rapa
05-10-2007, 03:18 PM
The ICC 2007 World Cup final between Sri Lanka and Australia is now history. There
has been loads of articles published, wide range of views expressed and many post-
mortems by various individuals, including past and present cricketers held.
I have been carefully reading all the stuff, including our own ‘on-the-spot’ reports filed
by veteran cricket writer Dr. Elmo Rodrigopulle, the only Sri Lankan English journalist
to cover the entire tournament.
Whilst thinking of all those action paced episodes from the Caribbean for nearly two
months, I had a dream. Yes! That was a dream final.
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardena won the toss and elected to bat first in a final
curtailed to 38 overs per side due to morning rain. Sri Lanka made a commanding total of
281 for 4 in their allotted 38 overs.
The architect of the massive Lankan total was none other than wicket keeper batsman
Kumar Sangakkara. He scored a blistering 149 off just 104 balls with eight sixes and 13
fours. He showed no mercy to Australian bowlers in punishing them to all corners of the
Kensington Oval in Barbados.
Immediately after reaching his century in just 72 balls, Sangakkara raises his left hand
and points to the batting glove from the right hand. It looks as if he was showing his left
glove to someone in the dressing room. Millions of television viewers and spectators at
the packed stadium wonder what it’s all about.
But after receiving his man of the match award for a match winning 149, Sangakkara
unveiled a secret known to him and his batting coach back home. As if he is a victorious
kid after a hide and seek game, Sangakkara boasts of his secret and the ‘hidden weapon’
that enabled him to record one of the most glorious innings in cricket.
He said a squash ball hidden in his batting glove helped him to have a better grip. The
dashing wicket keeper batsman said it was his batting coach back in Sri Lanka who
suggested the idea of inserting a squash ball into his batting glove so that it would give
him a better grip and a distinct advantage.
“He asked me to play this little trick and score a century. He asked me to prove I had the
squash ball inside my glove, if I score a century in the final. That is why I raised my
glove and showed it to him over the television. I knew my coach back in Sri Lanka was
watching me,” a proud Sangakkara says after the match.
But Sangakkara’s comment boomerangs. The ICC and the match officials get mad at the
unethical act of the Lankan batsman. “It’s like taking performance enhancing drugs.
When you take performance enhancing drugs, you get undue advantage than the others.
Similarly, the squash ball in the Lankan batsman’s glove enhanced his performance.
Hence, this matter should be referred to the World anti doping body - WADA,” an
Australian newspaper suggested.
“Sri Lanka should immediately be stripped of their World champion title. It should now
be awarded to second placed Australia. The World Cup belongs to Australia as Sri Lanka
has cheated and obtained an undue advantage,” an expert commentator and former
international cricketer engaged in live television coverage said.
The two umpires Aleem Dar and Steve Bucknor get mad at Sangakkara. They file an
adverse report to the ICC, so does the third umpire Rudi Koertzen who too says he
noticed the squash ball episode on the live TV coverage. The Match Referee summons
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardena and Sangakkara for a hearing.
The ICC, which has been acting like a toothless tiger over the years, gets super power.
They decide to be firm on Sri Lanka. The ICC issue a strong statement condemning the
‘unsporty, unethical and unruly act by the Lankan wicket keeper batsman and his team’.
Finally, the ICC gets more teeth. They decide to declare the result null and void and the
match referee awards the match to Australia. They fine Sri Lanka team 100% of their
World Cup earnings and the batsman gets a life ban.
His captain gets a 10-year ban for covering things up. The team is served with a five year
ban for breaching collective responsibility. England, South Africa and New Zealand join
Australia in condemning Sri Lanka’s poor sportsmanship.
The ICC sends a special representative to Colombo. He forcibly takes the World Cup
back from the SLC headquarters and takes it to Melbourne. The ICC hurriedly organizes
a special ceremony to award the World Cup to Australia, stating that they are the worthy
winners as Sri Lanka has put a black mark on world cricket by cheating.
The drama does not end there. ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed proposes tough
measures to prevent this type of shameless acts in future. The ICC amends rules and
playing conditions. They rule that two field umpires should check the gloves of batsmen
and wicket keepers each time they take the field, similar to a boxing referee inspecting
the gloves of two fighters before a bout.
My telephone started ringing. Then I woke up to the realization that it was a long day
dream. I switched on my television and there was a repeat telecast of the World Cup
final. I saw Australian wicket keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist waving his bat on reaching
his century, then pointing at his batting glove.
Source: Island News Paper
has been loads of articles published, wide range of views expressed and many post-
mortems by various individuals, including past and present cricketers held.
I have been carefully reading all the stuff, including our own ‘on-the-spot’ reports filed
by veteran cricket writer Dr. Elmo Rodrigopulle, the only Sri Lankan English journalist
to cover the entire tournament.
Whilst thinking of all those action paced episodes from the Caribbean for nearly two
months, I had a dream. Yes! That was a dream final.
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardena won the toss and elected to bat first in a final
curtailed to 38 overs per side due to morning rain. Sri Lanka made a commanding total of
281 for 4 in their allotted 38 overs.
The architect of the massive Lankan total was none other than wicket keeper batsman
Kumar Sangakkara. He scored a blistering 149 off just 104 balls with eight sixes and 13
fours. He showed no mercy to Australian bowlers in punishing them to all corners of the
Kensington Oval in Barbados.
Immediately after reaching his century in just 72 balls, Sangakkara raises his left hand
and points to the batting glove from the right hand. It looks as if he was showing his left
glove to someone in the dressing room. Millions of television viewers and spectators at
the packed stadium wonder what it’s all about.
But after receiving his man of the match award for a match winning 149, Sangakkara
unveiled a secret known to him and his batting coach back home. As if he is a victorious
kid after a hide and seek game, Sangakkara boasts of his secret and the ‘hidden weapon’
that enabled him to record one of the most glorious innings in cricket.
He said a squash ball hidden in his batting glove helped him to have a better grip. The
dashing wicket keeper batsman said it was his batting coach back in Sri Lanka who
suggested the idea of inserting a squash ball into his batting glove so that it would give
him a better grip and a distinct advantage.
“He asked me to play this little trick and score a century. He asked me to prove I had the
squash ball inside my glove, if I score a century in the final. That is why I raised my
glove and showed it to him over the television. I knew my coach back in Sri Lanka was
watching me,” a proud Sangakkara says after the match.
But Sangakkara’s comment boomerangs. The ICC and the match officials get mad at the
unethical act of the Lankan batsman. “It’s like taking performance enhancing drugs.
When you take performance enhancing drugs, you get undue advantage than the others.
Similarly, the squash ball in the Lankan batsman’s glove enhanced his performance.
Hence, this matter should be referred to the World anti doping body - WADA,” an
Australian newspaper suggested.
“Sri Lanka should immediately be stripped of their World champion title. It should now
be awarded to second placed Australia. The World Cup belongs to Australia as Sri Lanka
has cheated and obtained an undue advantage,” an expert commentator and former
international cricketer engaged in live television coverage said.
The two umpires Aleem Dar and Steve Bucknor get mad at Sangakkara. They file an
adverse report to the ICC, so does the third umpire Rudi Koertzen who too says he
noticed the squash ball episode on the live TV coverage. The Match Referee summons
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardena and Sangakkara for a hearing.
The ICC, which has been acting like a toothless tiger over the years, gets super power.
They decide to be firm on Sri Lanka. The ICC issue a strong statement condemning the
‘unsporty, unethical and unruly act by the Lankan wicket keeper batsman and his team’.
Finally, the ICC gets more teeth. They decide to declare the result null and void and the
match referee awards the match to Australia. They fine Sri Lanka team 100% of their
World Cup earnings and the batsman gets a life ban.
His captain gets a 10-year ban for covering things up. The team is served with a five year
ban for breaching collective responsibility. England, South Africa and New Zealand join
Australia in condemning Sri Lanka’s poor sportsmanship.
The ICC sends a special representative to Colombo. He forcibly takes the World Cup
back from the SLC headquarters and takes it to Melbourne. The ICC hurriedly organizes
a special ceremony to award the World Cup to Australia, stating that they are the worthy
winners as Sri Lanka has put a black mark on world cricket by cheating.
The drama does not end there. ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed proposes tough
measures to prevent this type of shameless acts in future. The ICC amends rules and
playing conditions. They rule that two field umpires should check the gloves of batsmen
and wicket keepers each time they take the field, similar to a boxing referee inspecting
the gloves of two fighters before a bout.
My telephone started ringing. Then I woke up to the realization that it was a long day
dream. I switched on my television and there was a repeat telecast of the World Cup
final. I saw Australian wicket keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist waving his bat on reaching
his century, then pointing at his batting glove.
Source: Island News Paper