Sri Lanka eagerly wait to get at Aussies tomorrow (10 January 1999)

10 January 1999

Sri Lanka eagerly wait to get at Aussies tomorrow

By Elmo Rodrigopulle

BRISBANE, Australia, Jan 9 - THE CRICKETERS from Sri Lanka, England and Australia have all converged in Brisbane where the triangular will begin with the home shooters meeting the best that England can put on show tomorrow under lights at the Gabba.

Talking about the Gabba, what comes to mind was the wonderful cricket that was produced on all five days of a Test match of the West Indies tour of Australia which gave to the game the first ever tied Test. And the captains who helped make that heart-stopper were the late Sir Frank Worrel and Richie Benaud, who now leads the Channel 9 TV commentary team. That was way back in the 1960/61 series.

The established game was what cricket was all about until Australia's business tycoon Kerry Packer turned the game upside down by introducing night cricket.

On Monday, Sri Lanka who have some stylish shooters who are the world champions will be hitching to lay their fingers first on the trigger and bring down the Aussies and ask questions later.

Playing on their home ranch, and led by Shane Warne, who seems to have been given another cricketing life after his involvement with the sordid underworld of cricket, the Kangaroos will be hopping and hoping to shoot from the hip and carry away the scalps of the Poms and the Sri Lankans.

Australia and England field different type of players. They have the ones for a longer shootout and then switch to the ones with quicker draws for the instant game.

Australia will miss their star shooter Stephen Waugh who has a niggle in his hamstring for two games. The homesters have a well-balanced side with Mark Waugh another bookie boy and Adam Gilchrist to open.

They also have batting strength in Greg Blewett, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Ricky Ponting and the all-round ability of Michael Bevan. For bowling, they have Glen McGrath, Damien Flemming, Brendon Julian. Spin will be in the hands of Warne and Young.

McGrath and Flemming are aware of the Brits batting weaknesses. The Aussie selectors copped a bit of criticism not only for slotting Warne into the team, but for also naming him captain.

England led by 'Smart Alec' Stewart will be looking to slug the Kangaroos, stuff them and take something home now that they got thrashed 3-1 in the Tests.

The Poms faced the Queenslanders in a 'friendly' the other day at the Gabba and came out easy winners. England made 324 for six and Queensland replied with 232.

New arrivls Knight, Wells, Fairbrother and Alleyne were all in the runs, with Mullaly and Alleyne being among the wickets. Stewart and Gough gave this game a miss.

The Brits dropped vital catches during the ashes Tests. Had they clung on to the catches offered, there would definitely have been an even contest.

'Cowboy' cricket demands that fielding should be tops. To be found wanting in this aspect will be asking for trouble. The bowler who suffered most by this shoddy England fielding was the persistent swinger Darren Gough.

Coach David Lloyd would certainly have worked on this aspect and if the Brits hope to stay alive in this tournament, then they must take the half chances that come their way.

After the early shootout in Brisbane, the cricketing cowboys will take their act to Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide and then to Perth and then the best two teams will have best of three shootouts in Melbourne and Sydney.

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