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| Sunday, 23 May 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Murali overcomes difficult moments and establishes himself as the GREATEST bowler! by Srian Obeyesekere
Firecrackers rent the night air in a cackle. A festive air is all about Sri Lanka. No, it is not ushering in another X'Mas when Santa Claus makes his visit, or New Year. It is an altogether different occasion. The roadsides are illuminated. An expectant crowd swells in its numbers. It is a Santa of a different type they await on a Thursday night. He is hero to millions. A nation awaits Muttiah Muralitharan's large sized gift - 527 wickets! The world record as some of the illuminations of the record figures dance under the night sky before life size pictures of Muralitharan. Yes, it is a monumental gift bought from sheer sweat and toil and thick and thin by the record breaking Sri Lankan bowler. A gift for all time to a tiny island nation nestling in the Indian Ocean. Indeed, Murali, as he is affectionately known throughout the cricketing world, is the greatest. He is to Sri Lanka what Muhammed Ali was to America. What Pele is to Brazil or Beckham to England. A superstar superseding the rest of the bowling genre. As great a star as the darlings and angels of Hollywood or Bollywood. Indeed, Muralitharan the cricketer, ever since he stepped into the cricket field as a teenager has got his act right with some bravura to cross the huge bridge of records to a all-time great. So much so as to braving the controversy that has from time to time threatened to end his career. So much so that returning home, the hero is quick to tell the western world that stopping his 'doosra' was not going to stop him. "I don't want to give up or give in to them (detractors). If the western world is trying to stop me, I'll continue with it more. Even if retirement was in my mind by 2007, I might go on and on." This was what Muralitharan bowled not long after he stepped on home soil, in answer to what an entire Sri Lankan nation believes is a smear campaign against him from certain quarters. A smear campaign which has even drawn one of the highest in the land, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse coming to the defence of a true son of the soil. Indeed, Muralitharan's has been a sucess story trysted on the way with heart breaks by the number. "When I was first called in 1995 in Australia I didn't know what to do. I only found respite when Arjuna (Ranatunga) told me, 'keep on bowling'. Even when I bowled a leg-break I was called." Those last lines, perhaps more than anything, go to manifest Muralitharan's story. The rise and fall and rise to capturing the world. A story, the lows which are best mouthed by the words of none other than our master batsman Aravinda de Silva. "I am so happy for Murali because I know the difficult times he has gone through. I was a member of the team in 1995 when Murali was first called. It was the worst day in my cricketing life," recalls De Silva, now Vice President of Sri Lanka Cricket at the head table at the brief confab for the press at last Thursday's felicitation at the local citadel of the game - Sri Lanka Cricket.
Aravinda, who todate is remembered by a grateful nation for the day he stepped into the crease to lash an epic century from crumbles against Australia to win the World Cup in 1995-'96, continues to deliver a message from former president of Sri Lanka Cricket to Muralitharan to 'make this achievement to last forever'. And he is quick to hold forth the audience as to that mid summer night like misadventure in 1995 in the run up to the World Cup. "I remember how I rang Thilanga Sumathipala who headed the board then to inform him of the events concerning Murali. Thilanga said, "Take any decision and I'll back you.' And I also remember how Arjuna and myself burnt midnight oil, consulting lawyers till 5.30 a.m. soon after as to what course of action had to be taken. Therefore, it's a great joy to me to see Murali achieve the world record after all the difficulties he has undergone. He is a great team man, although he's been a pest in the dressing room screaming at the batsmen waiting to go out to bat." Those last words coming with a mischievous smile from Ari as Aravinda is known to his cricketing colleagues. By now it is almost 9 p.m. A cricket crazed nation has saluted their hero. After a red carpet welcome at the airport, Murali has been mobbed right along the way driven in an open motorcade with his teammates. From one reception to another. Through arcades of bats held out by schoolboys. Perhaps the most nostalgic being those from his old school St. Anthony's, Katugastota. The red,navy blue and dark blue coloured college flag fluttering alongside the national flag epitomed by the tall looking looks of the lion. A tired Murali and teammates everyone knows long for a well deserved rest. "How is it to be the greatest despite the controversy?," I asked Murali in question time as Chief Executive Officer, Duleep Mendis and SLC officials look to pack off the jet lagged cricketers. "An honour. There were mixed feelings." Of course, Murali, the great team man that he is, and who says he is 'very proud to be a Sri Lankan' is not willing to own up to the record without sharing the efforts with his teammates. "All past captains from Arjuna to Aravinda, Sanath Jayasuriya and Hashan Tillekeratne and Marvan Atapattu supported and helped me along. And I cannot forget my school coach Sunil Fernando as much as other coaches everyone whom I cannot mention by name." Indeed, the day belonged to Murali. It was a red letter day for the country and all roads led to Muralitharan. It was the culmination of what started from small beginnings as a 11-year old at St. Anthony's College. Born to a family of four boys, Muralitharan, the eldest son of a biscuit confectioner was surrounded by his family members - all smiles. Smiles of joy at the kid from St. Anthony's in the hills transcending his cricketing virtues into the history books of all time. A jubilation of an entire nation that a son of the soil from this part of the sub-continent had done it. Not only breaking the barriers of controversy and records, but also of bringing together a mutli-ethnic nation. He is hailed not only for his cricketing achievements but also as a great ambassador for the country. Above all, Thursday's felicitations was a day of fruition for the country's cricket. It marked Lankan cricket's biggest chapter in a journey of well over a century of years. From an age when the game took off on a recreational note, when big brothers like England and Australia stopped over for 'whistle-stop' tours. Of cricket that festered in years as latent talent latched on to a bigger stage, but which rode formative years to ushering a new age that has brought along the likes of Muralitharan. |
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