Tour Diary
High on speed
It’s pretty surprising that a bunch of around 15 journalists, traveling on a bus this morning, actually got to the Multan Cricket Stadium
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
25-Feb-2013
It’s pretty surprising that a bunch of around 15 journalists, traveling on a bus this morning, actually got to the Multan Cricket Stadium. The city was on strike with policemen patrolling the streets and here we are, inside a rickety bus, with the driver pelting through the roads at a ferocious pace.
The bus was all gaudily decorated, with bright red curtains and shimmering adornments, but it rattled along as if the levers and crank shafts were reaching breaking point. Speed breakers didn’t seem to matter and, more seriously, policemen were brushed aside as if they were unwanted obstacles.
One policeman actually stood in front of the bus, waving both his hands, and gesturing to stop and here is our bus driver shrieking, ‘Ye press se hain, stadium jana hain’ (these people are from the press, they need to go to the stadium), and nonchalantly motoring on.
Suddenly, about a few kilometers from the stadium, he was forced to slow down as tens of thousands of fans, vehicles and animals filled the streets with multiple, disorderly lanes being constantly formed. It was a real sight to see fans and animals using the middle of the road as buses and cars tried to weave their way past.
Full postMeeting expectations
It wasn’t the worst of days for Sameera de Zoysa, Sri Lanka’s stand-in captain, against Zimbabwe
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
It wasn’t the worst of days for Sameera de Zoysa, Sri Lanka’s stand-in captain, against Zimbabwe. Called on as a replacement for Angelo Mathews he scored 63 and his side won to keep themselves in with a shout of winning the Super League play-off. So when Sri Lanka’s coach said: “I thought he struggled with some of his field settings, and that’s why we gave away a few too many runs,” he can probably consider himself a tad unlucky.
But it shows the desire for the host nation to do well. There has been disappointment from locals that the team did not reach further in the main Super League section, which shows that their progress has been followed despite no one being at the grounds. It has also been a tough few days for Sri Lankan cricket as a whole, what with the senior side losing the VB Series finals despite winning the first match, then the news that Sachithra Serasinghe, their main Under-19 batsman, had been sacked from the squad for misconduct.
These sorts of things hurt Sri Lankans. They are proud of their cricket and their cricketers. They still love to talk of their World Cup triumph in 1996 or of any Sanath Jayasuriya century. I’ve not seen first-hand the pressure of expectation put on Indian players in their own country, but in a less obvious way there is a similar pressure on Sri Lankans.
There aren’t always the outward shows of emotion, but the day Sri Lanka beat Australia in the first VB Series final it was the talk of Colombo. If there is a cricketing issue being discussed the average Sri Lanka will have their opinion – it is their culture. The treatment of Muttiah Muralitharan down under opened some old wounds and there is a clear feeling he is still picked on. People get upset if any of the star Sri Lankans are questioned and also get annoyed when they see things not going right.
Full postLeaving in a rush
What a way to go – 58 all out and in front of the TV cameras to boot
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
What a way to go – 58 all out and in front of the TV cameras to boot. There was nowhere to hide for England. Over the last few years the senior side has largely eradicated those collapses that so typified the 1990s, and when a clump of wickets do crash together – as at Lord’s last summer when they slumped to 21 for 5 against the Aussies –someone, on that occasion Kevin Pietersen, is usually there to at least give a score some respectability.
During the tour of Pakistan before Christmas, England were seemingly heading for a draw at Lahore. They lunched on 201 for 2, but before anyone had contemplated their afternoon tea the match was over as England lost eight for 43. It was a similar procession today, at Premadasa, but the Under-19s didn’t have a 200-run head start. It is amazing once a collapse starts how they gain an irresistible momentum.
When the U-19s were 38 for 8 the most famous England capitulation of my generation – the 46 all out at Trinidad – came flooding back into the memory. On that occasion England had an hour to bat on the fourth afternoon and lost Mike Atherton first ball, here they had 20 minutes before lunch, survived the first ball but proceeded to lose three. It was a torrid little time to bat, and a completely pointless regulation that put England in that position.
Despite getting a pasting with the ball they had got through their overs at a decent lick – 37 overs of spin helped. But because of this they then had to bat straight away, after chasing leather for 50 overs in 33 degrees. I’m not saying a 45-minute break would have made any difference, but surely it would have given them a better chance. And this wasn’t just to fit in with TV, it had happened early in the tournament but with less dramatic consequences.
Full post'Aap ki marzi'
Rickshaw drivers come in various types
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
25-Feb-2013
Rickshaw drivers come in various types. I’ve been a bit intimidated by the Chennai auto-rickshaw drivers, at your face and aggressive. Those in Bangalore are more sober; the ones in Mumbai are mostly professional (put meter, take money, give exact change types); and Delhi throws up all sorts. A few Lahore drivers, though, never cease to amaze.
Using the meters isn’t the done thing; so there is often a haggling process that ensues. Once you approach a driver, and tell him where you need to go, he may either quote a price, which solves all problems as you have a starting point from where you can bargain, or simply leave the whole choice to you.
It’s the second type of drivers that need attention. Once the journey is completed, he will give you a genial smile, as if waiting for you to decide the amount. If you ask him, he will invariably say ‘Aap ki marzi’ (your choice). Now that’s tricky. You’re new to the city, you’ve traveled quite a distance, you have made him stop at a few places, and you have not a clue about where to start off. So you joke and say ‘Theek hain, dus rupaiaya dhoonga’ (OK, I will give you ten rupees) and with a more exaggerated smile, which is even more genial, he says ‘Aap ki marzi’.
It’s a bit unnerving. It’s as if he is supremely confident that you will not be shameless enough to give him ten rupees and walk off. So you go through the whole conversation again and try and explain to him that it is his duty to quote a price. Now, after gauging your mood for a few minutes he will throw up a figure that appears absurdly high and leave you in a situation where even a fair bargain will result in a loss.
Full postSmile for the cameras
The crowds for this tournament have been non-existent, even for Sri Lanka’s matches, but at least the semi-finals and final should have a few more people taking notice of the action as the games are being beamed around the world
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
The crowds for this tournament have been non-existent, even for Sri Lanka’s matches, but at least the semi-finals and final should have a few more people taking notice of the action as the games are being beamed around the world. Today the Premadasa Stadium was getting the finishing touches as it prepares to host the first semi-final – England against India – a day/night match tomorrow. The ground certainly has a different feel than the others used in the tournament.
Camera gantries have been put up at either end of the ground, the locked-off cameras are in position for those close run-out or stumping appeals and the production crew has hit town. And whereas the other grounds had all their advertising covered with huge black sheets, creating a rather bland scene, the Premadasa is fully emblazoned with the official sponsors of the World Cup. It isn’t to the taste of everyone, but at least it feels like a significant match is being played.
Now all that is needed are the commentators, who have been arriving over the last few days and include household names like Paul Allott and Robin Jackman. They’ll have to have done their homework because the players on show over the last few days of this tournament are not household names – yet.
For the players, having these matches shown around the world is a huge moment. It is their chance to shown millions of people (at least that’s the figure being hoped for) what they are capable of. As Steve Mullaney, the England allrounder, told me recently: “People will take notice of what they see on TV, it is really important for us to perform well as it is how they will remember us.”
Full postWatching Sachin leave
Strangely, and this maybe because I have watched most of Sachin Tendulkar’s career before I began covering cricket, I have rarely noticed him when he leaves the ball.
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
25-Feb-2013
Strangely, and this maybe because I have watched most of Sachin Tendulkar’s career before I began covering cricket, I have rarely noticed him when he leaves the ball.
Through the nineties, Sachin letting the ball go was often like a commercial between overs – take your eyes off for a moment, finish off any small pending work and then refocus on the game. It was a brief interlude, as if he was taking a breather before conjuring up further magic.
Full postJayasuriya's triple century
Mine will be a ‘Jayasuriya Triple Century’ please, and for him a ‘Border’s burger’
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
Mine will be a ‘Jayasuriya Triple Century’ please, and for him a ‘Border’s burger’. For the uninitiated that’s two chicken breasts with chips and a burger with all the trimmings (how Sri Lankan) at the Cricket Club Café in Colombo, an amazing place crammed full to bursting with memorabilia from every avenue of the sport. It, therefore, won’t surprise people when I say I have spent a few evenings down there since arriving in town.
It is a fascinating place for someone with my mild – and not at all unhealthy – interest in cricket. I visited for the first time on my first day here, and I think there were bets being taken on me taking out permanent residency in it for the three weeks. It hasn’t quite turned out like that – Colombo is well stocked with decent places for dinner – but I reckon the waiters are starting to recognise me.
If there is a piece of cricket history that’s worth a mention, especially involving Sri Lanka, England or Australia it will have a place inside. Autographed bats from a variety of sides line the walls, as do newspaper cuttings and scorecards from famous matches. In case you want to now what time a Test match is starting in any country, no fear, there are clocks dotted around showing the time in each nation. And, if you were thinking that it might be nice to see a game for yourself, then there is sign post showing the distance to every Test ground.
Also, if there is a match on TV, it will be on TV here, even if it is the highlights of a game from many years past. Whenever you flick on the sports channels they will be showing some highlights package involving India or Sri Lanka (although one evening I had the slightly surreal viewing experience of watching Geoff Boycott bat against West Indies – it just made you realise how times have changed). However, it isn’t just cricket that has given this place its name for major sporting events.
Full postTime for reflection
Today was a ‘Poya Day’ in Sri Lanka - a Buddhist ritual which happens four times a month and equates to the four phases of the moon
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
Today was a ‘Poya Day’ in Sri Lanka - a Buddhist ritual which happens four times a month and equates to the four phases of the moon. This was a full-moon day, the most important of the phases and a monthly national holiday in Buddhist tradition. Yesterday there were lavish parades around the streets of Colombo, involving herds of dressed-up elephants, as the city prepared itself for a day of worship.
This meant there was no cricket today, so as the World Cup reaches its half-way point let’s take stock and see where we have got to. At the ‘business end’ of the tournament – the Super League – two mouth-watering semi-final line-ups have appeared following a week of qualifying matches and the quarter-finals. England take on India, a preview to the contest about to start between the full sides, while Pakistan face the impressive Australians.
Two of the possible finals from those matches revive huge rivalries, which have been a major part of world cricket in the last 12 months – England v Australia and India v Pakistan. Whatever happens, the four biggest countries are fighting for the main prize and a tournament can’t ask for much more than that.
In the lower reaches of the Super League, Sri Lanka – chastened after their thrashing by Australia on home soil – will want to fight for the consolation of the play-off prize, while Bangladesh will aim to bounce back from their defeat against England.
Full postRunning from pillar to post
I was just imagining Rahul Dravid's life when one-dayers are on
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
25-Feb-2013
I was just imagining Rahul Dravid's life when one-dayers are on. Maybe it reads something like - travel, practice, press conference, team-meeting, gym, warm-up, game, press conference, travel ...
In between all this, he has to entertain thousand requests from the media, tens of thousands of requests from fans. At some point, he will need to stop and formulate team strategies; sometime during this jet-setting routine he may need to think about where his team is heading.
Full postCertainly not nondescript
Nondescripts is an unassuming cricket ground, the only one of the five used for this tournament that hasn’t hosted a Test or ODI
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
Nondescripts is an unassuming cricket ground, the only one of the five used for this tournament that hasn’t hosted a Test or ODI. But while it may not have held international matches, it certainly has an impressive production line of international players. Reading the honours board on the back wall of the pavilion is like a who’s who of Sri Lankan Cricket.
From recent times there are names such as Kumar Sangakkara, Malinga Bandara and Hashan Tillekeratne. Going further back you reach Rajan Madugalle, now a match referee, and Asoka de Silva, now an international umpire. Players from this club certainly don’t finish their international careers when they hang up their pads. It is fascinating to see one club that has brought through so many players – the saying in England used to ‘strong Yorkshire means strong England’, in Sri Lanka that could quite easily be ‘strong Nondescripts means strong Sri Lanka.’
I’m not the only one to have admired the list of names. I’ve heard players asking about the large mural that is painted above the bar, showing some of the club’s successful players. A cricketer’s development is not all about what happens on the field. It is also about taking an interest in the bigger picture, so hearing a player query the history of the club suggests these possible future stars understand more than just the bat and ball.
One of the greatest players in the club’s history is Aravinda de Silva, and the locals are very pleased to talk about him. With Sri Lanka have been trounced by Australia next door at the SSC, I went and watched the end of Zimbabwe against Pakistan. As I took a walk around the outfield, I was beckoned over by a group of people leaning over the wall – goodness knows why they don’t come in, it’s free after all. Anyway, they started with the usual questions – which country was I from, which team did I support, why was I here…you get the picture.
Full post