Muthiah Muralidaran Archives

Beyond & Behind the Cricket: The World Cup Scenario in 1996 from An Insider-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Mark Nicholas, in ESPNcricinfo, on 20 September 2023, with this title: “From Lahore to Madras at the 1996 World Cup, in cargo planes, delayed trains and on elephants” …. with highlights imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi Aah, the 1996 World Cup. That was something. Chaos often reigned, characters thankfully shone, and underdogs did things that only a short time previously would have seemed impossible, even to them. Across five memorable weeks, the bewildering and the beguiling; the controversial and the constructive; the surprising and the satisfying chased us around three countries – India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – whose honour it was to host the tournament and whose operational skills were tested to the limit by events and circumstance that frequently beggared belief. There were planes, trains, automobiles and elephants; red forts, pink cities and marble palaces; tuk-tuks, rickshaws ...

A Miracle at Pallekele: Dasun Shanaka’s Fireworks – By DR Michael Roberts Source:thuppahis.com Andrew Fidel Fernando, in ESPNcricinfo, 11 June 2022, with this title “Shanaka’s 25-ball 54* scripts stunning victory for Sri Lanka” If you were watching on TV, you might wonder what the big deal was. Khettarama, one of cricket’s great party grounds, overflowing as it almost always is for T20 internationals, roaring for Sri Lanka lbw appeals, vibing to papare even through rain breaks, generally being its regular rambunctious self. On the field, a dramatic batting collapse is unfolding. Even this feels like a familiar and comforting companion to Sri Lankan life. Even this only slightly dampens the mood. But right now this is just a snatch of normalcy in an otherwise relentlessly upsetting time in the history of the island. The kilometres-long fuel queues on the way to the ground are the most obvious signs, but there is much worse. Businesses are ...