Let there be one captain on the field

By winning the third one-day international against Australia by 78 runs at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium under lights on Tuesday, the Sri Lanka cricketers kept their heads above water.

With two more games to be contested at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday and Tuesday, these two games are must win ones for Sri Lanka, while one more victory will give the visitors the glittering Abans trophy.

Before going on to comment on the three games played, it will be of importance to the Sri Lankan cricketers to take note of the invaluable principle that there is only one Captain.

Just in case some do not recognise this seriously, let me state what should be obvious : the one and only captain of the Sri Lankan side on and off the field is Tillekeratne Dilshan. If any, particularly changes to the field placings are necessary, Dilshan is there to do it.

Consultation

If any player thinks it is necessary to move a fielder, then he must do it in consultation with the captain. We have noticed two former captains Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara moving fielders without the consent of the captain.

Let it be understood that we are not faulting the two former captains for this. Accepted that they are doing it with all good intentions and with the success of the team at heart. But to those watching it does not look the right thing to do - or as is commonly said - its not cricket!

If at any time they need a fielder to be moved or any other adjustment on the field, it will look more pleasing if they run up to the captain and inform him of what their intentions are and not move fielders on their own.

Dilshan to whom winning is the number one priority, may not object to it outwardly. But inside he must be asking why the two former captains cannot inform him of the necessity of a field change rather than do it on their own.

Field change

The other day, when Brad Haddin the Australian wicket keeper wanted a field change, we noticed him running up to skipper Michael Clarke and requesting a change and Clarke duly obliged. That is how it should be done.

When others on the field move fielders or give instructions, it looks as there is more than one captain on the field. At this level it must be nipped in the bud. Dilshan is captain and that is it.

At times during the game we have noticed the two former captains and Dilshan in discussion. Now that is how it should be done. Dilshan will love to have imputs from the two former experienced campaigners. They should keep it that way.

When former Sri Lanka coach and now STAR TV commentator and former Aussie cricketer Tom Moody noticed the trio in discussion, he welcomed it and made his thoughts known and made good comments.

We hope the comments we have made will be taken in the spirit it has been made.

Doing it the wrong way

It has also been a ugly sight to watch how some of our bowlers celebrate when they capture a wicket. True, the taking of a wicket is cause for celebration. But not the unacceptable manner in which some bowlers celebrate.

The other night when debutant Shaminda Eranga held on to a caught and bowled off former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, the manner in which he punched the air showed as though he was in anger for getting that wicket.

That way of showing his delight is inexplicable. He should take a lesson from Ajantha Mendis. When Mendis gets a batsman out, he twirls his finger in ecstasy and sports a smile. That is how it should be done.

This has not only been the fault with Eranga. There are many other Sri Lankan bowlers who perform such primitive acts. In this aspect former Sri Lankan seamer and now bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake will do well to show them how to celebrate a wicket.

Eranga must learn

Eranga who is just breaking into the big league and the third international against the Aussies being his first big game could be excused for letting his emotions get the better of him.

When Ponting played the ball back to him, and the manner in which Eranga picked up the ball and threw it at Ponting hitting him and the stare that Ponting gave him, would have rammed in the message.

Having said that, having watched young Eranga bowl showed that he has immense potential. At the moment he is like an uncut gem. Ramanayake will have a big responsibility to polish him and show him the ropes.

Eranga has a good action, packs pace and proved that he is able to move the ball both ways with a very deceptive slow ball. What he requires is consistency and continuity. Many promising bowlers have fallen by the way side for lack of consistency and continuity.

Next game

If he fails in the next game, let us hope that he will not be dropped and it will be the last that we see of him. Commentator Roshan Abeysinghe, who is fast becoming a commentator of international class and has a watchful eye for promising cricketers on the horizon spoke in glowing terms of Eranga.

Mahendra Mapagunaratne, a Sri Lankan cricket enthusiast domiciled in Canada sends us the following poem on Eranga.

Shaminda Eranga is his name.

Lad on debut.

Made Ponting tame.

Take a bow, you made us vow, You are the Pearl of Chilaw.

'Dilscoop'

A good part of Dilshan's runs have come from the Dilscoop, a term that has been coined by none other than that Sri Lankan cricket enthusiast domiciled in Canada, Mahendra Mapagunaratne who is also responsible for dubbing Ajantha Mendis's finger snapping delivery 'carrom balls'. As for the cricket and the Three one-day internationals played, the Lankans who meekly surrendered in two games, rose when the occasion demanded and in winning the third game, revived the interest in the series.

Their victory was made possible by the heroics of Upul Tharanga who made a century and clever bowling by slinger Lasith Malinga who stunned the Aussie batting with five wickets. When this column is read the fourth game would be over and like every Sri Lankan and like the sponsors of the Sri Lanka-Australia series Abans say in their advertisement - 20 million Sri Lankans, 20 million hearts beat as one of our heart too would be beating for a Sri Lankan victory.

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