Date-stamped : 25 Apr97 - 10:17
24 April 1997

Slow wicket criticised by skippers

Dawn Special Representative

COLOMBO, April 23: The Premadasa Stadium wickets was the major
topic of discussion in the post-match Press conference held by
the two teams. Sri Lankan skipper said there was no reason to
grumble because both the teams got good scores in the end while
his counterpart, Ramiz Raja, said the wicket could have produced
result had either of the two teams capitalised on the chances.

On the contrary, the two coaches, Mushtaq Mohammad and Bruce
Yardley, expressed their unhappiness with the wicket. "It was
too slow to allow any bowler to run through the innings," was
Mushtaq Mohammad's observation.

"I would like to have better wickets, those which change their
behaviour. I mean, it should support the quickies in the first
two days and then give assistance to the spinners in the later
stages of the match. But I would like to see wickets on which
the Test ends in inside four days," opined Sri Lanka's imported
coach, Australian Bruce Yardley. The four officials also have
contrasting statements when asked why a declaration was not made
to make the match a little more exciting. Ramiz Raja said: "We
could have done better with the ball in the second innings. But
unfortunately, the deliveries which should have provided wickets
didn't produce any wickets. The Sri Lankans went stronger and
stronger and thus all chances of a result were eliminated."

Arjuna Ranatunga said: "We thought of a declaration last evening
as well as this morning but since we were without two bowlers,
we changed our mind. Nawan Zoysa is suffering from hamstring
while Muttiah Muralitharan is a doubtful starter for the second
Test as he has an injured finger and a muscular strain little
under the right side of the chest." Mushtaq Mohammad's views
were: "We enjoyed the cutting edge at the close of play on the
second day being 200 for two. But after we lost four wickets in
the first session of the third day, it became of consolidation
time and we started thinking to carry on and score as many runs
as possible."

Bruce Yardley opined: "I am glad that we were not asked to bat
for 40 or 30 minutes late third day. It was, in fact, a surprise
to me and things might have been different had Pakistan made a
declaration then." Yardley, however, said the Test had plus
points. "Both the teams fought back when their chips were down.
And that is the thrill of Test cricket."

Ranatunga, commenting about Aravinda de Silva's innings, said it
couldn't have come at a better time. "No doubt we have batsmen
late down the order but we needed a big innings from the top
order. Aravinda got it and now looks superb."

The Sri Lankan skipper added that Pakistan were a depleted side.
"They were not playing at their full strength. They are not only
without Wasim (Akram) and Waqar (Younis), Aamir Sohail and Saeed
Anwar are also not in the side." However, Ramiz Raja said his
team was determined to go on with whatever resources he had.
"There is no shadow of doubt that the four are world class, but
we have to go on with or without them."

Ramiz Raja, when asked about his feelings when Ijaz Ahmad was
called back from the dressing room and instead Salim Malik was
given the marching orders, said: "Well, it was more a family
matter and we decided to leave it to the two. A lot of cursing
and yelling was going on in the dressing room but we kept
quiet." Mushtaq Mohammad, asked to comment about Saqlain
Mushtaq's performance, said he was a very good spinner but
needed to grab wickets more regularly. "I don't think four
wickets in 63 overs can make him a match-winner. To be a
match-winner, you have to take those wickets in 20 or 25 overs.
But he is still young and inexperienced. He is a good listener
and I am sure he will be a different bowler after he has an
experience of about 15-20 Tests under his belt."

Source::  Dawn (http://xiber.com/dawn/)

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