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| Sunday, 15 September 2002 |
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Lankans set the tone by Srian Obeyesekere For a tournament that has seen so much pre-match hype from sponsorship disputes to the introduction of technology, host country Sri Lanka has set the tone. What a roaring start to the ICC Champions Trophy. A resounding 8-wicket victory over Pakistan in the tournament opener last Thursday at the R. Premadasa Stadium has already assured Sri Lanka a semi final berth. They look certain to meet Australia who are in pool-1 alongside New Zealand and Bangladesh in the second semi final. And on its heels South Africa winning a thriller over West Indies on Friday at the SSC. For Sri Lanka, slotted in pool - 4 alongside Pakistan and minnows Holland, in probably the toughest segment is a big leap forward to the host country's hopes. Unlike the ICC' mega event, the world cup, the Champions Trophy dubbed the mini world cup worked out on a virtual knockout format, has put the onus on the leading teams to come good or make an early exit. And it could not have been harder than on the host country. The captain's fitness had been in doubt until the eleventh hour. That he rose to the occasion with a sweetly timed century is timely. And that victory was reached through an unfinished alliance of 156 runs for the third wicket between the most experienced campaigners in the team in Jayasuriya (102 not out) and Aravinda de Silva (66 not out) must indeed rev up the Lankans. It was a fitting climax to the opening game of a glamour event which to hosts Sri Lanka the staging of it comes as a big boom. Not only for the country's cricket. But for its commercial benefits in beefing up an economy just getting on its feet. None the least the tourist sector which had last week reached an upswing. The rush to catch the cricket saw Colombo's five star hotels booked to capacity. And star class was the Lankan bowling and fielding. There was Muttiah Muralitharan turning the ball to good effect for figures of 3 for 29 to sound Sri Lanka's hopes. Dilhara Fernando with his fiery stuff with the occasion slow ball for figures of 3 for 30 rallied the Lankan bowling department after Chaminda Vaas had made history by becoming the first bowler in the world to get a LBW decision through modern technology when his appeal against Shoaib Malik was upheld by the third umpire. For one, the tournament, took off in the wake of a big commercial dispute between the ICC and cricketers who declined to sign new contracts binding them from signing up with sponsors outside tournament approved sponsors. It was salvaged only by a last minute consensus between India's mega star Sachin Tendulkar and his captain Saurav Ganguly who were the most affected. The better use of technology via the third umpire communicating leg before wicket decisions to the umpires in the middle which is said to be experimented with in this tournament has been seen as a long felt need. The tournament is going to be a crowd draw for the big stars in the Tendulkars, Laras, Warnes, Kluseners and our own Jayasuriya and their like. But which nation would carry away the fabulous trophy and cash prize to the tune of 1.15 million US $ could be anyone's guess. That is if one were to go by last time's winners who turned out to be unlikely New Zealand with no stars to boast of. This time around Australia as world champions stand out. But what must throw interest is when a new look team under Ricky Ponting from the world cup winning exploits of Steve Waugh will be put to the acid test. There is Warne, Gilchrist, Bevan and McGrath of old fame. But will they turn the big one this tournament will tell. The Lankans must find their chances enhanced with the batting department finding solidity with the return of Aravinda de Silva to his former number 4 position. It has given solid depth to the batting as evidenced against Pakistan as much as the Morocco tournament where the veteran contributed towards that success. His stroke making has improved with each outing finding close to his old timing. Still more significantly , de Silva has raised his fitness level. The two catches, one covering several yards to take a running catch to dismiss Abdur Razzaq, brought out de Silva at his best. Indeed, this will be the ideal tournament in the run up to the world cup early next year in South Africa. It will enable aspiring nations not the least hosts South Africa who are yet to win one-day cricket's biggest extravaganza to assess their strengths and weaknesses. Of course, the South Africans will be rearing to warm- up by winning the mini world cup for the second time in the wake of their success in Dhaka in 1998. But to achieve the big names will need to find an eluding rhythm. Big Lance Klusener has been found wanting for a long time from producing the type of big innings that had earned him the reputation of Zulu in his country. But the dark horses could well be Sri Lanka or India. The Indians have indeed raised their game to winning levels in recent times with the combination of youth and experience. To of the new lads to watch will be the exciting Yuvraj Singh and Kafu who have lifted the side with some telling performances with the bat. The most memorable been turning seeming defeat into victory chasing a 300 plus victory target against england in the triangular in England in which Sri Lanka participated. The heroes will be the draw. But it could well be the studs who will rise to the occasion. |
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