Cricket’s Blessing, and a Curse? April 7, 2014, 8:36 pm article_image Mates who called it a day on T20s: Kumar Sangakkara (L) and Mahela Jayawardene. (File Photo) by S. Skandakumar When an indulgent son asked his father Dad what is a Major ICC Tournament? the father replied; son, it is one in which all the member countries of the ICC play against each other to qualify for the right to meet Sri Lanka in the final. Going by what has transpired at ICC tournaments since 2007, the father could not be faulted for that clarification! The curtain came down on yet another in Dhaka on Sunday, and it was evident that the team that would take the trophy would be the one to hold its nerve and have a bit of the good wind on its back. When Malinga flipped the coin and Dhoni called wrong, there was a hint of the direction in which that good wind was going to blow that day. India, as expected, was invited to bat first. Their innings went very much to Sri Lanka’s plans until Virat Kohli exploded in the 15th over, while Yuvraj Singh watched from the other end in mute admiration. Suddenly at 111 for 2 and four overs remaining, India looked poised for a total in the region of 160, and to take control. The game then underwent an inexplicable and yet decisive change. Yuvraj, once an icon and hero of the 2011 World Cup, but clearly past his prime, took center stage in the next three overs akin to a player who had left both his bat and his cricketing brain in the dressing room. While he groped, plodded and even farmed the strike once in this very crucial period, Kohli was seen banging his bat on his pads in frustration at the non striker’s end. It was evident that the concentration of India’s finest aggressor was waning, while his ominous rhythm disappeared. So, with just 20 more runs added in the crucial final four overs, Sri Lanka earned the right to be very pleased with their outstanding effort on the field and to plan a less hurried approach to their target. Kusal’s early dismissal followed by Dilshan’s return to the pavilion brought Sri Lanka’s two icons together. A miscued pull by Sanga very early in his innings fell marginally short of the long on fieldsman, indicating that the good wind was still blowing Sri Lanka’s way and a few involuntary edges sped to the third man and fine leg boundaries, to keep the run rate well under control. Mahela’s dismissal at 78 only made fans regret the opportunity that was denied for the two to be together when the winning run was scored. The outcome by this time was fairly obvious. For Malinga as captain, it was also a personal triumph, as he more than vindicated himself on the issue of his selective approach to playing for his country. His final over made the once mercurial Dhoni look very pedestrian! His gesture to the ball in hand at the commencement of each spell reflected his respect for the game and his humility. When Sanga sounded the boundary board to herald a historic win, a nation of 20 million people exploded, while the shocked silence of over a billion across the Palk Straits was equally deafening! The mourning will no doubt commence when reality dawns with the inauguration of the forthcoming IPL! The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI), which compelled the ICC to ignore the Lord Woolf report for good governance in pursuit of its own objectives for power and money, will now have time to reflect on the values this marvelous game has stood for over a century. As for the Sri Lankans, they proved beyond doubt that success can be achieved while respecting and upholding those time tested values at all times. Both Mahela and Sangakkara can look back with immense satisfaction on their unflinching roles here as peers to the younger players, and the outcome of the final was cricket’s own blessing to them for that contribution. They leave the T20 arena having set excellent standards for discipline and accountability, as leaders. THANK YOU BOTH! Yes, indeed cricket will remain the ‘Greatest Leveler’, and our team made me so very proud to be Sri Lankan!
Posted on: Wed, 09 Apr 2014 16:30:38 +0000
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