Elmo Rodrigopulle: England Set An Example (Aug 28 1996)

28 Aug 1996

Sports Comment: England Set An Example

By Elmo Rodrigopulle

Chris Lewis, England`s bubbly allrounder must certainly be disappointed over his being dropped from the squad to meet Pakistan in the one-day internationals beginning this weekend.

Lewis who has been a tower of strength to England with his tremendous enthusiasm, motivation and ability to spur his team mates has been dropped for disciplinary reasons.

It is said that Lewis was late in arriving for the fourth day`s play in the Final Test against Pakistan which ended at the Oval yesterday. Lewis had adduced various reasons for his delay. But in the England management headed by chairman of selectors Raymond Illingworth and supported by coach David Lloyd and captain Michael Atherton did not find Lewis` excuses valid enough and he has been dropped which probably also puts his international career on the line.

The England management must be applauded the way they acted. How- ever good a performer one may be, if he is indisciplined or refuses to be a team man, then the quicker he is dumped the better it is for the player, the game and all that it stands for.

It must be remembered that no one is indispensable.

In any form of sport discipline must be maintained with a capital D. Obviously Lewis was a bad example to the England team which Illingworth, Lloyd and Atherton have been trying hard to turn into a force to be reckoned with an international cricket.

Over the years England`s cricket has been on the skids. But things looked promising for them when they did the Indians in the previous series.

After their one-day and Test series triumph over India, England seemed like getting back into the groove. But the Pakistanis led by Wasim Akram and with their immense allround strength have stalled the Englishmen in their tracks and by their winning of the Three-Test series one-nil have made the Englishmen rethink their everything.

Lewis had a good go against the Indians in his comeback. But against the Pakistanis could not get his act together and it was the consensus that he was lucky to get back into the England team for the final test.

Lewis on the field was a treat to watch. He was agile, supple, neat always a trier and an example. But he nullified all these rare attributes with a show of indiscipline which cannot and must not be tolerated even if he is the best of his kind in the world.

One hopes that the England management will continue with the good work and not only make Lewis regret his behaviour. England have set an example worthy of emulation.

The Indian Cricket Board too did the right thing by suspending Navjot Sidhu after inquiring into the reasons that made him ditch the tour of England half way through.

Sidhu too may have had valid reasons. But the way he showed it was wrong.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)