Dorbell Answers Captain Cook's Crooked Call

by Hemantha Warnakulasuriya

Once Sachitra Senanayake lamented, "what wrong have I committed for not being picked to play for the National Team?" Sachitra Senanayake was even at that time the highest wicket taker in the Domestic Tournaments. He was also no mean mug with the bat. Most bowlers are bad fielders, but Sachitra earned the sobriquet 'Jonty' for his fielding prowess.

After he thumped a final ball six, to win a match for Sri Lanka in Australia, the Kolkatta Night Riders picked him to play for them. Unlike many overseas cricketers, who are picked by the IPL franchises and do not get a chance to play even a single match, while others, more often than not, sit in the dugouts, Sachitra Senanayake was given the ball to open bowling.

The Indians knew, like Sunil Naraine, and Ashwin, there was some degree of mystery in his bowling. Then there was no whimper of protest about his bowling action and he played right round the world without any problem whatsoever.

Jayasuriya made Sachitra a permanent figure

But the selectors continued to drop him and never gave him a chance to show his real talent. After Sanath Jayasuriya became Chief of Selectors, Sachitra became a regular in the Sri Lanka team. His wizardry was the Doosra which was unplayable. When Ravi Bopra groped in the dark and got bowled neck and crop, his sorcery with the ball became the greatest concern of the English Team. It was crystal clear that the biggest difference between Sri Lanka and England was, amongst a few other things, Sachitra Senanayake.

'Poms' inability to pick him was the talking point of every single commentator. Then came a twitter from a shop-keeper. A twitter was received by 'Bumble David Lloyd' (a commentator) when he was commentating at a match played at Lord's.

The tweet from the shopkeeper was that he was amazed how Senanayake bent his arm and that it was surprising that no umpire had observed this. The commentators very politely and diplomatically touched upon the degree of Senanayake's bent arm. Marais Erasmus had officiated before with others when Senanayake bowled and there had not been even a whimper of protest raised or alarm bells rung.

Best-umpires never complained

When Sachitra Senanayake bowled before the best umpires on the elitist panel, they never complained about his bowling action. So, slowly but surely, in the most civilized English way, the sports writers wrote and gave notice to the umpires saying his bent arm exceeded the 15% permitted by the ICC.The reason the English batsman could not read him was because he was 'chucking the ball'.

But this was quite contrary to what happened in Australia. Murali was suspected and no-balled for his bowling action but the Australians did not have any difficulty in picking him up and Murali was least successful in Australia.

In spite of this reporting and being labelled with the pseudonym 'chucker', which would shatter any young bowler's spirits, Senanayake did not lose his spirit and self control. He must be applauded by the entire nation, for he, without being dispirited or disheartened, not only bowled well but did not shirk his responsibility by 'Mankading' Joss Butler.

Englishmen could not stomach defeat

The Englishmen could not stomach the series defeat and the only consolation for them was to blame the other for the defeat - the 'spirit of cricket' came to the fore. At the end of the match Captain Cook said 'it was a pretty poor act. There was a line and that line was crossed here. 'The best reply to the infantile behaviour of the English Captain Cook, came from Dorbel - Senior Correspondent for Cricinfo, "It would be nice, if England simply stopped talking about the spirit of cricket. It is not relevant when their batsmen decide to slang, it is not relevant when their batsmen in fighting for draw change their gloves and ask for drinks in order to use up time.

It is not relevant when they lure coaches from opposition teams, weeks before they face them in a series. All such issues are seen - right or wrong - as part of professional game.

So, to talk of the sprit would only leave them looking weak, graceless and hypocritical. Only by confronting their failings and not grasping for excuses will they start to improve.