Great victory, great platform

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Category: Russel Arnold Column

Published on Monday, 02 January 2012 16:27

Written by Russel Arnold

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There is nobody happier and prouder than I am today to see Sri Lanka winning the 2nd test in South Africa. It's really good to see the boys sticking together and fighting it out.  When it came to the crunch it was just the cricketers with families backing them up, luckily it was the festive period and most of the wives and kids arrived over here. It did just seem very lonely especially after the beating in the 1st test. Fans had walked away, sponsors distancing themselves, media gone quiet;  just the solitary journalist Rex Clemantine here giving some coverage to the series.

The boys needed all the help they could get, to know that their fans were with them especially when the chips were down. One thing is for sure, we do have the talent and we need to focus on getting the best out of the players we have at present.

I have also heard in the past where people gave Sri Lanka no chance after the Arjuna, Aravinda era but it still rolls on and the same will happen again.

The elections hold hope. We all need to be working together as we were successful in the past when we played as a team, so we could do with ex- players and administrators not playing the blame game but getting together and moving cricket forward. It’s hard to pin-point why we are in this situation or even put a finger on what went wrong. Accusations are rampant and I am in no position to verify anything, it seems a million things are off beam. Most of these problems did exist in the past, but were not issues as wins on the field often covered everything.  It may seem like a bundle of issues at present but 80% will disappear the moment you string a few wins together. Yet the remaining 20% should not be ignored as the players need continuity and belief in the establishment and sound and selfless leaders.

I guess the team has shown that results could be achieved against all odds and how it should be achieved and that is through team work and nothing else. I also do hope interested parties do not pop up like player managers to cash in on the win and try and build player images and brands but instead recognize the win and new found hope/belief for what it exactly is and as Rangana Herath simply put it at the post match presentation when praise was heaped upon him "all I have to say is it was a great team effort".

In the end the big difference in the 2 test matches and also in the past few test matches that Sri Lanka have played is that here they scored those extra runs that they needed. Previously they were always short of runs to put pressure on the opposition and give their bowlers something to work with. The fact that Sri Lanka's bottom order added more than half the runs made a huge impact. It not only frustrated the opposition but gave the visiting side a score where if South Africa were not careful, could find themselves under pressure.

The situation of a game can really make a player/team look totally different. Sri Lanka  have been playing catch up in  all the games and hence lot of criticism, but given the chance this new attack has performed. True, there are no special match winners but there is a useful unit and even Dilhara Fernando was impressive always running in hard and you cannot fault him for not trying and he also did succeed in having batsmen hopping around on many an occasion.

One thing is for sure Sri Lanka need to work hard and the discipline that was on show is going to be the foundation for future success not so flair and flamboyance or genius skill but clinical efficiency, for the moment at least.

Youngster Dinesh Chandimal is my man of the match as I thought he made the difference. Thilan Samaraweera and Kumar Sangakkara did get hundreds in the game, but the way I see it, that is expected. Sri Lanka needed a new hero, a spark and that was him. At 162/5 the debutant batted with such confidence, looking solid and his attacking intent rubbed off. The runs did keep flowing and eased the pressure and Samaraweera suddenly found someone he could trust and just go about playing his own game which really did help. Chandimal also showed the maturity to adjust his game; he attacked only when the ball was in his zone and otherwise was happy to knock it around and that is where the contributions of Angelo Mathews becomes disappointing as more often than not, he struggles to find the balance of his game, to take his cricket to the next level which the entire country is holding its breath for.  As far as the captaincy goes, I do think that all talk of Mathews taking over should be temporarily put on hold until he finds his feet. Sri Lanka cannot risk loosing the biggest talent they have or risk not getting the most of it.

Sri Lanka did nothing different leading up to this test match. The same routines were carried out at training just as I have seen over the past few months with all the coaches working hard but trusting in the program and plans they initially set out with. Not only having watched all the games at close quarters but also most training sessions and spending time socially with the boys and coaching staff, I could feel the pain and frustration all were feeling with the results but they should all be applauded for not giving up on what they believed in. It was only a matter of time and so it proved too.

Through the months individual skills have improved and what was lacking was that glint where you get yourself in to a position from where you comprehend what you have and most importantly what you can do with it? So many changes have happened in the last few months. Pressure, was added on the new comers to live up to legends in the game, it was a huge burden. Whatever you do as a player you are always judged by outstanding standards set before you and that is near impossible.

The post match celebrations were top fun...the boys were eager to get back to the hotel and also unite with families as this time around the families in particular played a greater role in support of the team.  The rambunctious noise and banter at the gathering was as usual and its obvious the win had put them in a total light-hearted mood. The so called paduru party took off with Champaka at the helm. Though it was Angie and Mendo who owned the guitars, them being amateurs Champaka took on the strings and showed good rhythm with everyone jumping in with the occasional English song to keep the Sudda's interested. But there was no louder cheer than when Dilshan and Kumar kicked the daylights out of Geoff and Physio Steve in a game of TT.

Now in Capetown. I really don’t think the result in this game will have a huge impact. The key for Sri Lanka once again is to try and stay in focus and not fall away. South Africa will certainly be favourites but if the visitors come out with the intention of sticking to basics and show the mental energy they once again will create opportunities. Ideally for the team and for himself, T M Dilshan could do with a special knock as that is all that’s lacking for the moment. He has had a tough few months in all aspects and he has every reason to feel on top of the world. Hope it does rub off on the rest and Mahela Jayawardena too.

To have been able to achieve such an outstanding win through all the gloom should be savoured and be made use of to propel Sri Lanka to new heights. On the field, the belief in the ability, the process that brought this win should be used and off the field there is much work to be done as well. I think the past should be left behind, as the many questions may never be answered.  The new year should be about the future and all energies should be directed at rebuilding as The lions did on the field .....build on the hope that was provided which was created virtually  from nowhere.

 

 

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