IF someone had said to me now that Brian Charles Lara's attitude was found wanting, I would have taken it as a joke. Apart from his great batting form, it was his attitude and commitment to the game that was significantly impressive in the Test series between West Indies and Sri Lanka. In a series where the Caribbean team was whitewashed 3-0, in fact this was Sri Lanka's first ever clean sweep since they attained Test status, Lara shone like a beacon.
Before the series commenced, he mentioned that his goal was to get his batting average, which had slipped to around 48, back into the fifties, and he set about the task in all earnestness. He made three centuries which included a double hundred and amassed 688 runs in the series, enhancing his average to over 50. It was Lara against the Sri Lankans, most of the time.
After a hesitant start against Muttiah Muralitharan, he adjusted so well that he was comfortable against the great off-spinner. By the time the series finished, he dominated him too. Lara was at his brilliant best and it was after a long time we saw him at his best. A full flow of Brian Lara saw the ball speeding to all corners of the field.
Although in the first two Tests, it was Muralitharan who paved the way for Sri Lanka's victories, Chaminda Vaas stole the show in the final Test, reaping a rich harvest of 14 wickets in the match. On the Singhalese Sports Club pitch which was brown, flat and low, he bowled with great skill. With the new ball his accuracy was near to perfection and had the West Indian openers struggling. With the old ball, he bowled a controlled reverse swing that even the master craftsman like Brian Lara found hard to tackle. It was disappointing that the Sri Lankans by their ridiculously late declaration, in the second Test in Kandy, virtually shut out Chaminda Vaas from taking wickets. The light predictably faded in the evening in the hill capital and there was no way he could be used later in the West Indian final innings. This deprived Vaas, who was bowling at his best in this series, from adding a few more scalps to his tally in that match. His 26 wickets in the series, on the batsman-friendly strips, was hailed by all as a great performance, eclipsing Muralitharan as the highest wicket taker.
Lara though made a double hundred and century in the third Test, he was one among the six who had performed this feat in Test history, had to end up on the losing side. Chaminda Vaas for his match haul of 14, along with Lara, shared the Man of the Match award in the final Test. The Man of the Series went to Brian Lara.
Sri Lanka's bowling has been greatly strengthened by Vaas. Nuwan Zoysa and Dilhara Fernando have to learn a few tricks from Vaas. It has been said that "the only disability in life is a bad attitude." Lara must have taken it to heart and displayed how a healthy attitude has brought about a transformation in his cricket. In the face of rather humiliating defeats, he maintained an amazingly high level of enthusiasm. He hardly left the field throughout the series and was chasing the balls around like a kid on the block. He did not stick to his customary position at slip, but was seen fielding at all positions in the ring as well as in the outfield, showing the way and setting example to the younger players. It was also nice to see him heeding advice from Sarwan during their partnerships, and also participating actively in all the drills before the game. This re-found interest and enjoyment will take his game to greater heights. It will also help West Indian cricket to turn the corner. The West Indies possess some very talented cricketers but need to reverse the losing streak and get into the habit of winning, which they did monotonously some years ago. Attitude more than your aptitude determines how high you go, how far you can climb the ladder of success. While the good news is that bad attitudes can be unlearned and changed, the bad news is that the reverse too can take place if you are not optimistic, and look positively when working towards the goals you have set. Your attitude determines your altitude. It is entirely up to you to make the right or wrong choice, and Brian Charles Lara has made the right one.
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