Beyond the boundary - Jewel In The Crown (27 May 1999)

27 May 1999

Beyond the boundary - Jewel In The Crown

Shakil Kasem

Contrary to public opinion India went to great lengths to prove that there was still some fire left in the old dog, yet. In the home of cricket, in the last World Cup this century, with the prospects of the last champions on English soil being unrepresented in the final group of six, with ignominy looming like a brooding cloudburst over the most pampered team in the competition, the Empire struck back. They needed to. Otherwise, it was the slow boat home.

Funny game cricket, only days ago the team that failed to get three runs to win with as many wickets in hand, lost only one wicket in getting 316 of the best runs that were on offer. It was Lazarus come back from the dead, come back to tell us all that pedigree does count at the end of the day.

Sri Lanka put India into bat and immediately rocked the foundations with a wicket in the first over. Sri Lanka then ensured that except the harassed skipper of the Indian side, no other batsman got into double figures. The only problem that Arjuna Ranatunga had was that by the time the innings ended, two massive three digit knocks had put India well and truly beyond the reach of the Sri Lankans. It is more often than not been said that cricket is a great leveller, and so it was at Taunton yesterday.

In the otherwise serene surroundings at Taunton, with the cathedral overlooking the goings on in the lush expanse of a typically English setting, events beyond comprehension aere unfolding, layer after layer. There was nothing discreet or genteel about the proceedings. Numbers two and three of the light blues took it upon themselves to come out of the looming shadows cast by Tendulkar over the side, that is otherwise long on talent and class but abysmally short on self belief. A partnership of 316 runs are not the stuff that run of the mill World Cup matches throw up for the patrons, every so often. But Ganguly and Dravid took the Sri Lankan attack and carved it to little pieces and distributed the proceedings to all parts of the ground and beyond.

Ranatunga's decision to field first might go down in World Cup lore as something similar to famous last words of retiring generals looking for that last ditch victory, before being swept awash by the tides of uncompromising history. This competition had been unfair to the credentials of the world champions. But their problems were compounded by their innate inability to face the realities of life in a fast changing world of cricket that has no room anymore for sentiment or ageing stars who crave, but are not able to create anything out of the ordinary.

It was precisely this difference that separated the men from the supermen. As India went from strength to strength in a manner that took the world by surprise, Sri Lanka opted to curl up and die. There was no motivation in the side, the hunger was lacking for the last few months, and whether Ranatunga liked it or not, no amount of inner resources of his two thousand year old culture could prevent the inevitable. India came up with trumps, much to everyone's surprise, not forgetting certainly their own.

They came, they played and they proved a point. Ganguly and Dravid ensured the match was as good as over before Tendulkar could even lay claim on the crease. It meant the Master did not have much to do, but the point was driven across. This is likely to be a different team. Ignore it at your peril.

Source :: The Daily Star