Weather a spoil sport?

The prevailing wet weather is threatening to disrupt the ongoing three-Test series between Sri Lanka and England. Thanks to that great fight back after trailing in the first innings, Sri Lanka managed to pull off a sweet win on the first Test at Asgiriya Stadium.

But it was a different story altogether in the Second Test concluded at SSC grounds on Thursday. With another five-wicket haul by the world’s highest wicket taker in Test cricket, Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka took a handsome first innings lead in the second Test. Yet, the hosts could not apply pressure as England put up a gallant fight back.

On the other hand, the weather gods came to England’s rescue after Mahela Jayewardene played a marathon captain’s innings for Sri Lanka. He was however, unlucky to miss what would have been a magical double century.

Sri Lanka should not be that bothered about the weather in Galle which hosts the Third Test. Having taken an unassailable 1-0 lead (one drawn) in the three-Test series, Sri Lanka should hold the key to the Third Test at the Galle Esplanade, which hosts a Test after several years.

The 2004 Tsunami calamity not only cost about 40,000 lives but many houses and buildings. That included the picturesque Galle International Cricket Stadium, the happy hunting venue for Sri Lanka cricket team.

If Asgiriya Stadium was to be called the nightmare venue for the home team after that infamous 93 all out against Greg Chappell’s Australians in 1983, it was Galle Stadium that has been the luckiest for the Lankan team.

Galle Stadium episode

But the Galle International Stadium was in ruins after that devastating Tsunami that brought misery for thousands of people in South and South East Asia. Not only the wicket and playing field. but the stadium and other buildings too were completely damaged by those merciless waves.

Thanks to the untiring efforts of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and former Sri Lanka Test cricketer Jayananda Warnaweera, the Galle Stadium is now ready to host a Test match once more.

But recent news reports said some of the newly constructed buildings of the Galle Stadium are to be demolished after the Third Test in Galle. Apparently, this was due to a dispute with local government authorities there. Being a UNESCO world heritage venue, any construction or modification around Galle Fort needs prior approval.

Now the question is whether the SLC officials got the necessary approval? They say yes. But the local government officials say no. Needless to say when a mega construction of this nature is done spending millions of hard earned money of our cricketers, it should be done in a proper manner.

Even a schoolboy would know that there is a procedure when a construction is done. Most importantly, approval for any building plan is a must from respective local government bodies in that area. We do not know whether the problem has been settled. But it is a shame if the SLC is to demolish the newly constructed buildings.

Jayasuriya retirement

Going back to the Third Test, this would have been the ideal venue for our veteran cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya to announce his retirement. But once again, some invisible force within his ranks, deprived Jayasuriya of that golden opportunity.

We are not saying Jayasuriya should play for ever. Of course the ever green Jayasuriya proved he has still not lost his old touch, scoring a fluent 78 in his last innings at Asgiriya Stadium. But it’s a pity that the national selectors failed to give Jayasuriya a fitting farewell.

Wouldn’t it have been better if Jayasuriya had given a chance to play his farewell Test before his Southern supporters? It would have been a memorable one and a fitting tribute to a champion cricketer who had made an immense contribution for Sri Lanka cricket. But life is such that some people who deserve won’t get that merit.

True that the Lankan team would miss Jayasuriya, his explosive batting that is hard to match. When he is ‘armed’ with the willow, it is a nightmare for any top bowler in the world. But no one is indispensable.

It is heartening to see some youngsters shaping well to take the openers’ slots, created due to retirements of long tested successful pair of Jayasuriya and Mavan Atapattu. While Jayasuriya hung his boots on a high note, Atapattu went from ‘hero to zero’ when he announced his retirement after some disgraceful remarks during Sri Lanka’s recent Test in Australia.

Atapattu - hero to zero

It is now evident that Atapattu’s ‘muppet show’ was a pre-planned one. His immediate switching on to ICC-banned Indian Cricket League proves that Atapattu had been looking for excuses. But the end result is the same as he ended up with a lucrative ICL contract. But we are not going to compare him with those who made that rebel South African tour way back in 1982. But the fact remains that all those cricketers went from grace to disgrace and Atapattu is no exception.

Nevertheless, just because of one costly decision that has brought discredit to Sri Lanka, we can’t forget Atapattu’s great contribution over the years. He has been the anchorman of the Sri Lanka side and a tower of strength. His patient batting at one end has enabled Jayasuriya to go for his shots most of the time. But it’s sad that Atapattu dug his own grave to quit on a ‘zero’ note.