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The understrength Sri Lankan cricketers must certainly be delighted with their entry into the final of the Asian Test Championships by virtue of securing the necessary bonus points from Pakistan in another Test that ended in a draw at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore on Monday.

The fact is that the Lankans are in the finals and when they meet Pakistan in the Test that will decide the Asian Champions, they must play in the form we know they can and have the Pakistanis coming second best.

Before going on to comment on the Test, we would like to play a few of the Sri Lankan fielders for their atrocious display on the field especially the catching.

One need not tell the Lankans that catches win matches. Fielding is one of the most important basics in the game. A good fielding side can make the bowlers look unplayable and also raise a mediocre team into being world beaters.

Catches win matches

It was out of this world fielding that made us world champions in the one-day game. But apparently this vital aspect at the moment seems to have gone with the wind.

To say the least it was disgusting to watch the Sri Lankan fielders grass nearly a dozen catches in the game against Pakistan. The ungainly way they were dropping catches made us wonder whether they were not wanting to fight it out and enter the final.

Batsmen were given life after life and they were smiling and revelling and it was the poor bowlers who were suffering. Paceman Wickremasinghe's figures of 6 for 103 would have looked much more imposing had he not suffered at the hands of some village green catching.

With nearly two months to go for the World Cup tournament in England, coach Roy Dias who was one of the best fielders during his time, will have to do a lot of fielding work with his squad. At the moment the fielding is horrible. If they don't raise their poor standard of fielding and specially the catching we are afraid they will not progress in the world cup and retain their hard won world champion tag.

Even in Australia during the Carlton and United series, low fielding raised laughs. They seemed to have forgotten the basics in this vital aspect. Some of the fielders were diving over the ball and letting it speed to the boundary much to the amusement of the spectators, pressmen and the opposing teams.

Concentration, anticipation and not taking ones eyes off the ball until it is firmly cupped in the hands is what fielding is all about. We are sure the cricketers are aware of this.

The Test match in Lahore was a farce once the Lankans obtained the bonus points which saw them through to the final in Dhaka. The Lankans obtained the bonus points before lunch on the third day and the rest of the five-day Test saw the players going through the motions.

It once again proved the futility of a Test championship of this nature. One wonders for whose benefit a tournament of this nature was thought of. From indications this Test championship format will be the first and the last.

Promodya Wickremasinghe, who has not been without his share of critics who were asking for his head everytime he fails hit back with the best bowling figures of his career. He will be on the plane to England for the World Cup where conditions will favour his type of bowling.

It was also encouraging to watch the stylish and reliable batting of Russel Arnold who is struggling to hold his place in the national side. He has what it takes to be a sound opening batsman in the longer duration of the game. His concentration is unflappable, temperament sound and has strokes all round the wicket. He is technically correct. He must play on current form, if not as an opener he should go one down. Attapattu, Aravinda and Mahela could follow.

The selectors will do well to take note of him.