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| Sunday, 24 March 2002 |
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Sports |  |
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Have
the entries over-slept and woken up only now?
I am just writing a few lines in support of the well presented, welcoming and analysis, factual sport report in the Sunday Observer of 10.03.2002: Is Bedi writing sensationalism stories to earn money?" written by Malsiri Kurukulasuriya. Please permit to say my own feelings, through your esteemed journal! The whole cricket world of fans are fully aware that Sri Lankan national cricket hero and ace off-spinner Muttiah Muralitheran (Murali) had gone through the touch period, facing problems in the past, just after the controversial issues cropped up from Australia as regards his bowling action, that was finally cleared later by the ICC in 1999, after having gone through the video evidence which showed clearly that Murali's blowing arm is permanently bent, due to congenital infirmity? Most of the leading past and present cricketers of all nations, recognised umpires, referees and top-class former senior cricket commentators of Tests and one-day internationals readily accepted and welcomed the final say or decision of the ICC and everything went on smoothly till to-date. Cricket fans know that this lad is not a cheat or a fouled player, but had struggled hard to come up and in his own painstaking efforts and hard work, grit, concentration and disciplined conduct has hit the top. It is indeed shocking, surprising and puzzling that these so-called critics have now come up with the controversial issue once again to target Murali, and that also too many years after the initial outburst. Why, I really wonder? Is it because he had has now captured 400 plus Test scalps to join the elite band of Test bowlers of the world? Today, Murali is a household name to all for his magical bowling that mesmerises the best batsman. In the year 2001 itself, Murali had taken 80 wickets in 12 Tests and became the first bowler among the fast bowlers and spinners to reach 400 scalps, achieving the personal milestone in 72 Tests, having played against all the leading cricket nations. It appears now that all these critics have over-slept and are drowsy in their strange moves and tactics and show that they have opened their eyes only now. Let me quote the following lines on Murali before I wind up: There should be no controversy about Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan." "The Sri Lankan bowler is perhaps the best spinner in the world". "He can spin viciously on any surface, can be really unplayable and I don't understand why people make such a fuss? Former West Indies captain Alvin Kallicharan says: "Murali is about the best off-spinner in the world. If ICC cleared Muralitharan after experts in the game have studied his bowling action carefully and given their opinion, why people have to bring up this issue again?" Chris Lewis - the former England pace boiler: "If a boiler is called for throwing after he has sent down almost 1,000 balls in Test cricket, there is really no need for him to change his action." It is like telling a batsman who has scored off 1,000 deliveries from the same shot, not to play it because he had got out seven times. The percentages are just not right." "What about the other umpires who have passed him, isn't the ICC telling these umpires that all of them were wrong and only a Darrell Hair is right?" Sunil Gavaskar - the former cricketing great of India, recently said: "Murali is the greatest off-spinner the world has ever seen." Bruce Yardley - the former off-spinner of Australia: "Muralitharan is a freak who bowls with a genuine wrist action. Bowlers like him should be saved and not destroyed. S.T. ARASU |
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