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| Sunday, 8 September 2002 |
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Jayasuriya hopeful as Lankan camp has fingers crossed by Srian Obeyesekere The last few days has been a hectic race against time for Sri Lankan cricket captain, Sanath Jayasuriya. This time to beat injury.
Indeed, since dislocating his right shoulder while fielding in the Morocco Triangular final, it has been a desperate race for the Lankan captain to get back on the blocks. For no captain would dream of missing out on what would be a big home occasion when it happens to be the Champions Trophy to be hosted by Sri Lanka. In Jayasuriya's favour, he had won the fitness battle upto last Friday. At the time of writing the skipper was at hand despite the constraints of injury weighing him down to chip in to the `Sunday Observer' that so far it had been so good. "I'm trying my best to make it back to the team", said Jayasuriya determined not to disappoint home fans. Fresh from a workout in the nets for the first time with the bat at the NCC last Friday morning, Jayasuriya did raise hope when he said, " It was a light workout facing the off spinners and I felt comfortable". But of course he was having his fingers crossed as to the big test which would come next Tuesday. That would be when he would face the pace bowlers. Besides, he would have to satisfy team physio alex Kontouri when Jayasuriya would also have to bowl and field. The Lankan skipper would know whether he would make it or not by Tuesday ahead of the curtain raiser on September 12 between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, a day-night at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Making it to the Champions Trophy, dubbed the Mini World Cup, would indeed serve as the ideal occasion for Jayasuriya to get into rhythm in the build-up to next year's World Cup to be staged in South Africa. Considering the ideal home conditions from where he could get a measure of some of the leading countries in the fray. World champions Australia form the cream drawn from the 10 ICC affiliated Test nations in this glamour event. A tournament without Jayasuriya would certainly mean a setback to Sri Lanka's chances. As much as to Jayasuriya's career considering the form he was in at the time he sustained the injury. For in Jayasuriya is a champion batsman, arguably the best in the one-day version when it comes to run making. A status he has enjoyed for the innovation he has breathed into the game for hitting over the top in the first 15 overs. His 171 sixes which is a monumental record for the highest number in hitting over the top which must add weight to Jayasuriya's dominating effect in the game. Indeed, Jayasuriya has been the cutting edge in the Lankan team. Making the difference in terms of run making for his unorthodox style of going after the bowling which has fetched him 12 one-day hundreds and 50 half centuries from 262 innings in 270 matches which have yielded 7928 runs with an everage of 31.33. He has been the mega star. The trophy man in the team carrying away the big awards in championing his side to victory. Had he not in Morocco where he came with his right arm in a sling to carry away `Man of the Match'award for a blazing half century, as well as the `Man of the Series'? His contribution with the ball has been as effective as much as his fielding which has made Jayasuriya an important component as an allrounder. Besides as the captain having made a telling influence as the perfect team man. His slow left arm orethodox leg spin has fetched him 224 wickets while he has accounted for 58 catches. While Jayasuriya continues his race against time, the prospect of going the tournament sans the country's most gifted one-day player leaves the the local selectors of looking at the alternate option Avishka Gunawardene. Gunawardene, a hard hitting left hander, somewhat of a carbon copy of Jayasuriya in appearance and strokeplay has earned a recall in the wake of a hicup to his career. Having found himself dropped early this year with the change of selectors when he seemed to have struck a rhythm opening the batting with Jayasuriya, a recall for the Sharjah tournament before Morocco did not produce the desired results. But in favour of Gunawardene is that he was shifted in the batting order having to bat down and asked to open in one match could not deliver. Gunawardene of course has the credentials of some good knocks as an opener and in the event he has to fill in Jayasuriya's vacancy, this tournament would serve as the ideal opportunity for him to pressurise the selectors ahead of the world cup that he is the best candidate to partner Jayasuriya. This is more so considering the fact that vice captain, Marvan Atapattu did cause concerns at Morocco consuming 31 overs to score 41 in a match. On the other hand, for Atapattu, in the event he has to step into the captaincy shoes, the Champions Trophy must have an added significance. While needing to fill in the void of Jayasuriya in decision making, it will also give him the chance to look for better times with the bat while also needing to lift his running between the wickets. Reflectively, a fit Jayasuriya would mean a fully fledged outfit from which Sri Lanka could count its fortunes with the likes of former veteran captain, Duleep Mendis at hand as an adviser to the team. Interestingly, it will once again see the teaming up of Mendis and Whatmore in the decision making. Importantly, the home tournament will give the Sri Lankans the opportunity of getting a measure of a new look Australian side led by Ricky Ponting who took over the reins from Steve Waugh sometime ago. Furthermore, the tournament would in so much give an insight as to the comparative strengths of the teams in the build-up to the 2003 world cup in South Africa notwithstanding the contrasting conditions. |
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