Get nasty and intimidate Lankan batsmen, says Warne

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from Australia

It is essential that Muttiah Muralitheran breaks to pieces, Shane Warne’s wicket taking Test record.

Every where we go, the market places, the kiosks, the train and bus stations, the topic of conversation is Muralitheran and the million dollar question: Will Muralitheran bury Warne’s record?

True that the Australian batsmen play Muralitheran than any other. But Muralitheran as the wiles to lure the better Aussies batsmen to their demise. All Sri Lankans here voice their support for the little spinner and are wanting him to forget or ignore all other distractions and concentrate on reaching cricket’s bowling Mount Everest, nowhere other than in Australia.

Muralitheran has the artillery and the marksmanship to target and bring down the high riding Australian batsmen.There will be a large contingent of Sri Lankans domiciled here coming with all the gear to make one big din and support Muralitheran and the team.

Shane Warne must surely be having many sleepless nights. And that can be expected considering that his record is in line to fall.

His frustration and fear could be gauged by the fact that he has asked the Aussie selectors to unleash raw pace at the Lankan batsmen when the Test begins.

Warne is quoted in the ‘Courier Mail’, urging the selectors to let loose the pace of Shaun Tait in partnership with Brett Lee and get nasty and intimidate the Lankan batsmen.

Warne reckons that Tait and Lee can deliver bolts at regular speeds of 160km/h and bring down the Lankan batsmen. Warne says he would let the Sri Lankans have it. He seems surprised at the non-inclusion of Tillekeratne Dilshan who he says is Lanka’s best batsmen of quick bowling.

Over the years the Aussies have even resorted to sledging to unsettle opposing batsmen. Intimidation too by their fast men are nothing new and to be surprised about.

Dennis Lillie and Jeff Hompson had batsmen jelly-kneed and ducking for cover when the Aussies under the arrogant Ian Chappell dominated the game in the seventies and eighties.

The Lankan batsmen are no doubt in for a dose of similar medicine this time round. One thing is certain and that is that the Lankan batsmen would not lack for want of guts to blunt the Aussie pace launchers.