Mahela Jayawardena's knock was an example (3 March 1999)

3 March 1999

Mahela Jayawardena's knock was an example

Elmo Rodrigopulle

It is nice to be back from cricket's hell that was Australia during the Carlton and United triangular series and restart my column commenting on the Asian Test between India and Sri Lanka which ended in a draw at the SSC ground on Sunday.

First, this Asian test series to decide on the best Test playing nation in Asia defies understanding simply because it is unfair to the teams participating to just play each other once and then a final between the best two teams and the winners earning the tag of best Test playing nation in Asia.

To meet each other on a home and away basis would have been more sensible. But the Cricket Boards of the three countries have agreed and this is how the tournament is being played with winning and points being the bottom line.

From the Test between India and Sri Lanka the plus points to emerge were the batting of that emerging star Mahela Jayawardena and the return to batting form of skipper Arjuna Ranatunga.

I took to task the selectors for initially dropping Jayawardena from the squad that made it to Australia for the triangular series. It was absolute madness, his dropping. It is said that you cannot keep a good man down and Jayawardena who was recalled when Aravinda de Silva was injured, underlined this in no uncertain terms by shining in Australia, with his glorious century against England when Sri Lanka were chasing 303 to win being the hallmark.

But what was admirable in Jayawardena's marathon knock of 242 was that he set an example to the youngsters watching him do his thing out in the middle. Many writers and commentators took him to task and belittled him for giving many chances during his innings.

Obviously these critics in their anxiety to humiliate the young man forgot to take into consideration the guts and determination and his willingness to stick it out even though the fielders failed to clutch on to the chances he offered.

Any other batsman had he offered a first chance would have thrown away his wicket not wanting to continue. But not Jayawardena. With every chance dropped he grew in confidence and stature and showed how to profit from dropped chances as he made his way undaunted to register a double hundred which will live long in his memory.

With this innings Jayawardena has cemented his place as the one drop batsman for Sri Lanka and it is hoped that those concerned will treat this batting prodigy that way and persist with him in this position.

Let also the pseudo pundits at least now drop that stale cry of not having Asanka Gurusinha in this position. Now that a worthy replacement has been found for this position it is up to the selectors to give him the encouragement and confidence he needs to be one of the best one drop batsmen in world cricket today.

Jayawardena's innings was a lesson in concentration and lovely strokeplay. He came in for a lot of praise from commentators in Australia such as Richie Benaud, Bill Lawry, Ian Chappell, Tony Greig and Ian Botham when he was lashing out at the England bowlers in that memorable century in Adelaide which took the game away from England.

We now have another world class batsman. Let him be nurtured that way.

Jayawardena must first be allowed to progress. It is too early to tag him a future Sri Lanka captain.

It was also nice to see 'Captain cool' Arjuna Ranatunga in the runs again. Unable to concentrate and play as he usually does owing to the booing and ugly remarks cast by drunken louts at every venue of play in Australia, he showed that he has a lot more batting and cricket left in him the way he made his knock of 66.

He was the encouragement that young Jayawardena needed to get his long innings going and he received ample support and advice from his skipper who at every opportunity spoke to the youngster and chartered the course for his marathon innings.

It is a big blow to the Lankans to lose Ranatunga for their crucial game against Pakistan in Lahore. He pulled a hamstring muscle during his innings and was hobbling in pain but still played an invaluable innings that helped Sri Lanka to save the ignominy of having to follow on against India.

Aravinda de Silva too, has pulled out due to injury and it will be an under strength team that will travel to Lahore to face Pakistan in the second Asian Test championship game.

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