Comment: Aravinda challenging West Indian Lara

By Elmo Rodrigopulle


Once again it was Aravinda de Silva who took centre stage in the Second Cricket Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the picturesque SSC ground on Saturday and Sunday.

De Silva has struck the right tune and at the moment he is on a roll and no Pakistani bowler seems capable of getting him out. With this knock there is no doubt that he will be strongly challenging the West Indian batting sensation Brian Lara to be the best batsman in world cricket.

De Silva continued from where he left off at the R. Premadasa Stadium and made opposing bowlers look ordinary with some amazing strokeplay all round the wicket.

UNSPORTING

Before going on to describe De Silva's great innings, we would like to comment on the unsporting behaviour of one of the most senior Pakistani cricketers, Ijaz Ahmed.

Ahmed indulged in some street play by using crude language on Sri Lanka skipper Arjuna Ranatunga when he was dismissed on Saturday and when the batsman was leaving the field.

Ahmed must understand that cricket is a gentleman's game and that it must be kept that way at all costs. What Ahmed did is not cricket. His churlish behaviour went to sour the friendly relations that exist between the two teams.

NOT A SPORTSMAN

Cricket is too good a game to be spoilt or sullied by those who are unfit to play it. From Ahmed's behaviour it is apparent that during his long stay in it, it has not taught him or turned him into a sportsman.

Skipper Ranatunga was ruled out by umpire Peter Manuel and while he was leaving the field, Ahmed is alleged to have used some foul language. Quite rightly Ranatunga reported him and match referee John Reid found him guilty and fined him 20 per cent of his match fee for misbehaviour on the field. Ahmed was also warned that he would be barred from playing test cricket if he repeated the offence in the next five months.

Reid apparently went soft on Ahmed. No one would have faulted Reid had he imposed the ban too so that it would have acted as a deterrent to others attempting similar tactics. CRUMBLING

Once again Aravinda de Silva came to his side's rescue when the batting looked to be crumbling on a wicket that looked good for well over 400 runs. It was a batting paradise and there was no reason for the sudden collapse that we saw in the middle batting.

After Jayasuriya and Arnold gave Sri Lanka the ideal platform from where to aim for something like 400-plus, it was bad batting that prompted the collapse.

Jayasuriya too was in rollicking form. He looked set for a three figure score when his innings was cut short. Arnold played well until he was run out.

AMAZING

Aravinda come out with some amazing strokeplay in his innings. He is renowned for the cut, hook, pull and the drive. But during this innings he showed that he has also mastered the reverse sweep, a stroke that is common in the one-day game.

When Pakistan batted Chaminda Vaas was immediately into his act getting rid of Elahi for no score and Ahmed cheaply. Raja and Malik seemed to be getting on top when Sajeewa de Silva playing in his second test lured them to their destruction.

In this little Pakistani collapse Russel Arnold took two superb catches, the first one at third slip and the other at square leg.

NOTABLE ABSENTEE

At the Cricket Board dinner held on Wednesday a notable absentee was Hanif Mohammed, the former record-breaking Pakistani opening batsman and captain while lesser known mortals were invited. Apparently those who did the inviting either did not know about this celebrated cricketing son of Pakistan, or just ignored him. Media people too were apparently not wanted at this dinner.

Percy Abeysekera and Lionel Nawalgodegedera Sri Lanka's cheer leaders, apparently have had their movements restricted. If this is not so how can one explain why Percy was not allowed to wave the Sri Lanka flag and accompany the Sri Lanka batsmen in?


Source: The Daily News

Contributed by CricInfo Management
Date-stamped : 25 Feb1998 - 15:09