Its Only Cricket

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Filed under Srilanka cricket

Band players are specially called to the cricket stadiums in Sri Lanka whenever they host an International cricket match. Its something very similar to West Indies were constant music is played at the corners of ground, unlike any other cricket ground all over the world, but I feel this constant music gives an additional advantage to the home team.... Let me explain why..

Today is 1st of August, 2006 as I write this and Sri Lanka has been playing International cricket for last 25 years. They have rarely managed to register substantial wins while on a tour. Sri Lankan team has played 174 ODI's away from home and have lost 108 of them. They won 63 of those with one tied and 2 no result ODI's. A winning percentage of 36.12 when not at home. But what I am trying to elaborate here is their amazing record while playing at home...

If you form a list of performance in one day Internationals at home and away, Sri Lanka stand at 7th position on away match list - above New Zealand and Zimbabwe. But if you see the list of ODI at home, they stand at the top position. Sri Lanka have played 135 ODI's at home, won 88 of those and lost just 35 with 12 no results. This gives them a winning percentage of 71.54 while playing at home.

And if you talk about the test matches, we all know how flat Sri Lankan pitches are and how good their batsmen are when it comes to playing long long innings on them. Very recently, Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara proved impossible for South Africans to get out in the first test at SSC Colombo and that island also holds the two biggest records in test match cricket - Highest team total of 952 for Sri Lanka against India and highest partnership record of 624.

I remember watching a series of 5 ODI's between Sri Lanka and Australia at a time when Australia were winning everything internationally. They had made a record of most consecutive wins and were favourites to win that series against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka as well.... but what happened, they lost 4-1. The only win coming in the last ODI of that 5 match series.

The upcoming Tri series including India and South Africa may prove to be a battle between India and South Africa for the other place in the finals as to me, Sri Lanka has already reserved one seat. Moreover, Indian team will surely be rusty after a long rest of 44 days. They have hardly played any competitive cricket lately. All they have done is a training camp like soldiers in Bangalore.

I am sure many people wonder what was the logic behind setting such a training camp for players Indian cricket team, but I think I know the answer. Here it is - When it comes to batting, everyone takes tips from Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, but no body gives them. When it comes to bowling, everyone takes suggestions from Harbhajan and Ajit Agarkar but no body gives them...... but when it was a matter of climbing mountains and sleeping in tents at a training camp that normally Indian soldiers go through, both Sachin Tendulkar and Suresh Raina were equal. Which means ABSOLUTE ZERO. And that is why Indian coach Grag Chappell arranged this training camp. Not to turn Indian cricketers into Soldiers but to make them feel equal. And I think it was a brilliant idea by Grag Chappell, specially when he himself was not attending it..!!

And as far as South Africans are concerned, they are a injured team right now with Greame Smith, Jacques Kallis and Justine Kemp not their in Sri Lanka. It will be good to see them put up a fight in the Tri Series, starting from 14th August. Having said that, South African team has the second test record in International cricket, whether its about playing at home, away or at neutral venues.... you can't rule them out.. can you??

Toughest team to beat at home - Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka can be the next dad of International test arena