World cricket legend Muttiah Muralideran said at a public lecture that Test cricket was the most important format than any other version of the game.
He made the remarks at the Gamini Dissanayake Lecture organised by Sportsinfo and held at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Auditorium last week.
“I always loved Test cricket. After we got Test status in 1981 we couldn’t play more matches due to the situation in the country. Terrorist activities affected the whole country and overseas teams were not willing to come here,” said Muralideran.
“The final result was less opportunities for the players. However we had a good team as well as good support from the Cricket Board. We had some difficulties but we all played the game with a good vision”. But Muralideran, the record holder of 800 Test wickets, regretted that the sport’s administration had a lot to do with declining standards. “In the past we did not have a physiotherapist and the Cricket Board was not a very rich place. Unlike today, officials were very keen to genuinely take the game forward and they did not work for money. The players were hard at practices with one vision to win and win for the country and we became world champions in 1996. It is a different culture today and very disappointing,” said Muralideran.
He said that the complete cricketer is someone who has good skills, mental toughness and commitment to overcome all obstacles.“Today we have better facilities but what is more important is player discipline and the values associated with cricket do not have to change of which team spirit is very important,” said Muralideran.
Paying a tribute to the late Gamini Dissanayake, the former Sri Lanka Cricket president who is credited with leading the campaign for the country to achieve Test status in 1981, Muralideran said there are lessons to be learnt.
“Gamini Dissanayake had a vision and made every effort to build up a future generation of cricketers. He always emphasized on how to play the game and compete against the best of the best. He was very protective of the players and got us Test status. I love Test cricket very much,” said Muralideran.