Jayasuriya, Waugh evoke team spirit in hour of glory

MUMBAI, Nov 4: Two of the finest exponents of modern cricket, Steve Waugh of Australia and Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka had reasons to che...

MUMBAI, Nov 4: Two of the finest exponents of modern cricket, Steve Waugh of Australia and Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka had reasons to cherish the Ceat Awards ceremony last night at the Oberoi. “It is nice to be recognised for your efforts at the end of the day,” remarked Waugh while receiving the award and a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh for his team which topped the ratings for the year 1997-98.

Jayasuriya, who edged out Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar for the best cricketer award worth Rs 5 lakh, was modest in his replies to master of ceremony Tony Cozier’s posers. “I always bat my normal way. I don’t play for records,” was the defence he offered when asked to comment on his astonishing ability to dominate both forms of the game. Dwelling upon his Test best of 340 against India at the Premadasa Stadium last season, he said: “I had a big task at hand — to save the game. I had to bat long enough to ensure that my team averts the follow-on.”

“Winning the World Cup was the best thing to happento Lankan cricket as Arjuna Ranatunga’s team has done well in Test matches too,” he said while emphasising Sri Lanka’s improved display in Tests after their World Cup triumph. It also was a tribute to the astute leadership of Ranatunga, who was present on the occasion.

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“We are almost on the track and let’s hope that we would be here for the team award,” observed Ranatunga as he wound his way out after the function.

Extolling the Australians determination for success, Waugh opined: “team spirit is an indefinable quality. It helps if the teammates are there to support you but the bottom line is the urge to succeed has to come from within. Every Australian cricketer who aspires to play for his country knows that.”

Decrying the hectic schedule that international cricketers have to undertake, Waugh said: “It is hard on the quick bowlers. Professional cricketers are expected to undertake the load as they are paid for it. But then it also results in injuries to bowlers like McGrath, Warne, Donald thatkeeps them out of Test matches. I feel there ought be a quick break after the Tests to ensure that people are not deprived of quality players.”

The awards are decided on a points system which takes into account the player and the team’s performances in Tests and one-dayers beginning in April and ending in May, the following year. The ratings are judged by a panel comprising cricketing greats Sunil Gavaskar, Clive Lloyd and Ian Chappell. The ratings for the 1997-98 year were based on 47 Tests and 126 one-dayers that were played during the period.