Back to reality for Waugh and Co (21 August 1999)

21 August 1999

Back to reality for Waugh and Co

Trevor Chesterfield

Galle (Sri Lanka) - For Steve Waugh it was just another hotel, another media conference and time to get the feet planted solidly on terra firma for a change.

World Cup champions or not of the limited-overs variety, the Lord's show was pushed firmly into the pages of history and it was time to get on with the next round of slogs. While this ancient sea port is about as incongruous as any venue the Wizards of Oz are going to play to start their new reign, reputations and form are about as variable as the result of the next match.

In this case the Aiwa Cup tournament which starts tomorrow at the Old Fort ground with the jutting stone portals more in keeping with the image they present of repelling invaders. What has been line up are Australia, India and India in a series which launches the 1999/2000 slogs circus: world champions, past title-holders and the winners of the event 16 years ago Then again it is also the story of three captains, or if you prefer the S factor: Steve, Sanath and Sachin which makes this latest hors de combat a little different. The patching together of two alleged sworn enemies and an Indian side which has the adored Crown Prince of India as their ruler after an absence of about two years.

Sachin Tendulkar's arrival was perhaps more welcome than most and although his brooding brown eyes told one story, the careworn smile indicated he would play despite serious concern about the back injury.

Tendulkar was probably more nervous about the job of leading India again than concern for his back and for Jayasuriya, the pressures of leading his country at LOI level present their own challenges as he attempts to take Sri Lanka into a new era. It is an era in which protagonists have cast doubt because of the absence of Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva. But as with Sir Donald Bradman, W G Grace Before him and Sir Gary Sobers after him, there comes a time when legends have to retire. It is a pity that the selectors led by Sidath Wettimuny had to act instead of Ranatunga, whatever the polemics surrounding the issue, stepping down. Fifteen defeats in 18 matches is an embarrassing record and if Sri Lanka hope to be serious contenders for the 2003 World Cup rather start now than later.

Jayasuriya admits it is going to be a tough international baptism. He leads a young side; one which the coach says is in "transition rather than being restructured". This is a jibe at some Sri Lanka commentators who have called the changes drastic and unnecessary without coming up with any thoughts of their own. You can bet there is going to be a lot of belly aching in the Colombo press should Sri Lanka fail to reach the final. Surely, thought, it would be preferable to lose by a few runs under a new captain than by a wide margin under an old one. An exciting, often explosive batsman, Jayasuriya's leadership skills are an unknown factor. By the end of the tournament he could be a hero, so let us give him the benefit of the doubt.

It must have been interesting last night for Waugh. He was as forthright, as diplomatically possible, and it is easy to sympathise with him. Leadership on the field might come easier for him than for many coveting the role, but he has also learnt swiftly enough how to handle tricky media questioning. Brevity rather than long-winded rhetoric were a feature of his World Cup after-match thoughts and views of what went right or wrong. "Sure it is great to be world champions but we have to put all that behind us and concentrate on this tournament," he said. "It is a serious tournament for us and we want to win it, too. It is our start as world champions and I know that the side would like to continue the high level of skills achieved when in England."

Australia open the series with a game against Sri Lanka tomorrow followed by the second match against India on Monday. The series moves to Colombo on Wednesday.

Source :: Trevor Chesterfield