Victorious haul of Ranga Herath in Galle is joyous event
by Nirgunan Tiruchelvam
It was said that Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister was like a Banyan tree. Not even a blade of grass could grow under it. He was always the centre of attention. Muttiah Muralitharan has played the same role among Sri Lankan spin bowlers. Not only have many batsmen failed to smother Murali's spin, but he has smothered the careers of many capable spinners.
Except for Vaas and Murali, not even a single Sri Lankan bowler has taken 100 Test wickets. Apart from Murali, no specialist spinner has taken even 50 Test wickets. Acres of newsprint have been devoted to Murali's genius. But, little has been said about the honest trundlers who played in his shadow.
Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath celebrates taking the final wicket to give Sri Lanka victory during the fourth day of their first test cricket match against Pakistan in Galle July 7, 2009.-Reuters pic
So, Rangana Herath's victorious haul in the Galle test is a joyous event. Unlike the exalted Murali, Herath is not a freak with a double-jointed wrist. He does not deliver extravagant turn. Herath's weapons are conventional. Standing a shade over five feet, Herath relies on generous flight. His turn becomes a factor only on a wearing pitch, as was the case in Galle. Occassionally, he uses the left-arm spinner's equivalent of the doosra. But, Herath has not employed it consistently in his infrequent Test career.
It is his ordinariness that is a loss to Sri Lankan cricket. If he had played more than his 15 Tests, he would have been an ideal foil for Murali. Murali has been shockingly overbowled over the years. Sri Lanka's bowling options have been so paltry, that Murali has been both the shield and the sword. He has been both the stock bowler and the strike bowler. In fact, Murali may have taken even more wickets if not for his workload.
Many are unaware that Herath has taken nearly 600 first-class wickets. He has probably taken the largest number of wickets in Sri Lankan first-class cricket. His achievements is even more remarkable because he has always played for weak teams. Herath started with Kurunegala SC, an obscure club in the hinterland. He now plays for Moors SC, which is a mediocre team. So, every time Herath plays, it is a big match. There are hardly any cheap wickets
Had Herath played more often, he would have offered a different type of spin. Also, he could have relieved Murali. Murali would have been restricted to shorter, attacking spells. Herath would have been like Robin to Batman. Murali has lacked a subservient deputy.
Herath has risen at a time when Ajantha Mendis star is waning. Much has been made of Ajantha Mendis sudden success. Songs have been sung in his honour. Lavish praise and gifts have been showered on him. The first Test captain Bandula Warnapura has already called him "the Bradman of bowling". Such adulation is premature.
It is difficult to class Mendis as a spinner. The soldier is definitely an unusual bowler with vast variation. But, he does not give the ball air. Hence, he denies himself the uncertainty of loop. Batsmen are beginning to play him like a medium-pacer. The same fate befell Jack Iverson, an Australian bowler who was very similar to Mendis. After shocking the world in his debut, Iverson faded out. Like Mendis, his decline begun with the discovery that he was actually a medium-pacer who cut the ball.
Mohammed Yousuf looked perfectly assured against Mendis. There was no mystery to Mendis at Galle. The statistics are not pretty. He has taken only 3 wickets in the last 3 tests, at an astronomical cost.
It is time to take stock. Perhaps, Mendis should be left out of Sunday's match at the P Saravanamuttu Oval. Herath's success has reminded us that there is more to our cricket than freak bowlers. Sometimes, the ordinary bowler does the trick. Its hard to deny a man of Herath's perserverance in domestic cricket. He should be saluted.
6 Comments
Hi Mr Tiruchelvam
Iam not lucky to follow Cricket live.I follow on the internet. Over the years I have seen many spinners such as Ajith De Silva and Lalith Kaluperuma. They were world class. But then the rest of the old Cricket playing nations did not give us a chance to prove. Of course now South Africa is a recognised member of the ICC.Ajantha Mendis came from the Army, that worrries a lot of people as he is a regimented fighter.Murali is certainly our best and the world's best.Specially in the absence of Murali SL cannot afford to leave Mendis. Rangana Herath too is a fine spinner. Please withdraw the word freak as we have no freak bowlers. Tilak Ratnasekera ex-Prefect of Games and Master in charge Cricket Nalanda.
Hello Mr. Nirgunan Tiruchelvam,
I am following world cricket for so many years, and listen veteran batsmens, bowlers and commnetator and they have totally different opinion about Mendis, When we read about your article its very celar about your intensions, Mr are you day dreaming, get some rest, and take a hot bath
I agree wth Tilak. The word freak you frequently used sound very degrading. I sense your underline tone is to degrade Murali. The man does not deserve what you trying to imply. Murali not just a great bowler. Over the last 10-15 years he was essentially the symbol and the shining light for all Sri Lankans to realize we are a one nation. You are suffering from colonial left-over syndrome to accept whatever the British and Asutralians used to say because they were afraid of Murali. Not just for his bowling, but also because he was giving the hope to a nation that those countries tried to ruin by funding and openly supporting terrorsits in Sri Lanka. I dont know Murali personally, but I respect the guy for his courage right next to Mandela.
I agree wth Tilak. The word freak you frequently used sound very degrading. I sense your underline tone is to degrade Murali. The man does not deserve what you trying to imply. Murali not just a great bowler. Over the last 10-15 years he was essentially the symbol and the shining light for all Sri Lankans to realize we are a one nation. You are suffering from colonial left-over syndrome to accept whatever the British and Asutralians used to say because they were afraid of Murali. Not just for his bowling, but also because he was giving the hope to a nation that those countries tried to ruin by funding and openly supporting terrorsits in Sri Lanka. I dont know Murali personally, but I respect the guy for his courage right next to Mandela.
I too did not like the word 'freak'. It is a degrading reference to one of the greatest cricketers the world has seen. Regarding spinners I am wondering what has happened to Malinga Bandara.Although not a prodigious spinner of the ball, he had a deceptive loop and a well disguised googly. He performed really well when he played county cricket in England.
There is no point comparing Apples with Bananas.Murali is in a class of his own.He is our incomparable champion and will remain so for ever.No useful or worthwhile purpose is to be served trying to create sensation making comparisons between Murali and others.If other spinners have been unfortunate enough to become contemporaries of Murali there is nothing much Murali or for that matter any one else can do about that.We would rather have the all conquering Banyan Tree rather than the "blades of grass". Long live Murali, a true Sri Lankan hero.