Lankans must trounce the Brits at the P. Sara:

Mahela and Herath - the shining stars in the Galaxy

By Dr. Elmo RODRIGOPULLE

CRICKET: Sri Lanka’s 75-run win in the First of Two Tests played at the Galle International Cricket Stadium, inside four days against England the number one team in world cricket, was one to.

If little left arm spinner Rangana Herath was the star with 12 wickets for 171 and the player of the match, then skipper MahelaJayawardene must certainly be the super star in the Gallaxy.

Both shone in their splendour to overcome the Brits, who are the reigning world number one team. The Lankans proved against the odds that no challenge is too much, that they are a relienet team and that they hold out a promise of greater things to come.

‘Captain Marvel’

When Mahela then tagged as ‘Captain Marvel’ was riding the crest

of a wave of success as batsman and captain, a few failures that all great batsmen endure at some time or the other in their careers began to unfold, critics began to ask questions and kept baying for his blood.

And the blue blooded cricketer that he is, and with the authorities of that time not supporting him, he did what he thought was best. He resigned the captaincy and began to serve the game like a true sportsman. In a sense he felt liberated. Now he has been vindicated! And the saying that you can’t keep a good man down, began to resonate. After the game hit rock bottom, the call went out to Jayawardene that the game and country needs him to resurrect cricket again.

Thundering slap

Once bitten, twice shy, it is said and Jayawardene could have very politely said – No. Never again. But that is not what this fine leader and sportsman is made of.

He rose to the challenge in the hour of need. And now though his actions and records he has delivered a unmistakeable message: count on me and I can deliver. His critics and detractors are eating humble pie.

You can go to war. But if you do not have a shrewd and clever General, there’s no point in having good fighters. In Jayawardene we have a strategic leader with a credo that inspires his set of fighters to overcome the odds.

When Sri Lanka set England a challenging 340 for victory and when Jonathon Trott and Mattt Prior were in threatening form, Jayawardene did not lose his cool. It is said that a Vulture is a patient bird.

Waited patiently

That was what come-back Captain was on the field in Galle. He waited patiently, bided his time and when Prior went, brilliantly taken by Lahiru Thrimanne at short leg off Heath, the vulture in Jayawardena pounced to devour 6 wickets for 31 to send the Brits tumbling to defeat.

With Sri Lanka batting first on a dry wicket and were tottering at 67 for 4, Jayawardene showed courage and resilience and held the batting together. And the century he made 180 – his 30th in Test cricket - was a work of art, of style and class.

When the Brits batted in both innings, he switched his bowlers around with tactical thinking. With the wicket taking spin he relied on his main weapon Left arm spinner Rangana Herath who the Brit batsmen found unplayable. They capitulated like novices.

Number one spinner

Herath is now Sri Lanka’s number one spinner. He must remember that the hallmark of a great bowler is consistency. He must strive for that, and he has it in him to continue to shine in the galaxy.

Off-spinner Suraj Randiv, too, has a lot of promise. He is tall with a high arm action which enables him to get vicious spin and more than ordinary bounce.

A little bit of more variation is what is required. The fine art of cricket is in his fibre.

Sri Lanka must now not rest on their laurels. True they can’t lose the series.

Must be on guard

The Brit lions must be trying to heal their wounds after their fourth defeat in a row. And they will surely be getting ready to show their real prowess.

The Lankans must be on guard and now that they have the Brits

on the ropes, they should deliver the knockout punch and leave the P. Sara Stadium with a redeeming feeling of resurgence that will help them to hold their heads high.

As for the Brits it truly cannot be said that it was an off day.

They had lost it and it was a sad display coming on the heels of losing four Tests in a row, they are leaving their tag of world champions and the captaincy of Andrew Strauss into question.

They are certainly not playing like world champions. But lets not underestimate them. What was surprising was to watch most of their batsmen playing cross bat shots.

It showed poor technique. Coach Andy Flower was a very technically correct bat, always playing straight.

He will do well to take the batsmen to the nets and show them how to play straight.

Over the to the P. Sara and for another Sri Lanka victory.