Marvellous Marvan bats on and on...

By Ted Corbett

GALLE, FEB. 23. The first Test between Sri Lanka and England went an utterly predictable way as Marvan Atapattu completed his fourth Test double hundred, but in the background tempers were at breaking point as BBC's broadcasters were forced to watch from the ancient Fort overlooking Galle International Stadium.

When it arrived an hour before the start, the BBC radio commentary team was told that it would not be admitted. It had sent back reports and news items the previous day even though it had no rights agreement, which is lodged with talkSport, the commercial station, World Sports Group, which is telecasting the three matches. talkSport's producer Jim Brown had written to the Sri Lankan Board asking that the BBC should be allowed to send short reports.

This ad hoc agreement did not suit World Sports Group. ``BBC Radio has not been authorised by us to have any access to the matches,'' they said. ``If they have access without reaching an arrangement, this will mean a loss of revenue for us. We have been given to understand that Talk Radio may have submitted in writing their agreement to allow BBC radio access, but we would like to clarify that they have no right to sub-licence or authorise anyone to have access to the matches.''

BBC denied entry

So the BBC cricket correspondent Jon Agnew, its reporter Pat Murphy and producer Peter Baxter were forced to negotiate through the bars of the main gate, a difficult position and one that the dignity of the BBC found intolerable.

For many years it stood alone in sports broadcasting in Britain but in a new, more money-oriented world it has lost a number of major events.

When it was clear that it was not going to be allowed into the ground it took the equipment on to the walls of the fort which overlooks the stadium to file the reports and put together its highlights package. It is, as I said yesterday, a stylish place from which to watch, but it was not the ideal spot for a broadcaster.

Later, Tim Lamb, the chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, talked the Sri Lankan Cricket Board into allowing the BBC to continue and it will finish the Test and then renegotiate terms for the remaining two matches. It holds the rights for five years in England and, not surprisingly, is annoyed at being outbid by talkSport for overseas tours and furious to be kept at a distance.

England found itself in much the same position as the BBC; on the outside looking in. After a year of comparative success, Nasser Hussain and his men had to wait patiently while Marvan Atapattu headed for a double century and Aravinda de Silva scored the 19th century of a long Test career. England was not disgraced. In temperatures that topped 40 degrees, its attack could control the Sri Lankan batsmen, but could not get them out. Andrew Caddick produced his finest bowling of the winter.

At lunch, Sri Lanka had reached 305 for two but soon after he passed his century, Aravinda was run out because he watched Darren Gough field the ball and suddenly found Atapattu racing down the pitch. Gough's throw was wild, but there was still time for Alec Stewart to complete the dismissal. Their stand of 230 was the biggest at the Galle ground. Mahela Jayawardene, a formidable batsman at 340 for three, had no trouble picking up the tempo, and by tea, Sri Lanka had a stranglehold on the match at 404 for three. After tea, he produced a reverse slog before he was run out for 61. When Chaminda Vaas was caught, Sri Lanka declared.

The impassive Atapattu was still batting after 11 hours and 23 minutes and 18 fours. What patience, what stamina, what restraint! Whatever Muttiah Muralitharan does - and he almost had Mike Atherton lbw when he bowled the second over - Marvellous Marv has set the pattern for the series and may have won it already. Can Atherton follow suit? If so we will have a series to remember, although not a pulsating one.

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