Chinaman executes Oz plan

With a few giant-killing feats on the field and an alleged murder off it, this World Cup has turned out to an unusual one in more than one way.

With a few giant-killing feats on the field and an alleged murder off it, this World Cup has turned out to an unusual one in more than one way. But along with that, one can also safely say that this is a World Cup of the unusuals. Out of the top wicket-takers here, there is one who is a left-arm leggie, the lone surviving member of that dying Chinaman breed, an offie with a doosra and also pacers who bring back the memories of that 1970s hit show called Jeff Thomson.

Brad Hogg, Daniel Vettori, Muttiah Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga are cricketers not found on the assembly lines or products of coaches who go by the book. Though, as expected, the percentage players Glenn McGrath and Shane Tait head the wicket-takers8217; charts, the presence of men with rare talents happens to be one of the few exciting bright spots of an otherwise long-dragging World Cup.

As Australia and Sri Lanka 8212; the two teams with most nominations figure in bowling Oscars here 8212; met today there was a chance of seeing the unusuals and the usuals locking horns. Though the bowling performance of the day was topped by left-arm pacer Nathan Bracken 8212; he finished with the figures of 9.4-3-19-4 8212; the most fascinating match-up of the day was between Hogg and the Lankan batsmen. The contest, however, went the Aussie way as the bowler restricted the Lankans to 226/9 in 49.4 overs.

So far, at this World Cup, the biggest mystery has been: How to spot Hogg8217;s wrong 8216;un? At the press conference on the eve of the match when Lankan coach Tom Moody was asked about this yesterday, he seemed quite non-plussed as he said that his team was quite apt at doing it as they had proved in the tri-series last year. But as an afterthought he added, 8220;it wouldn8217;t be problem in case he Hogg hasn8217;t learnt anything special lately.8221;

Maybe he had, as he accounted for the two Lankan batsmen who seemed to be completely dominating the Aussie bowling 8212; captain Mahela Jayawardene and Chamara de Silva. Their 140-run partnership seemed to be taking a threatening proportion before Hogg accounting for both.

Jayawardene was beaten by the flight of a wrong 8216;un, while Chamara top-edged a similar ball bowled on his legs. Suddenly, the Aussies were not missing the famous 8216;Googly Guy8217; who quit recently and found another big-match player in Hogg. With Australia expected to play in the semi-finals either South Africa, England or the West Indies 8212; all traditionally spin suspects and presently keeping fingers crossed or banking on some fuzzy maths to keep their World Cup hopes alive 8212; the chances of Hogg becoming the No.1 wicket-taker in this tournament cannot be ruled.

But no report can be complete without the mention of the Chamara-Jayawardene partnership. Before the game, captain Jayawardene had assured that his team will play the Lankan brand of cricket and even the Australians know that. By targeting the top wicket-taker in the tournament Glenn McGrath, they made a point that this could be the repeat of the 8216;96 final 8212; down to the last detail of them taking the Cup.

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But for that to happen, someone in the Lankan camp needs to find a usual way to tackle the unusual Hogg. Though the Aussies have a tough task ahead as they have two unusual questions staring at them: Murali and Malinga. And, unlike Lanka, the Aussies wouldn8217;t be getting a second chance.

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka: U Tharanga c Hayden b Bracken 6, S Jayasuriya lbw b Tait 12, K Sangakkara lbw b McGrath 0, M Jayawardene st Gilchrist b Hogg 72, C Silva c Clarke b Hogg 64, T Dilshan c Hodge b Tait 7, R Arnold b Tait 1, F Maharoof c Symonds b Bracken 25, N Kulasekara c Hayden b Bracken 1, M Bandara c Hogg b McGrath 17, D Fernando not out 0.

Extras: 5lb, 11w, 3nb 19. Total all out, 49.4 overs: 226

Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-27, 3-27, 4-167, 5-174, 6-178, 7-183, 8-184, 9-218.

Bowling: Bracken 9.4-3-19-4, Tait 10-0-68-2, McGrath 9-1-48-2, Symonds 3-0-15-0, Clarke 8-0-36-0, Hogg 10-0-35-2.