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| Sunday, 2 January 2005 |
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Sports |  |
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Warne-Murali battle the highlight of 2004 sports by Srian Obeysekere For a nation where milestones in global sports are far and few, counting of year end laurels of Sri Lankan cricketer, Muttiah Muralitharan's world record Test bowling record comes in the gloom of the world's fifth worst earthquake in Asia to affect Sri Lanka in the tail-end of 2004. The aftermath of the tsunami has led to the cancellation of Sri Lanka's cricket tour of New Zealand with the cricketers flying back to join in national mourning and help the victims in their hour of grief. It is in such a catastrophe that Sri Lanka can look back on some of the happier times on the country's sports scene. The calamity with it overshadows the golden aura of Muralitharan's unique feat when he beat West Indian Courtney Walsh's long time world record of 519 wickets. If 1996 was the high point of this nation's cricket in tasting a singular first of bringing home one-day cricket's World Cup, May 8, 2004 added to that leaf - the personal milestone of a Sri Lankan kissing the everest of twirling the arm at that level. It came with the wicket of Zimbabwean Miyukki Nakala completed by a catch by Mahela Jayawardene in the second Test match in Zimbabwe. The joy of the record, however, for Muralitharan and Sri Lankans was shortlived. A shoulder related injury lay-off by Muralitharan, saw Australia's leg spin maestro Shane Warne, who was not that far behind, go past the Sri Lankan. It has left the local hero 29 wickets behind Warne at the moment, but still in limbo. A long look to comeback which may have come with the 2-off Test series against New Zealand is now on hold, and Muralitharan's wait will be the longer when Sri Lanka's next itinerary comes about. But, an impending Warne-Muralitharan race, holds the cricketing world in suspense at such a prospect - the first of its kind where two bowlers are competing almost neck to neck. The 32-year old Sri Lankan, born on April 17, 1972, who made his Test debut in 1992 versus Australia, has 532 wickets to his credit while the 35-year old Australian has 561 wickets with both looking ahead against injury odds. While Muralitharan has suffered two, the previous one in a Sharjah one-day tournament a few years ago when he suffered a shoulder dislocation diving for a catch, Warne has been behest by a score of stress related ones, leaving him the inevitable option of having to play only Test cricket in future if he is to keep going. Comparatively, the odds edge the Sri Lankan's way, with the age factor in his favour and experts back Muralitharan's prediction to end his career on an all time high of the elusive 1000. End of era? But for Muralitharan, there has not been much to talk about on the international hemisphere for Sri Lanka in other sports. In fact, in athletics, instead of a much looked to second Olympic medal from 100 metres bronze medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe at the 2004 Athens Games, the year virtually marked the end of an illustrious career for the Sri Lankan. Her 'crying off' from her pet 100 m. event and the 200 m. event at the homes of the games as it was, the biggest disappointment for Sri Lankans. Since, Jayasinghe has maintained a low profile, leaving fans to believe that it is the end of the road to a glorious career of the bare-footed lass from the village who came to the metropolis, saw and conquered. The only thing left to smile about at the Athens 2004 was high jumper - Anurudha Indrajith, becoming the only Sri Lankan to enter the final round where he was placed 30th. Karate-medal In smaller measure there was karateka Duminda Kalyana from Kiriwaththuduwa, Homagama fighting his way to a gold medal in the kilogram 80 weight category at the 9th SAF Games in Pakistan. Fair sisters Locally, grabbing the limelight was the fair sisters duo from Sooriyawewa, Hambantota in A.A. Gayanthka and A.A. Nidanka dazzling the track in the 800 and 1500 metres in the under-19 and under-17 long distance events at the John Tarbet Meet. |
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