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esponded with spunk to take both the limited over trophies in U.K. after being humiliatingly compared to a county side. Mind you, playing on their home grounds/in their weather conditions/before cheering home crowds. Reading the results makes you wonder whether Lankans were pitted against a minor county! Partisan British media (Slimy Army) was made to fold the red-crossed flag of St George, patron saint of England and slink away battering Captain Cooke.By gad Sir! It’s retribution.
Switched to white clothes and colour-washed the Series and Test in the home of cricket after the coach swivelled over to the opposition. That’s cricket… so it is in politics. Elections usher a season of crossovers: where office and money talks, making many a politician take the Paul Farbrace route across the great barrier. Greed. Lust. Fame - overcomes contractual obligations. Its humane, some have principles - others don’t, whether Asian, African or Caucasian. If we did it, it would be called ‘poaching’. When they do it is ‘legitimate and friendly human trafficking’.
"Our Security Forces had it ingrained and we won a war with the political authority providing leadership"
A short cut to success: the coach of Yorkshire’s 2nd XI elevated as Sri Lanka’s Head Coach, in a four-month truncated stint, captured the World Cup (20/20); it raised a wake up call from the English Cricket Board (ECB) to pinch and place him as the assistant Head Coach ahead of the Sri Lanka tour.It was Team Matthews that won the
World & Asia Cups with their inherent skills and hard work – not attributable to a few months coaching alone!
That helped Paul Farbrace to line for a lucrative assignment, previously overlooked. Typically British, loot the colonies and stack the British Museum which otherwise is a bare cupboard except for hard rock in Stonehenge.
Farbrace is no different to a UNP MP who becomes a Cabinet Minister overnight, after a few hushed telephone calls. This time it was London Calling our Coach. Sri Lanka Cricket, rightfully, does not hold fast on to restrictive clauses in employment contracts. Let any devil go home, if desirous. Anyway, it is cheaper than going to meet the Board’s lawyers. Farbace did a favour by crossing the Devils Bridge. Why?
Paul Farbarce’s switch contributed much to negate the English bowling on a lively green track:his invaluable opinion limited the bowling attack to pace-men hurling bouncers, to exploit our inherent weakness to a rising ball. Daft bowlers overdid it.Dumb coaches knew little that our boys were trained to survive the onslaught with the entry of Attapattu and Vass. England’s four-pronged attack wasted overs with Jack-in-the-Box deliveries that became innocuously ineffective when over-used.Thanks to Farbace’s smart intelligence workout, England included a part time spinner given the ball too late. We had mastered the art to live on a bouncer diet.
Why can’t the politicians be like our cricketers and bring home glory after girdling the globe? Be fair, they did gloriously well overcoming the terrorists, which is beyond the comprehension of any simple-minded cricketer. It needed Determination, True Grit, Commitment and Dedication. Our Security Forces had it ingrained and we won a war with the political authority providing leadership.
Look at the aftermath: for overcoming terrorism we are to be taken to Geneva to be disgraced; for winning a Test series we are charged with cheating and chucking. Is it gamesmanship to turn a win into a defeat?
Sangha’s inspiring speech in the Long Room brought the Commonwealth to its feet- would all the garrulous words of wisdom espoused by the learned professor in known/unknown capitals bring more than a slow handclap; provided for the sake of courtesy. Lets toss to see who will get a better hearing in the hostile parts of the Commonwealth. Of the two spokesmen whom will they crave to hear? On - content and presentation – Sangha is not a bore and more so, he is better known.
Can we beat the resolution in Geneva at least by a single vote after sending lusty cheering squads or run out Cameron on building a partnership with Milliband after warning both mates for straying into our territory dozing over the limits of diplomatic decorum or subject Navi Pillai’s decisions to a review system (DSR)where slow motion replays show Pillai’s raised finger is more crooked than that of umpire Billy Bowden’s.
Unlike Matthews and his merry men, do Mahinda and his jolly boys have the lasting power to take a game to the last over and clinch it to bring glory? Politicians sure did it in style with a war victory, which still evokes gratitude.Time of reckoning is close with an election around the corner.
Men in white and pyjamas blend well with team spirit and are joyous of others success. Indeed, ‘spirit’ soars only after a song and dance act at a parliamentary bash; sufficiently skilled to produce talented crooners with summersaulting skills that take them far in the field of entertainment. These are all one-man shows prone to a cutting edge if a colleague excels.MR is stronger captain in leading a Band of Brothers than a Gang of Diversity.
Ranil’s ‘kollas’ don’t play as a team; each goes to bat to win the skippers glad eye. Opposition leader should set up team of the opposite sex because the captain selected would be a sure eye-catcher. Otherwise he might become known as one of the greatest sportsmen in living memory for losing gracefully each time and having the courage to live to fight again on another day as the captain?He is indeed, unstoppable. Opposition needs a coach, selector and a captain. Not a Three in One.
True we beat the nation of Dart Players, Stamp Collectors and Crossword Puzzlers living in beautiful home gardens. Now we are against a nation of Bushmen, Head Hunters, and Muggers living in abject poverty in cardboard townships. Can we overcome hunkies?
South Africa battered our bowling to oblivion and took the series 2-1; we looked weary and unfit on the field with dropped chances. It’s time our national psyche takes over. Tolerant to withstand any attack with both cheeks wide open until we are placed to the back of the wall for a peppering. Then only do we respond, with all our might
and re-launch, eventually to achieve the result required. That is a lesson learnt from a civilization and culture that dates back twenty-five centuries. Will the age-old adage work its magic? Await the Test series to see who comes on top?
In town are two prominent Springboks on different missions-Cyril Ramaphosha and Hasim Amala. One shopping to involve South Africa in the reconciliation process; other, the coloured captain of the Protease trying to avert the many chokes it had suffered in winning a major trophy.
South Africa had officially sanctioned training camps for the LTTE that were dismantled by Nelson Mandela at the urgings of President Kumaratunga. It is said Mandela was grateful for the support rendered by her mother Sirima Bandaranaike during the difficult days when ANC had to go underground. Nevertheless after Mandela, ANC held out a helping hand to the LTTE. Therefore their role as moderator/facilitator arouses suspicion. Beggars cannot be choosers but beggars need self-preservation to survive. South Africans now parade Cyril Ramaphosha (Vice President of ANC that invited pro Tamil Eelam groups to South Africa for their independent celebrations which made Sri Lanka boycott the event). If so, should the South Africans be invited to play a role in the reconciliation process, mindful of the Norwegian catastrophe?Or have they the capacity to bring all the contenders to the table due to the ability to access?
The other is Hasim Amla (a devout Muslim- declined to wear the official cricket shirt with the sponsor’s logo which advertised Castle Beer; “terrorist takes another wicket” croaked Dean Jones on Ten Sports after he caught Kumar Sangakkara in Colombo, led to his banishment from TV commentaries for ethic remarks) the run machine that out did the Sri Lankans. South Africans must not be allowed to outplay us whether in cricket or reconciliation, as we are a nation known for its fighting qualities and don’t turn to despair.
Never trust a British or American or Indian or South African – rather sail with Japanese or Australians or Malaysians or Pakistani’s- when it comes to selecting moderators or facilitators in the reconciliation process. In cricket, being more circumspect – bargaining from a point of strength would trust only the country team.
Cricket is subject ‘to the glorious uncertainties of the game’ than politics and lives up to the name as it is more prone to the vagaries of wagering as bookies can call the tune. In politics bookies are prime contributors and make the politicians dance to their tune-fortunately after the elections; unlike in cricket which is during the match.
