The Hundred That Wasn't, Run-up That Was
Day 1 of the Indian team at Galle was one to remember, with rain hogging most of the (lime)light, Varun Aaron playing snakes(not ladders) and Murali Vijay's century (that wasn't).
A walk can tell you enough to talk. A journalist's talk following a cricketer's walk may sometimes make you gawk but generally an opinion sought from just watching a walk is not always the same as what a dork may get.(India vs Sri Lanka: Full Coverage)
The rhyme confused me too. However, the point is simple. The moment Murali Vijay walked into the practice area at the Galle International stadium it was clear that India would be without a Murali come the 1st Test starting on Wednesday.(Top 5 Batsmen to Watch Out for)
He was relaxed yet restricted but the swagger of a sportsperson readying for battle was missing. A few visibly conservative stretches with a medicine (hard to miss the irony) ball and it seemed like Vijay's practice session was over.(Top Five Bowlers to Watch Out for)
Then a miracle occurred. Vijay wore his pads only to be told off by the weather gods. Just when Vijay walked into the nets, the moody rain of Galle came back. Practice was suspended and one was quite sure the word suspended would be the most commonly used word by journalists here at Galle over the next 7 days.(India in Sri Lanka: Top 5 Test Matches of All Time)
Murali would walk back with that swagger (resigned to the fate of destiny) and raised his bat as if to celebrate having scored a century. He drew a laugh from teammates, and onlookers but clearly he was in high spirits knowing that as the best Indian Test batsman over the last few months, whatever happened here in Galle, he would be back for the 2nd Test in Sri Lanka.
So what's the big deal if I give some throw downs to Lokesh Rahul, my replacement?
No big deal really. It seemed like Vijay was evidently and genuinely interested in Lokesh's success.
But that will have to wait.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli seems to have given Varun Aaron the license to go for the kill. So much so that even when the space in the practice area fell short for Aaron's run up, he didn't shorten it. Instead, he first ran parallel to the batsman from one net then took a left turn to do what is normal - run towards the batsman, all for the most crucial element in the success story of a fast bowler - momentum.
Some one line snippets to end the ordeal:
To be retired, Kumar Sangakkara was wearing a crepe bandage on his knee. (Could he be injured?)
Virat Kohli was seen shadow practicing the sweep shot.
Angelo Mathews had a sprinting session after which he could be heard panting from 50 yards out.
The jewels from the Emerald Island shall continue...
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