Sport | Cricket
Down-to-earth behaviour makes Sri Lankan cricketers popular
Humility and the Sri Lankan team always go together. Despite being considered as world class performers, what impresses one and all is their down-to-earth behaviour.
- By K.R. Nayar, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:37 May 3, 2009
Georgetown, Guyana: Humility and the Sri Lankan team always go together. Despite being considered as world class performers, what impresses one and all is their down-to-earth behaviour.
As soon as the players arrive at the stadium, all of them are seen lining up to collect their kit bags from the bus. Right from Sanath Jayasuriya to Chaminda Vaas to Muttiah Muralitharan, everyone is in the queue.
At the Providence stadium, Jayasuriya was seen dragging his kit and waving at the crowd waiting to catch a glimpse of the blaster batsman.
While at Trinidad, I had requested Jayasuriya for a chat before net practice. But he suggested that we meet after the nets. And promptly after his practice, he came to the edge of nets and waved out to me asking me to come in.
Had it been any other team, most likely I would have had to request the cricketer again after the nets.
On Monday, it rained heavily and their skipper Mahela Jayawardene had to wait till the rains subsided after the official press conference.
Caring approach
Without any hang-ups, Jayawardene came out and began talking to scribes who were also waiting there. He enquired about our stay and wanted to know what we thought about Guyana.
The best thing is that some of their seniors even remember what language we speak. Russel Arnold and Muralitharan do not hesitate to talk to you in Tamil. All of them sport a smile while talking to you with hardly any airs.
There are teams with lesser cricketing experience, but arrogant enough to walk around ignoring everyone around them. After all, for a fan, a smile is all that they expect. In Trinidad as well as in Guyana, the Sri Lankans have won the hearts of the people. In fact, many West Indians would like to see Sri Lanka win the World Cup.
"They should win the World Cup for their behaviour. They may be the very few gentlemen left in the sport," remarked Robert Rees, a volunteer at the stadium.
All senior players in the team join in to help a youngster at the nets.
Jayasuriya was seen correcting Upul Tharanga's backlift. Moving around like a family, their team spirit is clearly visible. Though the team is not as strong as the 1996 squad that won the World Cup, they do possess the spirit and willingness to work hard.
Win or lose, the Sri Lankans will leave this island winning more fans than any other team.
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