World Cup Cricket 2007: Team selections and legality of the final
The Sports Editor,
Frankly, I am neither a sports writer nor a journalist, yet my love
for the game has prompted me to pen this words offering my comments to
the other cricket loving public and the authorities concerned. Rightly
or wrongly the Chairman and the selection committee of Sri Lanka cricket
chose a squad of 15 members considered to be the best available at
current times based on their particular skills.
This squad was approved by the Minister of Sports. Any casualty could
be replaced by any one of the 15 as per the skills required and
therefore we had to presume that all members of the squad so chosen were
equally important and talented.
Many knowledgeable cricketers would undoubtedly agree that Marvan
Atapattu was the most accomplished and technically correct batsman of
the squad, closely followed by Kumar Sangakkara, one of the best wicket
keeper-batsmen in the world if not the best and captain Mahela
Jayawardene. The three of them could emulate such great batsmen such as
Anura Tennekoon, Roy Dias, Sidath Wettimuny and Ranjan Madugalle.
Needless to say that Sanath Jayasuriya is a class by himself, one of
the finest all-rounders in world cricket and the biggest hitter of the
ball, while Muttiah Muralitharan is the most feared and the best spinner
currently in world cricket.
There were four other all-rounders namely Chaminda Vaas, Maharoof,
Tillakaratne Dilshan and Russel Arnold.
There were two other youngsters of much promise in Upul Tharanga and
Chamara Silva as quality batsmen.
Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando and Kulasekera were the fast and
medium pace fast bowlers while Malinga Bandara was chosen as the leg
spinner who could also bat courageously.
In my evaluation Upul Tharanga who played as the opening partner of
Sanath in all the games was not consistent although he got about 4 half
centuries in about ten matches.
Russel Arnold too who played in all matches got only one half a
century and run-a-ball in the rest of the matches, also did not
contribute anything substantial. He at times with his 'run a ball' play
was not adequate to the targeted score in the respective matches, where
as Maharoof could have filled that role as a 'pinch' hitter and a good
accurate medium/pacer.
Out of the 15 selected, 2 played one match each while the most
accomplished batsman played none at all in the total tournament, but yet
doing the duties of a 'waterman'. What a sportsman Marvan was, having
been the Sri Lanka captain before, he did his job ungrudgingly.
I salute Asantha de Mel and his co-selectors for their forth
righteousness in following a set pattern despite whatever criticism they
faced.
Final - a failure
The final world cup match itself was an utter failure and a joke to
many a serious cricket followers.
Firstly, having organised the world tournament for almost 50 days,
the organisers failed to play a fifty over each side final.
Secondly by reducing the number of overs to 38 and then 36, gave an
undue advantage to a stronger batting side who could ruthlessly go for
the runs getting the opponents to chase a score under severe pressure.
The Duckworth/Lewis system appears to be very theoretical and can be
useful only in an unavoidable situation.
Thirdly the organisers failed to consider the playing time available
in the background of cloudy conditions that prevailed throughout the
day. After midday, the organisers could have called off the match and
played it on the second day.
Fourthly, despite Sri Lanka agreeing to complete the overs in
extremely bad light, the authorities should have applied the rules that
were meant to be followed. Neither the umpire nor the referee stood by
the rules.
Finally, since Adam Gilchrist, opening batsman for Australia admitted
using a squash ball inside his left hand glove, one can question the
legality of his conduct and further question whether a squash ball or
any other hidden foreign matter inside the cricketing gear is
permissible.
Added to it, is it fair by the rest of the cricketers to take
advantage of using something to enhance his batting ability. In fairness
to the game and in fairness to the cricketers will the ICC conduct an
impartial full scale inquiry in order to take appropriate measures to
correct a wrong situation.
If found guilty, it would be justice to offer one of the three
following measures:
1. To make both teams joint champions
2. Replay the match in a neutral surrounding with fifty overs for
each side.
3. To withhold the awarding of the trophy / No award
True on that day, Sri Lanka would have performed below that of
Australia, but with 'Gilchrist factor' Sri Lanka was not provided with a
fair opportunity to play the game.
I trust that our Sri Lanka Cricket Board would act in the best
possible manner based on a principle so that all cricket playing
countries would benefit by such action, better late than never.
Gerry Hidelaratchi
PS: The writer is a past cricket captain of St. Sylvester's College
who played for the University of Ceylon and Nationalised Services apart
from being Vice President and Acting President of NSCA. He has also
served in the disciplinary committee of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board.
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