Irrepressible, magnificent Mahela Jayawardena!
In the euphoria that was Muttiah Muralitharan, his retirement and
whether he would get to 800 Test wickets, the heroics of former Sri
Lanka captain in Galle and now vice captain in the series against India
Mahela Jayawardena went unnoticed.
Simple, humble and unassuming Jayawardena’s superb catching in the
slips that showed the way for Sri Lanka’s victory and Muralitharan’s
800th wicket did not receive the prominence it richly deserved.
When dashing opener Virender Sehwag after his century in the first
innings was threatening to cut loose in the second, it was the dream
catch by Jayawardena in the gully, where he timed his jump to a nicety
and clung on to the catch when it seemed to be flying to the
boundary,that opened the gates for Sri Lanka’s victory.
History rewritten
Then when it looked as though wicket 800 would evade Muralitheran,
Jayawardena took a snick at slip off the bat of left-hander Ojah that
rocketed off the bat and seemed to be going to earth that helped the
bowler jubilate and rewrite history.
Had somebody asked Jayawardena about these two catches, he would have
like the true sportsman he is said; ‘I was only doing a job’. And his
humility was never better exemplified than what he said after breaking
the record of that greatest batsman that the world had seen and will
ever see the late great Sir Donald Bradman.
Now to be classed or bracketed with the great Don is to be in the
seventh heaven. Not many mortals can claim that distinction. So what
Jayawardena achieved is what dreams are made of.
28th Test century
Jayawardena in making his 28th Test century, also made his 10th Test
three-figure score at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground. That record was
previously held by the great ‘Don’ who made nine hundreds at the
Melbourne Cricket Ground.
When questioned after the day’s play, Jayawardena said that his knock
should not be compared with the Don’s effort. The Don played 11 Tests at
the MCG and scored nine centuries. ‘I needed 23 Tests to achieve that.
The Don is a legend. It’s a moment I will always remember’, said
Jayawardena who was unfortunately prematurely deposed as Sri Lanka
captain.
Being nominated vice captain for the series against India shows how
important and indispensable he is to Sri Lanka cricket and its future.
Pakistan Zindabad
It was a day of rejoicing for new Pakistan skipper Salman Butt when
his team made the Australians eat humble pie beating them by 4 wickets
in the Second Test at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday.
Before the Test began the Pakistanis were in a bit of disarray what
with skipper Sahid Afridi deciding to quit and leaving them to sink or
swim, saying that he has lost the urge to play the longer version of the
game.
Afridi’s quitting seemed to come as a blessing in disguise for the
Pakistanis. The selectors did not chase after Afridi, but acted promptly
and asked Salman Butt to take over the captaincy.
Butt saw to it that his batting aggression would also rub off on the
team and leading by example and with his team mates rallying round him
and showing aggression that was sadly lacking in their game stuffed the
Kangaroos.
Anxious moments
The victory when it finally came after some anxious moments chasing
170 runs for a historic victory was sweet and memorable and did not only
the squad, but Pakistanis in England and in Pakistan celebrated till the
wee hours of the morning singing, dancing and merry making.
Pakistan cricket has never been on victory streets. That is because
there seems to be a lot of individual play and also the constant
chopping and changing of captains. Whenever a Pakistan team takes the
field what is quite evident is that they have three or more past
captains in the team.
Now that Butt has led them to victory at the first time of asking, it
is now up to the Pakistan Cricket Board and their selectors to persist
with him and give him all the encouragement to blossom in his captaincy
and take their cricket forward.
What was interesting in their victory was to see all the team members
rallying round Butt and supporting his every move that paid great
dividends as their victory after 15 years over the formidable
Australians will show.
Inferiority complex
This triumph should now give the team the impetus and urge to go for
more wins which they are capable of doing, if they make it their
business to shed the inferiority complex and take the field shedding
that second to none attitude.
Coach, Waqar Younus’ former fast bowling partner of Wasim Akram was
elated with his squads showing showering praise on the young hit squad
and warned England whom they play in four Tests to watch out.
Since the time of Imran Khan as captain, the England-Pakistan series
have always been wrapped in controversy and many have been the heated
moments which has gone to sour their relationship. The incidents are
better forgotten and need not be reiterated.
The Pakistanis put the Aussies on the skids on the first day when
they went for throat and strangled the kangaroos bundling them out for
88 their lowest score in 26 years. Aussies’ previous lowest score was
made in 1984 when the Windies dismissed them for 76 in Perth.
Splendid team effort
While the Pakistan victory was made possible by a splendid team
effort, the extra special devastating spells by the young and promising
left arm express bowler Mohammed Aamer needs special mention. He was
breathing fire at the Aussie batsmen and teased and tormented them to
their demise.
Wasim Akram who was easily the best left-arm paceman produced by
Pakistan and who dominated the world stage during his time was profuse
in his praise of Aamer, saying that he is bowling better than when he
did as an 18 year old. Akram predicts a fantastic future for the young
man. It is hoped that the Pakistanis would take it from here and hit the
big time. However, the Aussies were not resigned to their fate. They
made the Pakistanis to huff and puff for victory. During the Pakistani
run chase it was fantastic to watch captain Ricky Ponting marshalling
his troops and stretching the Pakistanis.
He was an example always talking to his bowlers urging them on,
constantly changing the field and putting the Pakistani batsmen under
tremendous pressure. Captains of cricketing nations would have benefited
had they watched the way Ponting was leading from the front.
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