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| Sunday, 11 August 2002 |
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Murali's 'googly' by Srian Obeyesekere Sri Lanka's star bowler, Muttiah Muralitharan must have bowled his best googly at the Cricket Board when he had a swipe at it for not in his opinion advocating necessary reforms to better the country's standard. True, Muralitharan broke the rules in shooting his mouth and was taken to task by the Board. But the crux of it is that the bowler, considered by the cricketing world as a magician with the ball, in fact struck the nail on the head. Muralitharan, in a recent television talk also attended by former captain Arjuna Ranatunga, singled out three key areas if Sri Lankan cricket was to further graduate. A spinners academy, a fast bowlers academy, the necessity to develop a forceful reserve basin in addition to the current 20 odd national players and having an inter-provincial tournament without which islandwide talent cannot be honed in. Muralitharan's remarks came fresh from Sri Lanka's dismal tour of England. And contrave as he did the rules binding players with the Board, he made a valid point in the interests of the game which should not fall of deaf ears. Murali echoing concerns must in a way reflect the brunt he has had to bear to a great extent in spearheading undeniably a deplated bowling attack. gave the feeling he did so that such future calamities could be avoided. Without a doubt Murali has been there bending his back on the trot for country more often than not single handedly compensating for the weak areas within. Indeed, the champion bowler must feel the burden take it toll on body and limb in a game that has kept expanding by its new demands both at Test and one-day level. And the shoulder injury which sidelined the star performer for over a month from national duty when the country needed him as never before in England could be the turning point. Missing the first Test match, but coming in for the second and third Tests despite being only half fit and at the risk of further aggravating his left shoulder which had been under wraps after that nasty injury he sustained during the Sharjah tournament. But resultanly having to miss out on the subsequent triangular tournament. Needless to say having once again found himself overtaxed which prompted Murali to take that decision. The think tanks could well take serious note of the concerns raised by Muralitharan in the greater interests of the game. For one, the reality of how depleted the side is without its match winner as his career record would suggest. 429 Test wickets from 82 matches and two away from surpassing New Zealand's Sir Richard Hadlee's 431 which would make him the fouth highest wicket taker at that level. Some 11 10-wicket hauls and 33 5-wicket hauls. A feat in comparisson unparalelled by any compatriot. Certainly, it is time steps were taken to finecomb to find match winning spinners. The England tour sans Murali should be an eye opener. The only two avaiable in that department - Upul Chandana and Tilan Samaraweera fell far short of expectations. The bottom line is that there has not been worthy talent forthcoming in this department. Unlike in the past when the schools did produce latent talent, in recent times it has not been forthcoming. It even prompted former Chairman of Selectors, Michael Tissera to remark not so long ago that good spinners were not forthcoming from schools because of too much of one-day cricket. Whatever the pros and cons of it, Muralitharan's remarks on the need for a spinners academy should ring a bell. Wrong as he was to flout the rules and talk, the reality is that such an academy is needed to fine tune available talent as is done in countries like Australia. |
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