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| Sunday, 22 December 2002 |
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Sri Lankans have their hands full in trying to stop rampaging Aussies Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from Australia PERTH, Western Australia, Dec 21 - The Sri Lankan cricketers who seem to be just going through the motions, will meet the rampaging Australians for the first time in the on-going VB Series triangular competition under lights here tomorrow. The Sri Lankans have so far fronted up to the Englishmen in two games, losing both and at the form that the Aussies are playing then they are in for another hiding. England were in quicksand struggling for survival and looking for a straw to clutch to like a drowning man. Sri Lanka provided that straw and England have resurrected their game and if their two wins against the Lankans are an indication, then they are in line to contest the best of three finals against Australia. The form shown by the Lankans, so far to say the least is putrid. They seem to be lacking commitment in every aspect of the game. What has been most disgraceful is their fielding, especially the catching in the slips. At one time the Lankans had the reputation of being the best fielding side in the world. But now they are the worst fielding side probably in the world, sad. In one-day cricket, fielding has to be at its best. There are no excuses for dropped catches and shoddy fielding. Usually in this type of game, you must make catches out of nothing. But at the moment, the Lankans don't seem to be able to even accept regulation catches. To the credit of the Lankans bowlers, especially the pacies - Chaminda Vaas, Pulasthi Gunaratne, Prabath Nissanka and Dilhara Fernando, it must be said that they are bowling with purpose and looking for wickets. But all their efforts have been of little value because of the very ugly catching. Vaas and Fernando especially have made the batsmen struggle and got the early wickets that are vital. But at crucial moments, catches have been dropped off their bowling, allowing the opponents to get on top, consolidate and run up imposing totals. The batsmen too seem to lack commitment. They seem to be batting for individuals brilliance and not batting for the team. In this game scoring runs is what matters. How you score them is immaterial. That is why the even the reverse sweep came into being. Most of the Lankan batsmen seem to be playing the wrong type of game. They seem to be playing Test cricket and not playing the way the one-day game demands. Other than for Sangakkara, Jayawardena, Arnold and Atapattu who are making an effort, the other batsmen seem to be in lost land. Pity that skipper Jayasuriya has not been able to step on it. He seems to be overawed by the occasion and is reluctant to play his usual attacking game. One hopes that he will find form soon and inspire the other batsmen to find form, score runs and put the pressure on the opponents. The Australians will miss their dasher Adam Gilchrist and leg-spinner Shane Warne against the Lankans. But they have more than adequate replacements and will have no difficulty in knocking over the Lankans and maintaining their winning streak. Opener Matthew Hayden, skipper Ponting, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann have all been in the run-making act and should score heavily and smash the Lankan bowlers around the park. The Aussie bowlign spearheaded by McGrath, Gillespie and Watson have been made to look larger than life owing to the fantastic fielding, where the fielders have made catches out of nothing. Cricket is a funny game as the Lankan showed back in Colombo when they beat the Aussies in the semis of the ICC Trophy. So let's hope that the Lankans can find that form of old and give the Aussies at least a game. |
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