Everyone wants Sri Lanka to win

By Anil
April 27 2007

Sri Lanka goes into the World Cup 2007 final tomorrow as an overwhelming favorite of cricket fans worldwide, even if defending champions Australia are the bookmakers' favorite.

Boorish Australia have only themselves to blame.

Having played the game in admittedly unsporting spirit, the Ricky Ponting-led Aussies find themselves in the unenviable position of the villains of cricket.

Whether it's their abusive behavior on-field, arrogant statements off-field, or simply their daredevil intimidation of umpires who seem ever anxious to please them -- or so it seems to the casual observer -- the powerful Aussie team barge into the World Cup final with little support from the worldwide fan base, save some (but not all) of their compatriots.

Much has been said by a few outspoken players from the English, New Zealand, and South Africa teams -- the subcontinental teams prefer to maintain a diplomatic silence -- about the unacceptable behavior of the Australians team on field. Predictably, they have come under fire from the defiant Aussies for not letting "what happens on the field stay on the field" who conveniently forget that such behavior is in direct contradiction of the laws of cricket as laid out by the ICC and their referees.

When Ponting continues to hypocritically hammer away publicly at Sri Lanka for not playing their key bowlers in a meaningless Super 8 matchup between the two teams, even though his own team has pioneered such tactics, he betrays a lack of understanding about sporting grace which seems obvious to all but his team.

In 1996, Ponting was part of an Australian team which was beaten in the World Cup final by a Sri Lankan team which contained Muthiah Muralitharan. Perhaps history will repeat itself tomorrow.

Murali has said on the eve of the final that beating Australia in the World Cup final would surpass everything he has achieved in cricket.

The world's greatest bowler, often referred to as the Bradman of bowlers, will spare no effort to make his dream come true. The dangerous and unconventional Lasith Malinga and veteran swing bowler Chaminda Vaas, as well as off-break bowlers Jayasuriya and Dilshan, may well terrorize Australia, a team known for its great weakness to off-spinners.

Whatever the result, this final will be one of very few rivetting matches of a tournament that has been criticized by most as dull and unengaging.

Here's hoping that Sri Lanka can win one for the Rest of the World!