The invincible make believe bubble that the second string Sri Lankan cricketers blew defeating the number one ranked team Pakistan in the T/20 series recently in Pakistan was blown apart with a big bang when Australia dumped them -- the first stringers -- 3-0 in the series in Australia.
The poor showing by the Lanka team was as much a shocker as was the upset that the Sri Lankan second stringers caused in Pakistan! Capitulating with not even a semblance of a fight back, the Sri Lankan team cut a sorry spectacle. Accepted that both sides can’t win, but when you lose you must lose being worthy opponents and with dignity. There was unworthiness and disgrace instead.
There were a few changes made by the selectors from the team that excelled in Pakistan with the captain who led with great aplomb in Pakistan Dhasun Shanaka being deposed and the captain the selectors have named for the next World Cup in Australia next year Lasith Malinga being slotted in.
But that the team failed to jell will be of worry to the selectors. How they will go from here will be watched very keenly by all our cricket crazy fans. Firstly, no doubt questions will be asked whether it is right to continue with Malinga as captain when records prove of being a wanting leader with more losses than victories under his cricket heavyweight belt.
In this highly commercialized and no quarter given or asked game today, that could be described as brutal, with winning not the thing but being the thing, the selectors can’t afford to have sympathy or favourites when they sit to pick teams, keeping in mind that they are performing a sacred duty.
After the devastating defeats against Australia, questions are already being asked about Malinga’s captaincy and whether the selectors must persist with him. With T/20 cricket being a fast forward game ageing bodies and feet don’t fit into this style of game. The selectors will need to ponder deep into this aspect.
While there was no effort by any of the Sri Lankan team that’s worthy of mention, full marks to Australian opener, the dashing leftie David Warner for his devastating efforts with the bat in all three games. He is a mauler when he gets going as his scores of 100, 60 and 57 all unbeaten, proves.
Warner had a poor run against England in the Ashes series and then spewed his venom with the bat at the hapless Sri Lankan attack, that to say the least was below standard at this level of the game.
While not wanting to flog a dead horse, the writer would like to draw readers who would have seen the hilarity that left arm spinner Sandakan provided when attempting to run out Steve Smith in the second game.
The rule is once that bails have been dislodged, when attempting to run out a batsman the ball and the uprooted stump should be held in one hand. Sandakan had the ball in one hand the stump in the other and shouted an appeal. It was hilarious.
Had he watched how Pat Cummins ran him (Sandakan) out he would have known. This ignorance by Sandakan was a sad indictment on his coaches from juvenile level to national level. At national level a player ignorant of the rules should not be playing the game. To add to the humour was to see the head umpire referring the appeal to the TV umpire. It indicated that the umpire too was ignorant of the rule.
Unfair by B’desh star Shakib
It’s a pity that one, if not the best all round cricketer produced by Bangladesh in their short time among the elite test paying countries SHAKIB AL HASAN has been suspended from all forms of the game for two years by the International Cricket Council.
The sin Shakib committed was that he did not inform the authorities that he was approached by the vermin of the game to fix some matches. The gentleman that he is, is accused for not informing cricket’s governing body the attempts to bribe him.
What must be admired and appreciated was that he did not get involved and pocket ill gotten filthy lucre, but did not inform the high ups, probably imagining that there was no need for it.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been harsh on him. Instead of suspending him, the holier than thou men at the ICC, should have fined him and let him play. Spectators flock to see him play and not to curse the ICC for an injudicious and ludicrous decision.
A legion of Shakib’s supporters to whom he is god protested to show their anger at the ICC. Bangladesh Cricket Board President Nazmul said Shakib’s suspension was ‘shocking’ as he was the team’s centre-piece.
That Shakib is a brilliant all rounder and one that will not emerge in Bangladesh cricket again was appreciated and shown by his vast following who are throwing their weight and support behind him.
Shakib from the time he made it to the first team has not only been an exemplary all rounder, but a gentleman produced by the game, where today men of Shakib’s calibre have been corrupted with bagsful of money to be won in the game today.
We hope the ICC will have a change of heart and reconsider Shakib’s punishment and let him play the game, because for him the game is the thing.