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| Sunday, 27 June 2004 |
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Focus on Australia - Sri Lanka Tests in Darwin and Cairns Australia in top gear - can it be reversed? - asks George Mendis Question: In the all-world cricket scenario the Aussies reign supreme on the ICC positions!!! 'OZ' is No. 1 in class while SL is 7th out of 11 in ICC Test level grades - can No. 7 match No. 1 on equal terms? The recent past is not too good, having lost 3:0 on SL turf last year, and without the services of the master bowler, Murali to control 50% of the bowling, is SL doubly prepared to bat, bowl and field in the two outstations, Darwin and Cairns amidst the 'OZ' type shouts and barracking? Are any new strategies, and psychological traps, like 'Doosras' or Googlies ready (i) to get Aus Master bats, Ponting, Hayden, Martin, Lehman etc. out of the crease, etc. (ii) to master the bowling tactics, traps and face confidently the spin of Warne, pacers of Megrath, Gillespie, the body liners of Brett Lee and (iii) to be fit in the field for long hours and not allowing a 2nd chance to the master batsmen in particular. Prioritywise we expect a guarantee on physical cum mental fitness and on fielding from Marvan's team. Let's get back to our main question - Will it be impossible to outplay Ausies on their prepared turfs? Is it possible for SL with the seven superclass batsmen, and a fine set of fielders, although with no Murali yet with bowlers Vaas and his reverse swings, Soysa and his bumpers, Herath, Sanath with their slow deceptive spin partner to challenge the alleged mighty Aussies? We have hopes - SL has had Yodayas, cricketwise Muralis, who have made extra efforts, may be in spin/turn and won the battles. Be that as it may - let's go back to the past performances of Aus-SL clashes in the interests of SL 1996 World Cup winnings of SL with Aus etc. is common knowledge - hence I refer to the very next: fixtures: For the sake of being optimistic, yes narrow-minded in favour of SL let me repeat the doings of SLers when the Aussies were outplayed a few years back - I refer to the 1996 internationals. Yes - I will substantiate this in giving a brief note of what happened in Colombo in 1996 at the Singer Cup Quadrangular comprising India, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Australia, Sri Lanka won full honours having beaten the other three teams: S.L. vs Aus. - 1st match - on 30.8.'96 at the Premadasa Stadium It appeared the Aussies were determined to beat SL to avenge the defeat at the World Cup final. The score board read: Australia-228 for 9 in 50 overs; S.L. 232 for 6 in 46 overs - SL won by 4 wkts. The Waughs (Mark/Steve), Ponting did the scoring and expected McGarth, Fleming and Reiffel to bowl out the Lankans. - Although at the beginning Jayasuriya flayed the bowling, the Aussie hopes were lit with the sudden fall of 4 wickets for 4 runs and the SL score reduced to an ominous 81 for 5 wickets with only Aravinda and Mahanama left of the premier weilders of the bat. This pair partnered for 115 runs and it was left for Aravinda to get the support of Upul Chandana to over run the 'OZ' score. Aravinda remained not out at 83 and consolidated his unique display in the Singer Tourney in not being out throughout the series. The 2nd match on 7.9.'96 at Premadasa Stadium: Due to the inclement weather, it was a 35 over match. SL - 234 for 3 off 35 overs, Australia - 184 all out in 33 overs - SL won easily. The world known SL 'Master Blasters' then, Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana showed their unique fast scoring talent in the SL score ascending from 50 in 6 overs, 74 in 9 overs, 100 in 12 overs up to 234 ranging above 6 runs an over. The world class bowlers McGarth, Reiffel, Fleming etc. were at the receiving end of the onslaught. Although Mark Waugh and Slater gave a massive start of 16 runs in 2 overs, the Aussie batsmen failed against the accurate attack of the spinners - in particular. Muralitharan, Jayasuriya, Dharmasena and particularly the leg-spinner Upul Chandana who kept the Aussie batsmen at bay. The other outstanding feature was the grand fielding display of the Lankans especially Mahanama in running out Mark Waugh inform then and his outstanding catch - holding McGarth's blind hit: although Mahanama was 30 metres away, he ran and held on to the ball just above the ground. Lankan hopes The Aussies are not invincible - they can be made vulnerable - a judicious plan of bowling, fielding and steady, not hasty batting are needed. Strategies are useful in planning action on the field to overpower the batsmen, especially the hard hitters and also for the SLers to face boldly the fast bowling - bumpers/body liners of Lee/McGarth/Gillespie and also to manage safely the googlies of Warne without falling victim to traps laid, since it is essential that Sanath J/Marvan give an opening stand of hundreds, they have to be sharp in studying the field placings in shaping strokes to deceptive pace and spin and expert fielding of Ponting and secret placement of fielders. Careful preparation being aware of the wiles of the Aussies in mastering opponents is needed. Psychological motivation - It is presume that our coach Dyson, the teacher and psychologist may have given some amount of 'mindset' exercises along with stroke play, avoiding undue haste and to try a long stay at the wicket. Significant partnerships led by Sanath, Marvan, Sangakkara, Mahela are essential. Good management by the captain will be crucial, Vaas, Soysa etc. need motivation with placement of the correct fielders in the correct places, on timely changes, secret field movements etc. to match the particular fast or slow scoring batsmen. |
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