Murali and the Guru Mushtiya

Over the past few weeks there has been so much written and spoken about our cricketer Muralathiran accepting a coaching assignment with the Australian cricket team ahead of the current series of test and one day international matches, that I felt Citizen Silva must add his two cents worth to the discussion.

There have been some (including Sri Lanka Cricket committee members as well as well-known Sri Lankan journalists) who have strongly criticised the 44-yearold Murali for undertaking a ten day short term coaching stint, working with the Australian bowlers such as off spinner Nathan Lyon and left arm spinner Stephen O’Keefe prior to the Aussies taking on Sri Lanka this month.

Reading about, listening to and musing about this controversy, I must confess that I am firmly supportive of Murali.

International cricketers we know are a privileged lot – subject I suspect to the envy and jealousy of those who have not earned the privilege of representing their country at a national level - and they can earn a fair sum of money during their careers by utilising their cricketing talents. Just the elegance of their cover drives and the brilliance of their doosras is enough for them to accumulate a decent bank balance – but only as long as they can continue playing.

Sadly all cricketers (with the exception of a few lucky forty plus year olds like Cyril Washbrook and Misbah Ul-haq) have to retire in their late thirties – and this is when they need to seek new job opportunities.

The fact remains that very few cricketers have undertaken any kind of education or job training outside cricket. When they cannot earn their bread and butter – or their curry and rice – through their cricketing skills, how can they earn an income when their playing days are over?

A few who have international experience, a good knowledge of the game and a fluent command of the English language (like Russell Arnold and Tony Greig) can find work as cricket commentators. Some (like Ricky Ponting) can earn an income by endorsing commercial products; others (like Thilan Samaraweera in Australia and Chandika Hathurusinghe in Bangladesh) who have developed coaching skills in addition to playing skills can earn their post retirement income from coaching. It is sad that folk like Thilan and Chandika are recognised, like the proverbial prophets in the Christian Bible, not at home but in countries outside their homeland.

So, I ask myself, what is the big deal about Murali utilising his obvious talents and experience by accepting a consultant coach’s assignment for ten days with the Australian cricket team?

Many international sportsmen accept coaching assignments after they retire from active sports with teams against whom they played in the past. Just look at the example of Australian Eddie Jones, arguably one of the best coaches in contemporary rugby, who is currently coaching the English rugger team (which incidentally trounced the Australians in last month’s series with a 3-0 whitewash). We ourselves have had international stars like former Australian national cricketers John Dyson, Dav Whatmore and Graham Ford coaching our own cricket team with great acceptance.

The Aussies have recruited to coach their bowlers not only Murali but also the great South African fast bowler Alan Donald – a man who himself suffered at the hands of the Australians in that famous tied ODI at Edgbaston during the 1999 World Cup.

Several months ago, our former captain, the much respected Mahela Jayawardena, undertook a coaching stint with the England team prior to the recent Sri Lanka tour of England. At that time SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala stated that he was "sad and disappointed" that Jayawardena had agreed to work with another country so soon after his own career had ended – and even said that the matter was (sic) "about the ethics of cricket". For me, hearing a politician such as Sumathipala (whose own involvement in gambling and bookmaking goes against the ICC Code of Ethics) trying to preach to Mahela about “ethics” was like a soot-covered black pot calling a shiningly clean kettle black!

Murali has helped (without charge) so many of our own bowlers – so why should we begrudge the man the right to earn some extra income if the Aussies are willing to pay him for his services?

Of course, having watched the Australians toil laboriously on Thursday afternoon to bowl to our batsmen like Mendis, Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva, I was musing on the fact that, despite all the advice the Aussie bowlers could extract from Murali, it was not enough for them to win the first test.

Could this explained by that phenomenon we in this country call “Guru Mushtiya”. I am sure Murali must be having the last laugh! Dear Sir, In the 1st Test, in the 3-Test series between Sri Lanka and Australia, what is pragmatic is the “Dwindling spectator curiosity”, which was pretty apparent at the venues in the previous series against India, Pakistan and the West Indies. It is regrettable that spectator interest has not shown any significant improvement at all, after the venue was changed to Pallekelle. It is a great pity the SLC authorities have failed to adopt any alternate strategies to change this typical attitude of passionate spectator curiosity. The stands are mostly empty, which reflects dreadfully on our cricketing image.

It was hugely disappointing to see this spectator attendance in these closely contested International matches. Spectator interest should have been at the forefront of the minds of the organisers. They should very well comprehend that a Test match will not be booming without a significant audience.

In the matches played at the SSC and the P. Sara stadium, there were many vacant seats and empty stands on which the TV cameramen never focused. Such barrenness is not felt in Test matches played in India, Bangladesh, Australia, England and other test playing nations. Sri Lankan fans are also equally passionate about their Cricket. But the non-affluent have to hurdle obvious constraints to come and watch a Test match, like their coun- terparts in Asian countries.

In contrast, in the just concluded Sri Lanka’s Test series in England and, even when the Ashes series was on, there were full houses at all Test matches, the impressive spectacle even via TV was very gratifying.

In Sri Lanka, there are enough and more Cricket enthusiasts who are not affluent but fanatical, to go to the venues if they are afforded accessible basic incentives such as nominal entrance fees, subsidised lunch packets and perhaps, given free soft drinks, bottled water and, of course, good refuge from the scorching sun. It was announced that entrance to a recent Test at SSC was free for students. I have my doubts whether the most non affluent schoolchildren may not have tasted even a burger or canned coca cola, leave alone at a Test venue. They would be enthusiastic to watch Test cricket with keenness and passion if afforded this scenario.

I do not know whether it was under the open stands or under cover they were offered free entrance. These committed youthful Cricket fans should be encouraged by giving free snacks and bottled water to satisfy their hunger and thirst in order to attract them to the Test venue. Such incentives have to be accessible to attract schoolboys to make the stands somewhat full, so that, the bareness in the stands would not be felt. Surely, there are enough reputed companies who could come forward and contribute to this exercise as a sponsorship drive, and also make this endeavour a flourishing success from the perspective of the game of Cricket played at the highest level. This is food for thought for the SLC authorities.

On the other hand, invitees and officials are all well looked after with VIP treatment. The low attendance reflects very shoddily on our Cricket which is very highly ranked amongst the world’s cricketing fraternity. Sri Lanka is known worldwide for its cricketing prowess and competence.

It is the fervent hope of all Cricket lovers that counteractive steps would be taken by the interrelated authorities, particularly the SLC, to attract more spectators during the Test series against the mighty Aussies. This should be a matter treated as crucial, as these dour scenes of barren stands should not be tolerated and exposed to the world via TV worldwide.