The Hindu : Sport : ‘Money from T20 should be used for survival of Tests’

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‘Money from T20 should be used for survival of Tests’

Special Correspondent

— Photo: V. Ganesan

SAGE ADVICE: Arjuna Ranatunga revealed that he has advised Ajantha Mendis about playing under pressure and suggested that he does not think too much about the money.

Chennai: Arjuna Ranatunga is looking forward to India’s upcoming Test series in the emerald isle.

“Asia Cup is done and gone. This will be a different challenge. India has one of the finest batting line-ups in the world. Sachin Tendulkar is getting closer to the world record for most runs in Tests. Sourav Ganguly is one of the finest players of spin, Rahul Dravid is solid and V.V.S. Laxman is consistent. India will be a tough opponenent,” said Ranatunga, former Sri Lankan captain and present Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket.

He added, “I am looking forward to Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis bowling in tandem to Tendulkar and Ganguly.”

Turning to Mendis, seated next to him, he said: “He can bowl six different variations in an over. I told him not to play under pressure and not to think about money.”

Ranatunga and Mendis were in the city on Thursday to promote tourism in Sri Lanka during India’s cricket tour of the country.

Save Test cricket

Ranatunga dwelt on his passion for Test cricket and the need to preserve the game’s longest version. “Twenty20 brings in money and is business. That money should be used for Test cricket’s survival,” he said.

Playing for the country should always take precedence over playing in any other form of the game, he said. “Players speak about the heavy schedule. But the moment they talk about the IPL all their fatigue disappears. I cherished playing for the country. It was the greatest honour for me. I am happy I retired during the period I did. I agree that the cricketers need the money, but country should always come first.”

He spoke about the players’ career span being reduced due to the excessive cricket. “It is hard to see a cricketer who begins his international career now playing for more than ten years. We need to strike a proper balance between Tests, ODIs and Twenty20 cricket. Cutting down on the ODIs alone is not the answer.”

Ranatunga said the media reports that Sri Lanka’s tour of England had been cancelled were not true. “We are trying to reschedule the matches.”

Fast bowling resources

He spoke about the greater depth in the Lankan pace attack these days. “Earlier, we had just one or two capable pacemen, now we have about ten. Lasith Malinga is still injured but we have the replacements. I think coaching schools like the MRF Pace Foundation have helped Lankan cricket immensely.”

A strong advocate of cricket in Asia, he said “cricket in this part of the world is targeted on the issue of security concerns. It is not fair.”

On the result of the Oval Test between England and Pakistan being rewritten as a draw, he said, “I agree with this. When somebody else has started all the trouble why should the other party pay the price?”

Mendis said he was looking forward to playing his first Test and bowling with Muralitharan. On the scalp he remembered most from his six victims in the Asia Cup, he said, “Yuvraj Singh. He can change the course of a match.”

For most part, Mendis sported a shy smile as Ranatunga did most of the talking.

“He told me that his coach in school did not tamper with his unique style of bowling. In Sri Lanka we always believe retaining one’s natural style of bowling,” said Ranatunga.

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