This tour thus far has seen Ajantha Mendis do things few have before him in this grand game: live up to expectations that seemed overblown, writes S. Ram Mahesh.
Sunday, August 17: Word goes around that cheerleaders from Russia have been engaged to enliven the one-day series. By now, you, dear reader, would probably have caught them on the telly. But today this is the sort of story that wins Pul itzers, and several journalists investigate immediately. Sources are determined, quotes obtained in secrecy. It’s Watergate all over again. Sample this beauty: “For the first time in the history of one-day cricket, cheerleaders from Russia will feature in the five-match series between India and Sri Lanka. A leading telecom company, the title sponsors for the series, has taken this initiative. ‘There are 16 Russian girls who will cheer during the match in four different stages,’ said an official.” The diary regrets to say that it isn’t the one that manages this smart bit of work. It doffs the proverbial hat in respect.
Monday, August 18: The diary learns that the Central Bank of Sri Lanka is issuing two commemorative coins in the denominations of Rs. 1000 and Rs. 5, and a coin pack, to mark the event of Sri Lanka reaching the final of the 2007 World Cup — all available here at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium today. The Rs. 1000 coin, the diary is informed, has been minted in nickel-plated steel, and will be issued in an “attractive presentation case accompanied by a certificate of authenticity”. The main design of the obverse of the coin is an artist’s impression of a bowler. The Rs. 5 coin is identical in design, although smaller, and minted in brass-plated steel. The coin pack has two Rs. 5 coins arranged so both the obverse and reverse sides of the coin are visible. And before you memorabilia-types ask, no, the diary isn’t bringing back anything with it. For those interested in such matters, the coins and the coin packs can be purchased online on the Central Bank of Sri Lanka website from today.
Tuesday, August 19: The match yesterday mightn’t have been competitive, but the duel in the nets today certainly is. It’s the Dhoni and DJ show — DJ short for Dhananjay, the video analyst — and it has everything one can hope for. A bit of background: DJ bowls brisk mediums in the nets, as does Russel Radhakrishnan, the travel assistant, chipping in whenever required. Most batsmen are wary of net bowlers, for they have little to lose, and prize scalps to gain. Sir Vivian Richards went so far as to handle only throw-downs at one stage, saying he didn’t find his rhythm in the nets, with “net bowlers having their own egos.” Anyway, DJ, after being hit firmly by Dhoni and sledged mercilessly by Virat Kohli, Praveen Kumar and Suresh Raina, retorts, in Hindi, “That’s the first stroke he has played against me.” The next ball is smashed straight at DJ, necessitating evasive action. “That the second?” asks Raina innocently, also in Hindi. DJ appears to take a break, but is at it again, going around the wicket this time to rap Dhoni’s pads. As Mark Nicholas might have said, “By gee, that’s something.”
Wednesday, August 20: The diary gets a crash course in power politics, courtesy Jayananda Warnaweera, who apart from managing the Galle International Stadium appears to run a personal fiefdom of sorts in and around his area. The former Sri Lankan off-spinner is as matey as they come, and prepared to say it as he sees it, when he joins the diary and its comrades for breakfast here in Dambulla. “I was probably the only cricketer in the world to be part of a country’s board while still playing,” he says with a chuckle. “Arjuna (Ranatunga) was the captain and he used to say, ‘Hey Ex-Com (Executive Committee member), come out and field. I realised then that my playing days were over. I had to do something else.”
Thursday, August 21: The cheerleaders story merits a follow-up it appears, especially since they weren’t at yesterday’s match. The diary is beaten yet again to the scoop, as it reads in today’s paper that the stadium is built on land owned by a religious body, and the cheerleaders are pulled back to prevent hurting sentiments. What an Idea!
Friday, August 22: Dhoni (who makes a second appearance in these august pages, bravo!) has a reputation of being a bike freak; he certainly has the Ducatis to prove it. On the way to the team bus after a tiring practice session at the Premadasa Stadium, the Indian captain is distracted by a gleaming black mean machine (somehow it never sounds right, does it?) — a Suzuki R5, or something similar sounding, the diary has little interest in these macho things, but continuing with the story, the Indian captain stops by this cop bike, and the cops respectfully let him try the throttle. Considering that these are the same cops that look at the diary suspiciously earlier today, is it any wonder that the diary is left contemplating the hypocrisy of this world?
Saturday, August 23: Another week draws to a close here in Colombo, well in most places, the diary assumes, and it’s time for some stock-taking. This tour thus far has seen Ajantha Mendis do things few have before him in this grand game: live up to expectations that seemed overblown. That he has kept his head doing it makes the story all the more gladdening. For some reason, the Kolkata Knightriders didn’t unleash him during the IPL — considering where they finished, it may well end up as the biggest blunder of domestic club-level Twenty20 cricket played in India in 2008 (a.k.a. the history of cricket in some circles).
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