Showtime for Ponting in Colombo (19 August 1999)

19 August 1999

Showtime for Ponting in Colombo

Trevor Chesterfield

Colombo (Sri Lanka) - There is no time to suffer from withdrawal symptoms in Asia since the World Cup ended: they are still showing repeats on TV and not just the highlights either but the full game with Australian and India getting their fair share of exposure.

And Ricky Ponting's innings of 69 against South Africa at Headingley in Leeds two months ago was one of the more magical moments in the Super Six series. An innings of balance and timing as he helped his captain, Steve Waugh, ease the innings through that initial shaky passage to make the first victory thrust.

Now Ponting was quite outspoken in his views about Sri Lanka before the Australians arrived and seemed to be 'stirring the pot' before the first serving of curry.

But yesterday he put all his niggling pre-tour doubts behind him and when retired by his skipper, who decided he wanted some batting practice as well, the tourists were again in sight of winning the practice limited-overs match against the Sri Lanka Board President's XI at the Sinhalese Sports Club. He had reached 60 at the time and the score on 176 for three when the signal came from the balcony.

There was a smattering of applause from a subdued yet interested crowd of about 450, mainly inhabiting the popular eastern terrace as Ponting wandered off to the pavilion. Sure the innings was far from the crisp, dominating or enterprising display he has often cultivated from positions of pressure, and the Board's XI ground fielding was at times quite remarkable. But as Adam Gilchrist had smashed his way around, Ponting's main concern seemed to be sorting out the slowness of the sub-continent conditions.

After all, the pitch was one of those where the Honourable Members of the Flat Earth Society would love to stage their annual meeting. Ponting's statistics of 106 balls and eight fours are nothing outstanding, yet he did give the impression he was warming to the steamy conditions.

Naturally it is expecting a little too much for the Australians to fire from the start. We had Shane Warne, minus his ice pack, bowling nine overs of average stuff, Glenn McGrath giving a line and length display and picking up two for 17 in his seven overs, while the rest served up a mixed bag of goodies. It should be said though that Andrew Symonds was lively enough on a pitch which offered the bowler hours or hard labour, sweat, some tears and little else.

Perhaps Warne did stray at time and Sajith Fernando and Chinthaka Silva added a century partnership of some highly useful batting. This was after the talented Upeka Fernando helped himself to some useful runs off Damien Fleming and Jason Gillespie.

Generally it was a useful workout. The Australians utilised 13 players to give their bowlers a run in the sun and learn to handle local conditions. No doubt the Sri Lanka selectors also learnt something about their fringe players as the urbane chairman of selectors, Sidath Wettimuny, with the captain, Sanath Jayasuriya had a good look at the Australian batting. What is likely to emerge from this cauldron will become more obvious on Saturday when the two sides are announced for the opening game of the Aiwa Cup.

As for India, the third partner in this venture, the covers should be turned up a fraction tomorrow night when the three skippers have their say to launch the tournament.

India's injury problems were compounded yesterday when Sachin Tendulkar, complaining of a back problem pulled up in training. The coach Aunshuman Gaekwad and the team's physio and doctor Ravindra Chaddha were still discussing the problem last night. So far Sri Lanka officials have declined to comment on the possibility of Tendulkar withdrawing from the side for this and the Singapore series in September.

Source :: Trevor Chesterfield, Pretoria News