The questionable manner in which the Proteas won, did appear to have caused a measure of disillusionment amongst the Lankan cricketers, resulting in the lack of confidence and the attendant sagging of their morale - This was manifest in their batting in the second and final test, where they performed much worse than tail enders, giving the impression that they were ignorant of what the bat was meant for. We are not trying to be unduly harsh here, perhaps naive to suggest that the reason for our world renowned batsmen to suprisingly bat out of character inexplicably, and cave in to court disaster, was because they unfortunately were the medium or excuse for God's wrath, for haven't we heard that ``God's'' axe grinds slowly but surely: Bright spot
Notwithstanding all this, the only bright spot in the otherwise dismal two test series, apart from the few isolated mediocre batting performances, was the painstaking gallant bowling of, off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who lived up to his widely acknowledged reputation. Substantiating this, one finds that he was mainly responsible for limiting the opponents to 263 runs in the second innings of the first test, and later on in the second innings of the final test, had a haul of 5 wickets to restrict South Africa to 200 runs - Thus giving him two match bags of 8 wickets, making a tally of 16 wickets in just 2 test matches, which is remarkably good going indeed.
Heartening
Furthermore, he has developed variation now - for apart, from being the pedestrian like, routine, wide turner of the ball (for which he has often been accused of) he now in addition bowls a leg break, a straight through and, when the occasion demands goes round the wicket to bowl. This is truly heartening and refreshingly reassuring in the light of the years ahead and bespeaks of his perseverance, application and the willingness to learn.
What he does seem to lack, probably through his make up and nature, is to bolster his ego by resorting to dramatic, physical gestures to psyche batsmen and nudge umpires, which other puffedup world class spinners are prone to. This may not sound healthy, for one must solely depend on one's ability and not on gimmicks. But a little bit of it, at crucial stages may help.
Subtle reflection.
The hammering that Murali received at the hands of Hansie Cronje, rather than discrediting the bowler, was a subtle reflection of the latent regard and esteem Cronje had for the proven ability of the bowler. Tentative batting at 96 for 3, and runs hard to come by, with Murali having accounted for all three wickets, holding the whiphand and in line for another haul of 5 wickets, to give his side a chance of being in the reckoning, did not look good for South Africa. Cronje, was well aware of the position he was in, and must have surely realised that attack was the best form of defence and chose to break free from the strangehold, by virtually taking the bull by the horns in taking the risks and launching an assault on the dreaded Murali. His ploy worked, for it was his day, he neither missed or miscued and so sprayed the field with sixes and fours. When he did lift Murali for a six to complete his 50, he with outstretched hands rushed to and fro, with delirious boyish delelight in having triumphed over Murali and setting his side on to victory. It was tacit recognition of the bowlers prowess, where Cronje sparkled to demonstrate what test Cricket is all about.
Not alone
Murali can take comfort that he is not alone and has company, in that many a spinner has at some stage received a bashing, just the way Warne is experiencing presently in India.
At the age of 24, with years of cricket ahead Murali has done well to take 168 test wickets and have 12 five wicket hauls. What is required is, that our star performers, be given adequate publicity abroad, through our agencies and the now sophisticated media, to give psychological advantage and make them aweinspring. Just the way foreign cricketers are kept in focus, even when they have simple things like a cough, sprained muscle or whatever, in order to make them important.