Why why why Fernando

by LES EVERETT

I COULD coach a touring team in Australia. I wouldn't even need to leave home so I'd be cheap too.

For example, if I was coach of Sri Lanka right now (and I'd like to be because they're my favourite team on account of five weeks I spent there in the early 1980s) I would have suggested the following for the first Test in Brisbane.

1. Malinga must play. He's weird, he's quick and he'll worry the Australian batsmen - as great as they are from the openers to number seven. They just love honest toilers like Fernando.

2. Don't send Australia in if you win the toss. Others have miss-read the Brisbane conditions to their peril. Remember a 'wet' wicket (don't forget the covers) means a wet outfield. A wet outfield means a wet ball and a wet ball does nothing. And you want Murali bowling on the last day and they don't.

3. Don't think you have 10 wickets to play with. There will be dodgy umpiring decisions. A play and miss will be adjudged caught behind, some poor bugger will be lbw ducking a bouncer. Sorry I can't do anything about this element of playing in Australia.

That's it. My invoice is in the mail. I've rounded it up to $100, I trust that's ok. Good luck.

9 November 2007

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