Cunning Tactic

2007 ICC world cup telecast time is a nightmare for people living in Down Under due to GMT +10 but I didn't miss many from last 45+ encounters. Being an ardent fan that supports Lankans always find verbal skirmish with Ausies very stimulating. Mingling with them for couple of years I'm amused to see them, with struts out with a chip on their shoulder, talks about unmatchable Cricketability of the crick-roos.

I'm not surprised of the tactics used by Lankan's but didn't like when Mahela tried to defend resting stars. Nevertheless, we have the sole right to pick our team and that is neither ICC nor commentators job. Some commentators suffer with athazagoraphobia or some variant of acarophobia...they gotta get treated soon otherwise soon there will be a need for an alternative for cricket commentary. We expect bit of professionalism from these Gents...Did anybody argued when Ausies picked a lousy team for Chappell-Hadley tournament last February? In fact Kiwis made a mockery of them by winning all three and adding another 2 worst world records for Ausies. (After loosing to SA in 2006 scoring mammoth 434-4) So where was the great Chappell at that time? You're right….. he was in the commentary box without any comments.

With a positive atttude, Sri Lankan selector Asantha de Mel said, SL is already in Semis and pretty confident that they will beat Kiwis again and determined that big moment should come in the final in 12 days. He added "Last time we (full team) met Ausies 2 years ago - but cricket has changed now" adding to that they have never faced Mainga in ODIs. I think Vaas and Murali factor is more perilous than two years... so obviously resting Lankans top guns means unexpected to be expected at the final level. (If Lankan go through)

Channel 9 (free to air in Ausie) telecasting only Ausie playing matches, haughty Ian Healy also furious on TV with Lankan team card. Ausies never expected this and obviously they wanted to boost team moral by beating SL full team…when unexpected happened they got panic attacks. Rather than talking about strategy that opponents worked out they started criticizing the SL captain and selectors. I just remembered a handy Latin word for all this - "Ad Hominem"

It seems iniquitous Michael Holding lost some big money due to Lankan's cunning tactic, He believes the current format is open to corruption..! (Instead of talking about abysmal WI performance) he said this morning "I have an account with Betfair (betting giant) and I watch a lot of different markets. "Before the game started, Australia was 1-2. "As soon as the toss went to air, when (Betfair) found out, Australia went to 1-5 because Muralitharan wasn't playing, Malinga wasn't playing, Vaas wasn't playing."

No wonder he was so disturbed…

Even Chappell's suggestions "It was ridiculous, disgraceful, and the ICC has got to ask some questions." dropped without considering by match referee Mike Procter who had no problems with Sri Lanka's decision and said he would not take action.

Whenever I start write about Cricket will end-up not doing any till dawn, Shall post this now.

Good Luck to Sri Lankan team!