First of all, let me congratulate Alastair Cook for becoming
the first English batsman to score 10, 000 Test runs. Cook is the 12th batsman
to reach 10,000 Test runs and, at 31 years and 157 days, the youngest by five
months. The previous holder of that record, Sachin Tendulkar, notched his
10,000th Test run at the age of 31 years and 326 days, against Pakistan at
Kolkata on March 16, 2005. Tendulkar, however, required 195 innings to reach
the landmark while this was Cook’s 226th .
I saw Cook’s maiden Test fifty and hundred in Nagpur against
Irfan Pathan, Sreesanth, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. During that time, he
seemed to me a decent player who was better temperamentally than technically. I
saw him to digest harsh criticisms and travel through ugly lean patches, but
after a while, I ended up applauding his inspiring comebacks. In the history of
Test cricket, England have gifted us so many tough characters and in my
opinion, Cook has claimed a place among the toughest English cricketers of all
time.
I never lost my faith in him and I am still confident, he
will gift us many such moments to cherish.
Way to go Captain Cook.
Anyhow, like said after the first Test, give this Sri Lankan
team time, they will prove a point with the passage of time. After the victory
of World Cup 1996, Arjuna Ranatunga has instilled a culture where the Lankans
have learned how to keep patience, gather experience, learn the lessons
perfectly and then flourish. The likes of Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal
Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana, Shanaka, Chameera etc. will be household names in
the upcoming days.
Dinesh Chandimal and Rangana Herath’s batting was very
entertaining and at the same time, it hinted about the Lankan’s fighting spirit
which was missing for a while. Chandimal’s hundred should not only boost his
confidence, but the whole team’s as well.
This Sri Lankan team knows how to carry on the legacy of
their past legends.
They will reach the top again.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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