Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Seated deep inside the folds of the WACA,a leader is found brooding intensely over his big-hearted but small-pocketed men. Mahela Jayawardenes Sri Lankan team,the third wheel of this tri-series,has witnessed a sea change in its cricketing structure. A change that crippled its old administration and ensured that none of its current players will receive a dime for their efforts in Australia this year. While Team Sri Lanka is still awaiting its payments over the last one year,news of Jayawardene being bought for 1.4 million by the Delhi Daredevils seeped through on the flight to Perth.
The governing body is fighting their battles,while we are fighting ours. But starting today,our battles are on the cricket field with Australia and India, says Jayawardene,the man who took over from Tillakaratne Dilshan after the Lankans lost both the Test and ODI series to South Africa. Now,he wears the look of a man in control.
Under the withering Perth afternoon,the players perspire from 2 pm to 6 pm. Fours hours of practice two days before the match,almost unheard of in the international circles. Its evident that running through Jayawardenes mind is more than just on-field strategies. And pumping through the Sri Lankan squads veins is more than just blood. They seem united in their cause,despite allegations of disunity in the team causing the losses in South Africa.
Money not an issue
No money,many losses and dressing room disharmony. Thats what most members of this Sri Lankan side have fought on a daily basis for the last few months. So what keeps them ticking and motivated? Love, says Angelo Mathews. His shrug reveals that he knows the answer is cliched,but he spells it out once again. For the love of the game. If we didnt have it,none of us would have ever played for Sri Lanka,let alone make a living out of cricket.
Playing for pride
The answer explains their focus on having a successful tri-series. For Australia,its about home pride. For India,its about lost pride. But for the Lankans,its about just pride. Period. Without anything else but their egos to play for,the Lankan side seems intent to prove a point more to their own kind than to the nations of Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting.
Interestingly,Tendulkar,Ponting and Jayawardene in that order have played more ODIs than anyone else currently plying their trade in the world of cricket today. And they will clash first in Perth over the course of this week,and later all over Australia. Whoever said there was no country for old men?
