regard but we still work hitting some well timed bound- ball and bowled some good Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Corey our in the gym together. We're basically friends," aries. balls." Collymore, Daren Powell, Jerome said Jones. Taylor, Dave Mohammed. "When he was included last summer I sent Bowling: Gul 16-7-29-0, Nazir 12-1-40-0 him a text to say good luck. There's nothing per- (1nb), Kaneria 17-1-47-0, Razzaq 7-3-10- sonal between us, we know that. It's a selection Hair engages leading lawyer 0, Hafeez 4-0-20-0, Malik 1-0-1-0. thing." Darrell Hair has hired a lead- offers to continue his first-class Jones admitted he was "a little bit surprised" ing lawyer from the Marylebone career in Australia's state crick- to learn before the warm-up games against New Cricket Club in an effort to et and England's county cricket. South Wales and South Australia that he would restart his international career, "He won't be satisfied unless he definitely be playing in Brisbane. according to The Australian. can gain reinstatement to the Swimmer Thorpe "The early timing of finding out was good for The paper reported that Hair, panel," Denis Hair said. me, it gave me a chance to get my head around who was sacked from the ICC's "It has been a very harrowing it," he said. elite umpiring panel earlier this time for him considering all he to retire? Jones knows, however, that it his batting abil- month, was "in delicate negotia- was doing was his job. We as a ity rather than his prowess with the gloves which tions with the ICC". family are upset and distressed BRISBANE, Australia (AP) - Ian Thorpe's swimming career could be over. has prompted his recall and he needs to perform "I am still trying to work a by the accusations which have The five-time Olympic champion has with the bat in the series sooner rather than later. few things out," Hair said. "I can been made against him when all scheduled a midday news conference only say he was Tuesday at a downtown Sydney hotel. A that I am doing was few days ago, it was thought the announce- extremely upholding ment might be Thorpe's withdrawal from Domestic matches disappoint- the laws of the world championships next March. ed at the the game. But with the championship trials next decision His reward month in Brisbane looming and no sign of postponed made by the has been Thorpe, who has been plagued by illness, All Sri Lanka Cricket tournament ICC to remove me from the elite accusations of racism." injury and a lack of motivation in recent years, officials and teammates fear he is matches scheduled between November panel of umpires.