The alarm sounds for Ranatunga (26 May 1999)

26 May 1999

The alarm sounds for Ranatunga

Charles Randall

Taunton will be seething with emotion today because the followers of India and Sri Lanka view their cricketers as god-like or as dust. Disgrace can be expected after defeat.

The losers, probably Sri Lanka, will have no further interest in the competition, barring a 'dead' Group A final match. Life will almost certainly become hell for the unsuccessful captain.

This could mean the end of Arjuna Ranatunga's fine career as a pillar of Sri Lankan cricket, because his side are simply not making enough runs.

Anil Kumble and Venkatesh Prasad, two of India's leading bowlers, return after injury to improve the prospects for Mohammad Azharuddin.

Azharuddin suffered hate mail and media insults even before the start of the tournament, intensifying when India lost to Zimbabwe last week.

It is history that an angry Indian crowd rioted when Sri Lanka beat them in the previous World Cup, the 1996 semi-final in Calcutta, though sleepy Taunton is unlikely to experience anything similar this time.

In Amstelveen on the outskirts of Amsterdam, the group leaders, South Africa, are resting their two seam bowlers, Allan Donald and Steve Elworthy, against Kenya, the first official one-day international to be held in Holland.

Darren Lehmann, with a shoulder injury, is doubtful for Australia's Group B match against Bangladesh at Chester-le-Street tomorrow.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)