'Iceman' Warnie ready for a spin (18 August 1999)

18 August 1999

'Iceman' Warnie ready for a spin

Trevor Chesterfield

COLOMBO (Sri Lanka) - True to tradition, hours after the heavens opened and saturated the nets at the Sinhalese Sports Club Australia turned up and used the same stuffy indoor facilities South Africa A had done last year, along with New Zealand.

After all, dashing around this steamy part of the sub-continent looking for a dry surface on which to practice is a futile exercise and even Shane Warne, two months after helping to destroy Pakistan in the World Cup final at Lord's was stumped.

We have all come across those who suffer from the plight of the phenomenon known as the 'tennis elbow' now for the 'Warne shoulder'. He emerged from the indoor practice net with a bag of ice strapped to his right shoulder as big as any packsack and declined an interview, promising to make it up tomorrow, mate'.

The impression of the giant ice pack is that the bowling shoulder is causing some aggravation and no doubt concern in the Aussie camp. He might play in tomorrow's practice match, should of course the rain decide to move elsewhere as playing conditions become impossible when it rains in this corner of the globe it sticks like mud.

Then again the precautionary measure could also spell another message: given good weather conditions Warnie's ready to put the batsmen on trial when the series starts. He would, though, enjoy a spell of bowling to see whether he can turn the ball.

For one thing sub-continental grounds are not famous for their drainage systems and suggesting the Sri Lanka selectors were disappointed the second game was cancelled without anyone turning up was like saying 'tough, luck, old chap' with the same stiff upper lip.

Apart from the indoor net Australia spent their first day relaxing at 'Fort Taj' after their skipper Steve Waugh made all the right diplomatic noises and said the right things on arrival Tuesday night and repeating them at SSC yesterday.

The food was okay, the security arrangements were fine and they were all looking for a jolly good tour. He also hinted there was no real problem between the players on either side, despite the ensuing battles since the 1995/96 tour by Sri Lanka Down Under.

This came after what seems to have been a request that interviews were out as team management indicated that as it is "Sri Lanka's party" even an unofficial word or two "would be inappropriate".

Giving the sort of wry grin you would expect from the captain of the World Cup champions on his first visit abroad, Waugh, when cornered, also came up with such straight-batted pearlers as "it's wonderful to be back" and "we are looking forward to a successful tour" as the team were rushed back to the hotel from SSC.

It appears Aussie management have fallen in with what seemed to be a Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka request not to make any comment until the official media conference on Friday. This is when the Indians arrive and the three captains get a chance to set the scene, tone or mood (tick the appropriate word) the for the Aiwa Cup tournament.

No doubt we will be told who the officials are as well. Unofficially West Indian Cammie Smith is the ICC referee for the slogs and Tests and umpires for the two games in Galle include K T Francis, B C Cooray and even Ashok Silva, the former Test player, who is coming through the ranks, which is one of the positive signs of a recruiting programme.

Also slipping in to Sri Lanka tonight, almost unnoticed was Muthia Muralitharan.

Source :: Trevor Chesterfield, Pretoria News