Sports
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| Why
Murali should not tour Australia
As the date of departure for the tour approaches, there will be pressure on Murali from both sides of the debate. Fortunately, Murali has said he will not tour, and SLC President Mohan de Silva has graciously said he would leave the decision to Murali. This decision is 100% right, and Murali should stick to it. Without a doubt, there will be a section in Australia which will beg, plead and appeal to Murali's "battler" instincts to change his mind. These people will obviously be speaking through self-interest as they should. Murali and Lara are the game's two biggest draws. The key issues for Murali, however, could not be clearer - if Murali doesn't tour, it will send a strong message to the ICC that the unresolved matters over his "doosra", including the degree of hyper-extension, have to be addressed quickly. It will work in his favour because the status quo discriminates against one bowler while doing nothing about the rest. One should retain faith in ICC CEO Malcolm Speed and his commitment for fair play. But on the other hand if Murali tours, the Aussie Press will move in for the kill - it will begin filming, photographing and writing about his existing deliveries, especially the off-break, with a view to getting these banned as well. It is the nature of the Aussie Press to stroke the heads of visiting players with one hand, while with the other thumping them. Much like the pithy Sinhala saying about "oluwa athagana gaman tokkak aninawa." And with Murali's penchant for granting interviews to his most strident non-Sri Lankan Press critics, he will be roasted down under. Consider, for example, his interview with the Sydney-based Daily Telegraph's Robert Craddock, arguably his most virulent and biased critic in the Aussie media, on the eve of the second Test against Zimbabwe. In it, Murali discussed at length his plans to bowl the "doosra." It is time that Murali realized that some of these reporters just give him enough rope to hang himself. Murali's biggest weakness is his inability to identify friend from foe, especially when it comes to reporters and his own long-term interests. Craddock for one, routinely describes Murali as "a convicted chucker." Hardly a guy to share your plans with. One area the SLC needs to pay special attention is in hiring the best available talent for the board's Media Manager position. I will not comment on the current occupant because I do not know his background. But let me just say that it should be the most important un-elected position in the SLC, after the CEO himself. To summarise, if Murali doesn't tour, he has a good chance of getting his doosra cleared before the year is over. But if he tours, the Aussie media could well put the pressure on the ICC and the match referee to take another look at all of Murali's deliveries, purportedly, "under the new technology that has become available since his off-break was cleared." Obvioulsy, Marvan and the rest of the team will sorely miss Murali. But they need to focus on his and the team's longer-term interests. Besides, this will be a good opportunity for the team's talented, yet inconsistent performers to rise to the challenge. Mahela has the talent to be a Rahul Dravid, and Kumar the skill and the confidence to be a Ricky Ponting. The same could be said of the rest, except Murali and Vaas, who give their best everyday. We may have lots of potential, but potential alone never won anyone a championship anywhere in the world. Let this tour separate the men from the boys. As for Murali, perhaps he should use his free time to hold a cricket camp in Hambantota or Mullaitivu. And try to lay the groundwork to unearth the next Murali or Sanath! |
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