A bad egg in the crowd
Plays of the Day from the fourth ODI between Sri Lanka and India in Colombo
Sriram Veera in Colombo
05-Feb-2009
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Stones
Another rowdy element in the crowd, another stone-throwing incident - the third of this series - and 27 minutes were lost as the Indian team left the field. Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar and now Pragyan Ojha, fielding at deep fine leg, have all complained of objects being thrown at them. Interestingly, on all three occasions, Dhoni kept the fielder where he was after the game resumed.
Another rowdy element in the crowd, another stone-throwing incident - the third of this series - and 27 minutes were lost as the Indian team left the field. Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar and now Pragyan Ojha, fielding at deep fine leg, have all complained of objects being thrown at them. Interestingly, on all three occasions, Dhoni kept the fielder where he was after the game resumed.
Record
When Muttiah Muralitharan removed Gambhir to become the highest wicket-taker in ODIs, the celebrations were surprisingly muted - to the point of being almost silent. Was Murali bored at breaking yet another record? Was the crowd - small as it was (see below) - tired of the long wait? Even the brass bands failed to turn it up, though they did break into "For he's a jolly good fellow" during the interminable pitch side TV interview. However, the moment was spiced up by the identity of the umpire who made the correct decision. It was Murali's old team-mate, Kumar Dharmasena, who used to bowl his overs so quickly that many batsmen asked the umpires to get him to slow down.
When Muttiah Muralitharan removed Gambhir to become the highest wicket-taker in ODIs, the celebrations were surprisingly muted - to the point of being almost silent. Was Murali bored at breaking yet another record? Was the crowd - small as it was (see below) - tired of the long wait? Even the brass bands failed to turn it up, though they did break into "For he's a jolly good fellow" during the interminable pitch side TV interview. However, the moment was spiced up by the identity of the umpire who made the correct decision. It was Murali's old team-mate, Kumar Dharmasena, who used to bowl his overs so quickly that many batsmen asked the umpires to get him to slow down.
Fire
Irfan Pathan and Sanath Jayasuriya were involved in a face-off. After Jayasuriya picked a length delivery over square leg for a fine four, Irfan fired in a high bouncer. Jayasuriya obviously didn't like it. He charged the next ball to lift it over long-off after which he went down again but edged the ball on to his pad. Off the first ball of Irfan's next over, Jayasuriya went down the pitch again and hit a stupendous inside-out six over extra cover. Next ball, he dashed down the track once more. Irfan shortened the length and kept it outside off. Jayasuriya went for his short-arm pull but ended up swatting it to short cover.
Irfan Pathan and Sanath Jayasuriya were involved in a face-off. After Jayasuriya picked a length delivery over square leg for a fine four, Irfan fired in a high bouncer. Jayasuriya obviously didn't like it. He charged the next ball to lift it over long-off after which he went down again but edged the ball on to his pad. Off the first ball of Irfan's next over, Jayasuriya went down the pitch again and hit a stupendous inside-out six over extra cover. Next ball, he dashed down the track once more. Irfan shortened the length and kept it outside off. Jayasuriya went for his short-arm pull but ended up swatting it to short cover.
Bananas
When the Indians were fielding, Dhoni munched a banana at the end of an over. It must have been yummy because he took a while to finish it. Play was held up till he completed munching. Thankfully, he was not eating a jack fruit.
When the Indians were fielding, Dhoni munched a banana at the end of an over. It must have been yummy because he took a while to finish it. Play was held up till he completed munching. Thankfully, he was not eating a jack fruit.
Missing
Where were they? One local reporter guessed it was the lowest turnout in an ODI game since Sri Lanka won the World Cup. On the brighter side, it must have been easy to find the person who threw the stone.
Where were they? One local reporter guessed it was the lowest turnout in an ODI game since Sri Lanka won the World Cup. On the brighter side, it must have been easy to find the person who threw the stone.
Sriram Veera is a staff writer at Cricinfo