Oracle of Delphi
Shan Jayaweera
Arnold
Tash Jayasinghe
Cibbuano
Craig HillGive Jayawardena and Whatmore a financial reminder of what is at stake in this World Cup
April 17th 2007 12:10
While the logic behind Sri Lankaīs decision to rest Murali, Vaas and Malinga is undeniable the timing of such a move given the progress of the World Cup to date is hideous for Malcolm Speed et al at the ICC.
The last thing this tournament needed after weeks of mediocre matches was another mismatch, this one between the two favourites for the crown.
The Aussies have seen plenty of Murali and Vaas and as New Zealand can attest it doesnīt matter how many times you face Malinga it is almost impossible to be fully prepared for what comes next.
So was the move really necessary? A Sri Lankan victory in the final and a world beating performance from Murali, Vaas and Malinga will attest to the move but a seven wicket defeat at this stage of the tournament is probably not what Sri Lanka needed. Certainly it is not a tactic the Aussies, themselves on a 26 game winning streak at World Cups, would have contemplated.
In resting his three star bowlers Mahela Jayawardena threw sand in the faces of the World Cup cricket chiefs, themselves fumbling on the ground from the combined blows of low crowd numbers and a long and largely uninspiring sequence of Super 8 matches.
Where other players have come in for disciplinary action for expressing an opinion (ironically Gilchrist mentioning that he thought that Murali throws during a post speech Q & A comes to mind) in the name of preserving the spirit of the game so should Jayawardena.
What should have been a cracking contest that lit up the World Cup before the semi finals was a damp squib. Jayawardena and Whatmore should be fined for their actions but spared a suspension in keeping with the principle of doing everything possible to maintain the standards of the World Cup.
The last thing this tournament needed after weeks of mediocre matches was another mismatch, this one between the two favourites for the crown.
The Aussies have seen plenty of Murali and Vaas and as New Zealand can attest it doesnīt matter how many times you face Malinga it is almost impossible to be fully prepared for what comes next.
So was the move really necessary? A Sri Lankan victory in the final and a world beating performance from Murali, Vaas and Malinga will attest to the move but a seven wicket defeat at this stage of the tournament is probably not what Sri Lanka needed. Certainly it is not a tactic the Aussies, themselves on a 26 game winning streak at World Cups, would have contemplated.
In resting his three star bowlers Mahela Jayawardena threw sand in the faces of the World Cup cricket chiefs, themselves fumbling on the ground from the combined blows of low crowd numbers and a long and largely uninspiring sequence of Super 8 matches.
Where other players have come in for disciplinary action for expressing an opinion (ironically Gilchrist mentioning that he thought that Murali throws during a post speech Q & A comes to mind) in the name of preserving the spirit of the game so should Jayawardena.
What should have been a cracking contest that lit up the World Cup before the semi finals was a damp squib. Jayawardena and Whatmore should be fined for their actions but spared a suspension in keeping with the principle of doing everything possible to maintain the standards of the World Cup.
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Comment by Anonymous
It is ridiculous that you dont know Tom Moody is the coach of Sri lankan team...
You are suggesting to fine innocent Bangladesh coach Whatmore as you are ignorant........
Comment by DavidH
Defending the indefensible
Thanks for pointing that out.
Yours in editorial stuff ups.
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