Perilous pitch plays spoilsport

By S. Dinakar

COLOMBO, AUG. 10. This can be a funny game. As many as 326 runs are scored on the first day, the pitch behaving well for most part, and then things begin to happen.

A crack near the short of a good length area delays the start on the second day, and by the beginning of the third, the surface at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium, worsening by the minute, becomes too dangerous for play.

And it is all over following just six deliveries from Board XI paceman Dinusha Fernando here on Friday. The third ball takes off from a length, misses wicket-keeper batsman Sameer Dighe's head by a whisker, and India skipper Sourav Ganguly, the non-striker, throwing up his hands in disgust, makes up his mind.

There being little point in risking injuries before the first Test, he declares the innings closed. A bizarre end to a contest that promises so much. In the end it is the aspirants who are the biggest losers.

India, replying to Board XI's 326, shut shop at 281 for five, its overnight score, with the only over of the day not fetching any runs. This also meant Ganguly and Dighe remained unbeaten on 74 and 25 respectively.

It was on this very ground that the greatest of them all, Sir Donald Bradman, paraded his awesome skills, it was here that Sri Lanka began its quest into Test cricket. On a venue steeped in cricketing tradition, a match had be abandoned due to inadequate pitch preparation. Cricket can do without incidents like these.

Desperate attempts were made to get the game re- started. Umpires Messrs. Gamini Silva and Jayasundara held discussions with Ganguly, coach John Wright, and Board XI captain Thilan Samaraweera before ordering repair work on the pitch.

The umpires admitted it was not acceptable to correct the defects in the wicket once the game started. But since both the sides approached this match as a practice duel before the first Test, and following a request from the captains, they had asked the ground-staff to swing into action.

However, all the effort went in vain. There were two inspections, at 2.10 p.m. and 3.10 p.m., and when the captains were still not convinced about the quality of the pitch, play was called off. A brief spell of showers during the period did not help matters either.

``It's a little disappointing, but at least we got a day of bowling and a day of batting. Something is better than nothing,'' Ganguly pointed out.

On the wicket he fumed, ``the ball was flying off a length, I got hit three times in the gloves, Dighe also took some blows and there was little point continuing.''

Talking about the positives from the game, the Indian skipper said he was satisfied with the solid opening partnership between Shiv Sundar Das and Sadagopan Ramesh.

He sounded pleased with his form as well, apart from having a word of praise for Dighe for battling it out when the pitch deteriorated..

The failure of Hemang Badani, Mohammed Kaif and Dinesh Mongia to get useful runs against their names disappointed the skipper. ``If a couple of them had come good in this game, it would have helped their confidence.'' At least two of the three are likely to get a look-in at Galle.

Asked whether the Indians required one more practice game before the first Test, Ganguly replied in the negative. ``I don't think so. The conditions in India are similar, and we now just have to focus on the three Test matches.''

He noted it was up to the new boys to make the adjustment, ``Test cricket is different, the atmosphere is different, the pressures are different.''

Ganguly was not bothered by the fact that the Lankans might opt for a seaming wicket for the first Test that gets underway on August 14, having picked five pacemen. ``That would be good. Srinath bowled the fastest I have seen him bowl in a long while in this game, Zaheer has been among the wickets, and Prasad is the ideal bowler to have under seaming conditions.''

He, however, refused to speculate on the batting order at this point. ``There is a chance that I might go up the order. Let's wait and see.''

About the impressive Michael Van Dort, whose century in the three-day game, has earned him a place in the Lankan Test squad, Ganguly said, ``He looked good, but Test cricket is a different ball game altogether.''

Coach John Wright, obviously unhappy that a valuable day's cricket had been lost due to avoidable reasons, was quick to order a rigorous practice session.

The scores:

Board XI - 1st innings: 326

India - 1st innings: Shiv Sundar Das b Sajeeva Weerakoon 72, Sadagopan Ramesh c Chamara Silva b Dinusha Fernando 63, Mohammed Kaif c Sangakkara b Dinusha Fernando 6, Dinesh Mongia c Sangakkara b Ruchira Perera 11, Sourav Ganguly (not out) 74, Hemang Badani c Ruchira Perera b Suresh Perera 12, Sameer (not out) 25, Extras (b-6, lb-1, nb-11) 18, Total (for five wkts. decl. in 81 overs) 281.

Fall of wickets: 1-135, 2-142, 3-153, 4- 172, 5-203.

Board XI bowling: Ruchira Perera 17-6-35-1, Dinusha Fernando 17-3-68-2, Suresh Perera 12-2-42-1, Thilan Samaraweera 17-4-69-0, Sajeeva Weerakoon 18-3-60-1

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