Team spirit must be given continuity (7 October 1998)

7 October 1998

Team spirit must be given continuity

By Elmo Rodrigopulle

The Sri Lankan cricket selectors now walking tall after the squad that they picked to England having obliged them, have named a pool of 17 for the Wills Mini World Cup in Bangladesh and the Champions Trophy in Sharjah.

The Wills Cup will see all Test playing nations in action towards the latter part of this month and early next month will be the Champions Trophy in Sharjah.

14 members from the pool of 17 will finally make the tour squad.

The Sri Lankans are now oozing with confidence after their excellent victories in England and every member of the team, the coach, manager and others must see that the same atmosphere and harmony that was very noticeable in England is given continuity.

Individuals cannot meet with success unless they play as a team. Cricket is a team game and it is paramount that the captain is given 100 per cent cooperation and more by all his team mates.

Success in England came Lanka's way because above all they played as a team. There was the urgency to support the captain in every move he made. Every player seemed to know what was expected from him and with everyone putting their shoulders to the wheel, success had to come and when it came how sweet it was.

To beat England in their own backyard always looked a dream. But Ranatunga and his gallant men made their dream a reality with a wonderful team effort.

Then it is vital that the fine team spirit that is existing is given continuity.

It must be heartening to the captain to see the return of his number one strike bowler the ever willing Chaminda Vaas and the promising Nuwan Zoysa.

Both suffered injuries and have recovered sufficiently to be included for these two tours. Vaas was operated on for an ankle injury in South Africa an injury common to all fastmen, while Zoysa who made a startling beginning in South Africa after being recalled with a wicket in his first over had to pull out of that same Test suffering a nasty leg injury.

What was amusing however was to read in another newspaper that Vaas had recovered from a back injury. The cricketers including Vaas were howling their backs off because this writer has now become a joke to the cricketers. Little wonder then that the newspaper is continuing to lose its credibility and some of their best writers are deserting them.

But then there are a few hacks around, the know alls who really know nothing. They only present a mere fascade. Cricket pundits - my foot.

Vaas and Zoysa will certainly add more muscle to the bowling. Muralitharan performed a magic act to bring Lanka victory in the Emirates final and the one off Test. With the inclusion of the two left armers, Muralitharan will have a lesser burden to shoulder in these two tournaments.

Ravinda Pushpakumara who was dropped from the pool need not be disappointed. He is more of a Test match bowler and not one-day material. Sri Lanka will next play a test series against India in February-March next year and the selectors are sure to recall this great trier then.

Australia led by Mark Taylor are in Pakistan and if the achievements in their warm-up games are in indication then this team should do what Richie Benaud's team did in winning a series in Pakistan.

Leg spinner Stuart McGill seems to be a fine stand in for the famous Shane Warne. He spun the Aussies to victory against Karachi an then in the first innings of the first test against Pakistan captured five wickets, which is excellent going.

However there is no doubt that Pakistan cricket is in disarray. The bribery and match fixing allegations seem to hug the headlines in every newspaper there and it certainly must be having a telling effect on the players and their performances.

Majid Khan the former Pakistan captain and now chief executive of the PCCB who has the knack of getting embroiled in controversy is in it again. He wanted Wasim Akram, Salim Malik, and Ijaz Ahmed suspended from the game until the inquiry is concluded.

But chairman of selectors and former Pakistan stumper Wasim Bari will have nothing of it. He slotted in Akram and Malik for the first test against Australia nullifying Majid's request. Majid must surely be contemplating his position.

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