Errol Fernando in Melbourne
Two handshakes today at Wellington,New Zealand.One for Angelo Mathews and the other for Kusal Mendis. They batted all day and each is a hundred not out. Herculean effort to bat all day under pressure and Tuffy would have rushed up to them at stumps.I cannot praise them too highly.More hard work for them tomorrow to save the match Must bat for two more sessions.
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – DECEMBER 18: Angelo Mathews of Sri Lanka bats during day four of the First Test match in the series between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Basin Reserve on December 18, 2018 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 17: Virat Kohli of India and Tim Paine of Australia bump into each other during day four of the second match in the Test series between Australia and India at Perth Stadium on December 17, 2018 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Tim Paine will also have a quiet and well-earned celebration of his first ever victory. He has shown a lot of character and has many admirable qualities. However,does he need to concern himself so much with responding to Kohli’s antics? In his situation I would have employed a bit of silent contempt, not backchat.Kohli obviously revels in the backchat and I would NOT have obliged.
Meanwhile, the Indians have to find a way of going 2-1 up in Melbourne even if they lose the toss. Team selection will be crucial. At present they have SIX number eleven batsmen – the last 4 and the 2 openers.Also a rookie number 6 and a hit-or -miss wicketkeeper.
They have THREE batsmen – the best in the world and two assistants, Pujara and Rahane. This is not quite enough to beat the Aussies.
What do you suggest, GUYS??
A NOTE: Errol’s father Mervyn played for Ceylon as a wicket keeper in the mid-1940s. Errol himelf played for Trinity and Peradeniya University in the 1950s. An avid cricket fan who was captivated by Bradman at the Oval in the 1950s, his strong sense of fair play as well as discerning reflections are worth presentation to the (limited) world of Cricketique –even without his permission.