Waaaaaaa…..

Hmm…so Australia beat us. And somehow the world seems to think that we have brought the game into disrepute. Yeah sure we don’t go around calling people ‘black cunts’ or moan like babies at any given opportunity but somehow resting our key bowlers is a controversy. Let’s look at the facts shall we? How old are Murali and Vaas, they are veterans both in their late thirties. Murali was hobbling a bit in the game against England, why risk both of them in what is in the end a pointless match? It may have been important to the Aussies, as we were probably the first decent team apart from maybe the Saffers they have played in the tournament so far. I think Mahela’s move to rest the bowling attack was a good one; we really had nothing to lose. If we won, hell we won with a half arsed attack, if we lost….well we lost because of a half arsed attack.

Of course that our batting messed up is an issue and a glaring one. What gives me some comfort is the intelligent game that Chamara and Mahela played. From cricinfo it seemed very much an Aravinda/Arjuna type innings. Anyone remember those? When they came into the middle after the top order had fallen and just chipped away, almost nonchalantly building a respectable total or chasing one down. They were so clinical I remember falling asleep at Khetta, they were so effective at chasing down targets. For me to sleep at a cricket match is one thing, but to fall asleep when 16 and accompanied by hot 19 year old Vishakhians was an achievement by itself…amuses me now that I used to think of R and H akki in those terms…hormones! Anyways digression about hot Vishakhians aside (as rare as they are) we really need Mahela, Chamara and Kumar to start playing that ‘brand’ of cricket. Let Sanath go for the big hits, but his success/failure shouldn’t dictate the score.

At the end of the day it was a bit of a mind game and a bit of conservatism, Australia may be crying as usual but then that’s to be expected. They always whinge, just read the tone of this article in response to some comments by Ranatunge. Of course they have no hesitation with playing their own mind games. Apparently Justin Langer has a direct connection to Tom Moody’s brain despite reports to the contrary. Of course this wasn’t mind games at all. I personally detest the Australian cricket team, they are to cricket what the USA is to the Olympics, the end result of a little talent and a lot of money. Countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh have always been more ‘naturally’ talented but with the lack of discipline brought about by the intense training approaches that money can buy the Australians will always lack consistency, until at least they are extremely experienced. Their tendency to whine about the slightest thing that makes other teams better is also annoying, they of course can go ahead and bowl underarm if they see fit. The greatest reason I despise them is of course what they tried to do to Murali and the continued treatment he receives there. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see our boys beat the Aussies, I hope when/if we play them in the final each and every one will be thinking “Remember Murali!”