Cricket, at its best, is a game of shifting fortunes, mental resilience, and flashes of brilliance. But sometimes, it also becomes a battleground where tempers flare, controversies erupt, and the very spirit of the game is tested. The Kandy Test between England and Sri Lanka was one such encounter—a match that will be remembered not just for the thrilling contest between bat and ball, but also for the umpiring errors that marred it, the explosive confrontations that ignited it, and the unwavering grit that ultimately decided it.
Set against the picturesque backdrop of Kandy’s hazy blue
mountains and lush palm trees, this was a Test where neither side could claim
dominance for long. The match ebbed and flowed like a shifting tide, offering
moments of dazzling strokeplay, disciplined bowling, and volatile
confrontations. But beneath the surface of cricketing excellence lay a darker
narrative: controversial umpiring that would push players to the brink, alter
the course of the game, and leave behind a trail of frustration and fines.
This was not just a battle between England and Sri Lanka; it
was a battle against adversity, against injustice, and, for some players,
against their own demons.
Day One: Sri Lanka’s
Momentum and England’s Late Strike
The match began in frenetic fashion as Sri Lanka’s top order
set a blistering pace, reaching 69 for two in just 16 overs. It seemed the
hosts were on course for a commanding total, but the drama was just
beginning.
Craig White’s introduction to the attack triggered a
sequence of controversy and collapse. His third delivery led to a double
injustice: Kumar Sangakkara, momentarily losing sight of the ball, deflected it
off his elbow to gully. The appeal went up, and umpire Rudi Koertzen wrongly
adjudged him caught. Sangakkara’s visible frustration—rubbing his forearm in
protest—earned him an official reprimand, but it was only the beginning of a
long list of umpiring misjudgments.
Soon after, White removed the legendary Aravinda de Silva,
and Sri Lanka’s early dominance was undone. By lunch, the hosts were
precariously placed at 93 for four. However, the afternoon session belonged to
Mahela Jayawardene, whose innings was a masterclass in poise and aggression. A
dazzling century, full of crisp cuts and pulls, momentarily put Sri Lanka back
in control before England struck again. The new ball, wielded masterfully by
Darren Gough and Andy Caddick, ripped through the lower order, reducing the
last five wickets to a meagre 20 runs.
From a promising start, Sri Lanka’s innings had unravelled,
setting a pattern of unpredictability that would define the Test.
Day Two: Hussain’s
Fortune and Sri Lanka’s Frustration
England’s reply started shakily, with both openers dismissed
for just 37. Yet, fate intervened—this time in their favour. Nasser Hussain, who
had been given out dubiously by the same umpire 14 months earlier, now found
himself on the right side of poor officiating. Twice, Muttiah Muralitharan’s
appeals for a bat-pad dismissal were turned down—first when Hussain was on 53,
then again on 62. Sri Lankan fielders were incensed, but there was no
recourse.
Hussain made full use of his reprieve, forging a 167-run
partnership with Graham Thorpe, an England record against Sri Lanka. Their
stand, a blend of patience and counterattacking strokes swung the game in
England’s favour. But as the day drew to a close, Sri Lanka clawed their way
back. Hussain and Thorpe both fell and Graeme Hick, despite receiving two
umpiring lifelines in just 11 balls, inexplicably failed to capitalize,
completing a torturous duck.
By stumps, England had the lead, but the game was delicately
balanced.
Day Three: Controversy,
Chaos, and a Sri Lankan Collapse
The third day was a maelstrom of high drama, marked by poor
umpiring, heated exchanges, and a stunning Sri Lankan collapse.
The morning session saw yet another questionable decision as
Alec Stewart, initially surviving a clear appeal, was later given out wrongly.
England’s tail eked out a lead of 90—modest, yet significant in the context of
the match.
Then came the defining spell of madness. Atapattu fell
early, and moments later, Caddick sent down a delivery that Jayasuriya slashed
to third slip. It was a phenomenal diving catch by Thorpe, but there was one
glaring problem—Jayasuriya had hit the ball hard into the ground before it
carried. Unaware, umpire Cooray raised his finger, and Jayasuriya exploded in anger,
hurling his helmet to the ground as he stormed off.
The decision ignited an already volatile atmosphere. Moments
later, de Silva gloved one to gully, and Sri Lanka found themselves crumbling
at 13 for three. Frustrations reached a boiling point when Sangakkara and
Michael Atherton engaged in a heated exchange, the latter wagging his finger
aggressively at both the batsman and Koertzen. The match teetered on the edge
of chaos, but amid the disorder, England’s bowlers remained clinical. By the
close, Sri Lanka were effectively eight for six, and an England victory seemed
inevitable.
Day Four:
Sangakkara’s Defiance and England’s Decisive Blow
Amid the rubble of Sri Lanka’s collapse, one man stood tall.
Kumar Sangakkara, channelling his frustration into strokeplay, launched a
magnificent counterattack. Alongside Dharmasena, he punished loose deliveries,
playing with fluency and elegance. Though he had been granted a lifeline the
previous evening, he now seemed determined to turn the game on its head.
As lunch approached, his maiden Test century was within
sight, and suddenly, an improbable Sri Lankan victory seemed conceivable. But
England, sensing their opportunity, hatched a plan. Hussain pushed the mid-on
fielder back, and Croft, seeing Sangakkara’s aggressive intent, tossed up a
teasing delivery. The bait was taken—Sangakkara went for glory, only to
perish.
The fightback sputtered on, but Gough, relentless and
ruthless, sealed the innings. His eight wickets in the match left England
needing 161 for victory.
Day Five: England
Hold Their Nerve
Chasing 161, England knew that survival against Murali was
paramount. The early loss of Atherton and Trescothick to Chaminda Vaas left the
game in the balance. Hussain and Thorpe steadied the ship, their 61-run stand
restoring some calm, but their late dismissals meant the final day began with
the match on a knife’s edge—70 runs or six wickets to win.
Stewart’s early dismissal heightened the tension and then
came Hick’s moment of reckoning. For a brief instant, it seemed as if he might
resurrect his Test career—two crisp boundaries giving England hope. But just as
quickly, the flame flickered out.
Each run and each wicket added to the unbearable suspense.
Yet England’s lower order, so often their Achilles’ heel, found unexpected
steel. Croft, White, and Giles held their composure, resisting Murali’s
relentless spin. With a mix of calculated aggression and patient survival, they
guided England across the finish line.
Conclusion: A Match
for the Ages
The Kandy Test was more than just a contest between bat and
ball—it was a battle of endurance, character, and emotion. It was a game
defined by questionable umpiring, heated exchanges, and stunning individual
performances.
England’s victory was a testament to their newfound
resilience under Duncan Fletcher, a quality that would serve them well in years
to come. For Sri Lanka, there was both pride and frustration—brilliance
overshadowed by misfortune.
Cricket, after all, is not always fair. But it is always unforgettable.
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