With more than three days washed out, it would have been a big relief for the spectators to get some cricket. The insurance company also would have heaved a sigh of relief that there was some play though the TNCA and TV rights holders must not have been too pleased when the skies cleared. When play got underway on the fourth afternoon, it was obvious that with the wicket having been under the covers for such a long time and the groundsman unable to tend to it, the bounce was going to be unpredictable.
In the event there was hardly any bounce at all and the helmet was superfluous. What was needful was more protection for the ankles and the boots, for the bounce was virtually below ‘sea-level’. On such a pitch it’s impossible to hit the ball in the middle and the smart batsman will not take his favorite bat to play, for that is bound to get cracked if the ball keeps hitting the toe of the bat. Virender Sehwag showed that it hardly makes a difference to him if the ball bounces too high or doesn’t bounce at all.
His method is simple, if he feels it’s a ball to be hit, he does so and he brought a sleepy Test to life with a superb display of shots. He hasn’t been in the best of touch and so it’s also necessary for him to try and spend time at the crease, but it wasn’t to be for long.
The ground authorities must have heaved a sigh of relief when Tendulkar remained not out at the end of day four, for it ensured that a sizable crowd would turn up to watch him on the last day.
For a long time now there is a mini industry that has grown up along with the little champion. These include look-alikes, sundry doctors especially after his injury problems, toy manufacturers, placard makers (who use product advertising along with the ‘4’ and ‘6’ placards that they make for the crowds to wave whenever he hits a boundary or a six) and the latest is astrologers, numerologists and what not.
Cricket is a game that lends itself to superstition and while it is invariably a personal choice, it is a tad sad when leading media give prominence to the soothsayers, who get their 15 minutes of fame or in this instance ‘infame’, by predicting a lucky number for him or at what time exactly he is going to score his century. Surely, there are better ways to fill up newspaper space or TV time by giving it to up and coming performers than to these publicity seekers.
Hopefully now that they have all been proven wrong, their names will be prominently published as the guys who got it totally wrong. Sri Lanka would be pleased with the way their plans for different batsmen worked out as could be seen by the manner in which Ganguly was consumed.
India’s batting was disappointing for they, with the exception of Dravid and Tendulkar, seemed to be in the limited overs mode not just with their choice of strokes but also the running between the wickets.
Dhoni made an impressive debut taking on Muralitharan.
The Lankan reply was solid but if Gunawardene is Jayasuriya’s replacement, then the Lankans have got it wrong.
He may well score runs, but will never convey the same danger that Jayasuriya does.
Jayawardene and Sangakarra looked in top touch and though the match was doomed to a draw, the symbolic first innings lead with 6 wickets in hand will give the Lankans more confidence for the rest of the series.
