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.