> Never Prouder of this Sri Lankan Team or to be a Sri Lankan
> Australian - Harry Solomons
>
>
> Sri Lanka lost the World Cup Final but won the hearts of cricket
> supporters from around the world.
>
> Imagine this. A small, strife torn nation the size of a tear drop in a
> World Cup Final. Try to imagine further, Australia making a Football
> (what we call Soccer ) World Cup Final. It has never happened and
> possibly never will. But little old Sri Lanka has been in two Cricket
> World Cup Finals. This small country, stricken by a cruel and
> unnecessary ethnic war, stricken by an endless array of corrupt and
> selfish Governments and politicians, stricken by eternal divisions
> within its own administration and cricket boards and with an economy and
> budget smaller than that of our own State of Tasmania makes two finals,
> wins one and is very worthy runner up in the next. Speaks volumes for
> the love of this game . . . speaks volumes for the talent . . . and
> speaks volumes for the resilient nature of this extraordinary cricket
> loving people.
>
>
> Did you know that Cricket Australia is so wonderfully organised that
> there are programmes, administrators, coaches and development officers
> installed throughout Australia to administer cricket and keep Australia
> on top for the next 25 years?
>
>
> It was no shame losing to this powerhouse cricket nation with a
> powerhouse cricket team and then accepting defeat, as the Sri Lankan
> captain did, with dignity, with praise for the opposition, a smile still
> on his face and his head held high. After all at the end of the day, it
> was only but a game. Mahela Jayawardene made me so proud to be a Sri
> Lankan Australian. No, it was no shame to be a Sri Lankan in any part
> of the world!
>
>
> On the cricket front
>> When almost two and a half hours are lost at the start of the day, which
> was forecast to be threatening throughout, one did not need to be
> Einstein to work out that at least the last hour of cricket would be in
> darkness. Whether you are an Australia supporter or a Sri Lanka fan, the
> simple truth is that the Final should have been postponed until the next
> day for the sake of international cricket and a 'fair go' to either
> side.
>
>
> For those of us who watched on television the images were good, but many
> spectators who had travelled from various parts of the world to be
> present at the ground and paid somewhere between $12,000 and $18,000 to
> do so, would be entitled to be very annoyed, because they would have
> witnessed the last hour of play and the Awards presentation in darkness.
>
>
> By now, most of you will have read everything there is to know about the
> cricket and made your own assessments. Here is what I thought from the
> comfort of the hospitable Blue Elephant Restaurant enjoying my breakfast
> of Sri Lankan Kerribath, Stringhoppers, chicken and beef curry and an
> assortment of the islands best sambols, with a host of friends and
> cricket supporters.
> A bad toss to lose for Mahela. The boot could have been easily
> have
> been on the other foot had he won this vital toss. Sri Lanka was
> never going to be in the hunt in a game reduced by 12 or 14-overs.
> Australia had the power hitters and Sri Lanka did not have the
> overs
> to use its wit and cunning.
> Batting second was never an advantage. Sri Lanka was never
> allowed
> in the prevailing conditions, to systematically go about
> accumulating
> the runs needed to win. The Duckworth Lewis system or the
> deteriorating wet wicket did not allow for it. Sri Lanka had the
> short end of the stick.
> It was all about Gilchrist! And good luck to the Aussies . . . .
> one
> can never knock a Champion, they come back to haunt you. Take
> Gilchrist out of the equation and it was certainly not an
> Australian
> domination. Did I not warn you that Gilchrist was due a big one?
> . .
> . . and "big' it certainly was!
>
>
> Australia had the better of the conditions and again, good luck to them.
> One has to make ones own luck in situations like these and it was not be
> Sri Lanka 's day. Realistically, Australia was the best side in the
> World Cup and try as many Sri Lanka supporters might, one cannot argue
> against it.
> Australia are now undefeated in 29 World Cup matches -
> unbelievable
> statistics.
> They have four batsmen and four bowlers in the top 10 in this
> World
> Cup.
> Two very prominent members of this world beating team, Andrew
> Symonds
> and Michael Hussey, did not get an opportunity to show their wares
> to
> the world.
> Their substitute players, Brad Haddin (WK), Mitchell Johnstone,
> Brad
> Hodge and Stuart Clark would have made it into any other World Cup
> team bar Haddin, who would not displace Kumar Sangakkara in the
> Sri
> Lanka team, but yet would make it as a batsman.
> Australia hardly . . . or possibly never, exposed its batting
> tail
> to the world in the Cup. Absolutely magnificent.
>
>
> But, Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Cricket administrators have a lot to be
> very proud of:
> The team had a well planned preparation, a good Captain, Vice
> Captain, a worthy team selection, great Coach and back-up team.
> They
> are now a cricket power in the world.
> They left a mighty England , West Indies , South Africa , New
> Zealand
> , India and Pakistan in their wake - no mean feat.
> Jayasuriya, Jayawardene, Sangakkara, Malinga and Muralitharan made
> World Teams (not always together), chosen by many of their peers
> including Sir Viv Richards, Mark Waugh and the great Glen McGrath.
> McGrath selected Jayasuriya, Muralitharan, Sangakkara and Aravinda
> de
> Silva in his all time great ODI team of opponents.
>
>
> No bigger or better credit can be afforded to Sri Lanka Cricket than that.
>
>
>
Well said....
We in Sri Lanka have never been prouder of our Sri Lankan Team. WELL DONE BOYS!
> Australian - Harry Solomons
>
>
> Sri Lanka lost the World Cup Final but won the hearts of cricket
> supporters from around the world.
>
> Imagine this. A small, strife torn nation the size of a tear drop in a
> World Cup Final. Try to imagine further, Australia making a Football
> (what we call Soccer ) World Cup Final. It has never happened and
> possibly never will. But little old Sri Lanka has been in two Cricket
> World Cup Finals. This small country, stricken by a cruel and
> unnecessary ethnic war, stricken by an endless array of corrupt and
> selfish Governments and politicians, stricken by eternal divisions
> within its own administration and cricket boards and with an economy and
> budget smaller than that of our own State of Tasmania makes two finals,
> wins one and is very worthy runner up in the next. Speaks volumes for
> the love of this game . . . speaks volumes for the talent . . . and
> speaks volumes for the resilient nature of this extraordinary cricket
> loving people.
>
>
> Did you know that Cricket Australia is so wonderfully organised that
> there are programmes, administrators, coaches and development officers
> installed throughout Australia to administer cricket and keep Australia
> on top for the next 25 years?
>
>
> It was no shame losing to this powerhouse cricket nation with a
> powerhouse cricket team and then accepting defeat, as the Sri Lankan
> captain did, with dignity, with praise for the opposition, a smile still
> on his face and his head held high. After all at the end of the day, it
> was only but a game. Mahela Jayawardene made me so proud to be a Sri
> Lankan Australian. No, it was no shame to be a Sri Lankan in any part
> of the world!
>
>
> On the cricket front
>> When almost two and a half hours are lost at the start of the day, which
> was forecast to be threatening throughout, one did not need to be
> Einstein to work out that at least the last hour of cricket would be in
> darkness. Whether you are an Australia supporter or a Sri Lanka fan, the
> simple truth is that the Final should have been postponed until the next
> day for the sake of international cricket and a 'fair go' to either
> side.
>
>
> For those of us who watched on television the images were good, but many
> spectators who had travelled from various parts of the world to be
> present at the ground and paid somewhere between $12,000 and $18,000 to
> do so, would be entitled to be very annoyed, because they would have
> witnessed the last hour of play and the Awards presentation in darkness.
>
>
> By now, most of you will have read everything there is to know about the
> cricket and made your own assessments. Here is what I thought from the
> comfort of the hospitable Blue Elephant Restaurant enjoying my breakfast
> of Sri Lankan Kerribath, Stringhoppers, chicken and beef curry and an
> assortment of the islands best sambols, with a host of friends and
> cricket supporters.
> A bad toss to lose for Mahela. The boot could have been easily
> have
> been on the other foot had he won this vital toss. Sri Lanka was
> never going to be in the hunt in a game reduced by 12 or 14-overs.
> Australia had the power hitters and Sri Lanka did not have the
> overs
> to use its wit and cunning.
> Batting second was never an advantage. Sri Lanka was never
> allowed
> in the prevailing conditions, to systematically go about
> accumulating
> the runs needed to win. The Duckworth Lewis system or the
> deteriorating wet wicket did not allow for it. Sri Lanka had the
> short end of the stick.
> It was all about Gilchrist! And good luck to the Aussies . . . .
> one
> can never knock a Champion, they come back to haunt you. Take
> Gilchrist out of the equation and it was certainly not an
> Australian
> domination. Did I not warn you that Gilchrist was due a big one?
> . .
> . . and "big' it certainly was!
>
>
> Australia had the better of the conditions and again, good luck to them.
> One has to make ones own luck in situations like these and it was not be
> Sri Lanka 's day. Realistically, Australia was the best side in the
> World Cup and try as many Sri Lanka supporters might, one cannot argue
> against it.
> Australia are now undefeated in 29 World Cup matches -
> unbelievable
> statistics.
> They have four batsmen and four bowlers in the top 10 in this
> World
> Cup.
> Two very prominent members of this world beating team, Andrew
> Symonds
> and Michael Hussey, did not get an opportunity to show their wares
> to
> the world.
> Their substitute players, Brad Haddin (WK), Mitchell Johnstone,
> Brad
> Hodge and Stuart Clark would have made it into any other World Cup
> team bar Haddin, who would not displace Kumar Sangakkara in the
> Sri
> Lanka team, but yet would make it as a batsman.
> Australia hardly . . . or possibly never, exposed its batting
> tail
> to the world in the Cup. Absolutely magnificent.
>
>
> But, Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Cricket administrators have a lot to be
> very proud of:
> The team had a well planned preparation, a good Captain, Vice
> Captain, a worthy team selection, great Coach and back-up team.
> They
> are now a cricket power in the world.
> They left a mighty England , West Indies , South Africa , New
> Zealand
> , India and Pakistan in their wake - no mean feat.
> Jayasuriya, Jayawardene, Sangakkara, Malinga and Muralitharan made
> World Teams (not always together), chosen by many of their peers
> including Sir Viv Richards, Mark Waugh and the great Glen McGrath.
> McGrath selected Jayasuriya, Muralitharan, Sangakkara and Aravinda
> de
> Silva in his all time great ODI team of opponents.
>
>
> No bigger or better credit can be afforded to Sri Lanka Cricket than that.
>
>
>
Well said....
We in Sri Lanka have never been prouder of our Sri Lankan Team. WELL DONE BOYS!
