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The team from Old Blighty are no longer 'pushovers'
The English cricket team will be touring Sri Lanka on the second leg of the sub-continent commencing November 13. The first leg was in Bangladesh
By Bernie Wijesekera
The England team led by the hard as oak Yorkshireman Michael Vaughan is no longer a pushover side. The English game was in the doldrums in the mid 90s, but the hierarchy got their act-together and worked hard to restore its image.

They performed poorly against Sri Lanka in 1997, when they went down meekly losing the solitary Test staged at the Oval bamboozled by the wiles of Muralitharan (who had a match-bag of 16 wkts.). But on the reciprocal tour to Sri Lanka (year January to March 2001). They lost the first Test in Galle but came back to register a 2-1 series win. The Lankans were expected to make it a whitewash in their own backyard. Their aspirations however fell by the wayside.

A long wait
After a long wait Sri Lanka was afforded a three-test series in England in 2002. Sri Lanka was strongly poised to win the First Test at Lords but England well-known for their gritty fight back staged a draw. In the next two Tests - the Lankans failed to impress and went down to lose the series 2-0. Thereby they failed to justify their claim for a 3-Test series in Old Blighty.

The England team, since their World Cup held in England in 1999, has made an impact - improving in every department of the game with a correct infrastructure. Former Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy director Rod Marsh, in Adelaide Australia is one of the selectors. The batsmen have the technique to adjust themselves whilst handling the pacemen on bouncy pitches and the spinners (dust bowls) in the Sub-Continent.

The way they played against Australia in a home series won wide acclaim for them and country wide for their stupendous team effort. Aussie skipper Steve Waugh commended Vaughan's batting as high class-one of the best at present in the Test arena. Marcus Trescothic the elegant left-hander proved his mettle in abundance. The way he tormented and teased 'Murali' with his correct technique gave an object lesson to his team-mates.

Unlike the Lankans the Englishmen are not bothered, who captains the side, but it is the team that matters to them. But in Sri Lanka its vice-versa. The players apparently, show personal performance interest than the success of the team. Apparently its due to a weak management plagued with problems. The players, too infiltrate into the administration. At present the Sri Lanka team suffers due to incessant failures in the field. It attributes this to low morale. They must put other issues in the back seat and fight back to regain the winning ploy.

Transitional Period
Sri Lanka, is undergoing a transitional period and has nothing to lose.
Sri Lanka won the World Cup in 1996 under Ranatunga and the Cricket Board headed by Ana Punchihewa. Has the game progressed since then at grassroots level? Sri Lanka had been winning an odd one-day series here and there. They won a test sries 3-0 against the the young West Indies. It was due to the good foundation achieved at home after the 1999 W. Cup setbacks.

They lost to England 2-1 at home. They were out of contention in two triangular series played at home. Also bowed out of a one-day series in England - won by the host team. Even the Minister of Sports has contributed much for this sad episode. Not only cricket, but in all sports. Even the popularity of the game in the Little Island is on the wane.

The interest shown by the cricket loving public, in the ongoing Premier League 'A' (3-day matches) with hardly a crowd to watch unlike in the past. The players are no longer icons, because of their indisciplined a approach.

Quantity but no quality
There is quantity, but no quality players in the local cupboards to serve Lanka's cause. Sri Lanka should prepare hard clay bouncy pitches rather than slow turners so that the local batsmen should be able to adjust their technique - to counter the fast bowlers. England is not short of them.

The forthcoming English tour has much to look forward to, with peace and harmony prevailing. The Lankans with comparable strength and potential must be totally committed to take up the challenge. The side that possesses the mental toughness should be able to call the tune. In the end it has nothing to lose, but has fought to the bitter end to bring the game back to surface. That should be the motto, but not making excuses.

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