When Rangana Herath picked up his 25th Test five-wicket haul today against Australia on day three in the third Test, it was the head coach Graham Ford who had been the most happiest person present at Maitland Place jumping all over with utmost delight.
Ford had plenty to say about his 38-year old match-winner at the post match-day press conference, “I can’t say enough about the bloke. I was joking in the dressing room and saying he’s my all-time sporting hero. He’s gone ahead of Federer. He’s injured. He’s bowling on one leg. He’s just got so much guts and fight. For an older guy to do that it ignites the fight within the younger group. The example that he sets makes the leadership group’s job a lot easier. “
Herath who is currently in the twilight of his career has been a phenomenal example to all within the Sri Lanka cricket fraternity. Every cricket fan would want him to play till eternity but his knees are making him weak although whenever he comes onto bat, it feels like he will surely contribute with an entertaining 25-30 runs. He never fears to look right in the eye of a tall and angry fast-bowler. Nobody has mastered the reverse-sweep in the current team like him. He makes you realize that somewhere, a talent might exist and that if you hang in there, you might just overcome the hard times.
“When you’ve got a bloke out there that shows such courage batting, and takes on the quicks. Even after his nasty incident batting, he makes some brilliant diving stops in the dirt off his own bowling. If you’ve got the old man throwing himself around like that, the youngsters have no excuse. To have him in the side is brilliant, not only for his wonderful skills in bowling. Once again he’s proved what a good bowler he is.” Ford further said on one of the modern greats of Sri Lanka Cricket.
Already with 21 wickets under his belt this series, Herath will have one last crack at the Australians when Sri Lanka sets a target for the visitors. Ford feels Sri Lanka has the upper-hand going into the last two days as the SSC pitch has finally cracked up and have started to jump, turn and bounce. “There is a heck of a lot to play left for over the next two days. Both sides have outstanding players who are capable of changing the flow of the match. But from our view we feel that bowling last on that wicket will be a bit of an advantage and hopefully it will create a bit of extra pressure and sway it in our favour.” Ford said.
Ford who is currently on his second assignment as the head coach of the Sri Lankan national team had to go through a tough period when he was initially given the job as the islanders suffered humiliating defeats in the Asia Cup T20, World T20 and England tour. He now feels that the emergence of Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya De Silva and Lakshan Sandakan has completely evoked the glory times of Sri Lanka cricket, “One of the beauties of selecting young guys is that even if they fail, you’ll get some return. If you make the investment you will get something back down the line. Older guys, who are perhaps past their best – when they fail, you’re not going to get much back. I think that’s been a view of the selection panel as well. They are well aware that we’d rather have a young team improving than an old team staying much the same – or not getting any better. It’s been exciting to see and I’m a little bit surprised to see them doing as well as they have. But we’ve still got a long, long way to go. They will still disappoint us from time to time. But with the attitude that they’ve got and the work ethic, we’ve seen some exciting signs for the future.” He further stated.
With just two runs behind Australia, Sri Lanka energized by young batting heroes will look to post a target somewhere around 250 to give probably one last chance to Herath, to rip though the Kangaroos like a true Lion would do.
