posted May 13, 2004 04:40 AM         

There have been many comments and congratulatory messages on Sri Lanka spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan's world record feat of being the highest wicket taker in Test cricket. While many commended his feat of going past former

West Indian paceman Courtney Walsh's record 519-wicket mark, there were a few 'extremists' who have allegedly looked at it in a possible racial angle.

But one important comment made by Sri Lanka's Olympic medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe caught my attention the most.

The 28-year-old celebrated star woman sprinter, the first in 52 years to win an Olympic medal for Sri Lanka, said sportsmen and women who come from little known countries and challenge the top will have to face problems, adding that Muralitharan is one of the few who have met those challenges with success.

"When we go to world level and challenge the big names, we definitely would have to face challenges from other elements who would not like to see our success.

That happened to me too," said the women's 200m bronze medallist at the Sydney Olympic Games four years ago. Incidentally, Muralitharan and Jayasinghe, who have made our little island proud, have been two great children of Mother Lanka.

But when they were blossoming in the world sporting arena, there were various people who did not like to see them progress from the lesser known island nation.

Jayasinghe and Muralitharan had to face problems in their respective careers but both of them had courage and determination to beat all odds and reach the top. Jayasinghe was twice tested positive for banned anabolic steroids but the world governing body for track and field (IAAF) cleared her on both occasions.

Similarly, Muralitharan was called for chucking on a couple of occasions. He too was cleared by the ICC and was able to continue his career.

Hence, we could see similarities in the careers of Jayasinghe and Muralitharan. When Jayasinghe shocked the world with a silver medal at the IAAF World Championships in Athens, 1997 there were interested parties in the world circuit who did not like to see an Asian challenging the dominance in world athletics.

When Muralitharan was just picking up wickets and emerging to be a challenge to all top batsmen in the world, there were people after him. The critics brought the issue, made their own analysis and even recommended the punishment in their own reports against Muralitharan.

The star off spinner had problems originated mostly by media each time he came to play in a series against Australia, where he was called twice. Muralitharan's deadly off breaks have put most white batsmen under pressure.

Vicious remarks by Jarman

Understandably, the most vicious remark after Muralitharan's great achievement came from an Australian. He is none other than ex Australian vice captain and wicket keeper Barry Jarman. "It makes a joke of the game, it makes me sick talking about it," Jarman was quoted as saying in Sydney-based 'The Daily Telegraph'.

Most critics of Muralitharan attack him as if they are treating a criminal. Up to now, Muralitharan has been bowling in keeping with the ICC regulations and has taken action to meet those. He has not been accused of cheating and taking drugs.

It was only a couple of months back that Australian leg spinner Shane Warne came back to international cricket after serving a one-year ban for testing positive for drugs. It was proved and Warne was convicted for 12 months from taking part in all forms of the game.

Why didn't Jarman feel sick when Warne was tested positive for drugs? Why didn't Jarman feel that it is a joke when Warne was served with the least punishment for a serious offence in the sporting world like taking performance enhancing drugs? Wasn't it a joke of the game when a cricketer says he took drugs without his knowledge and it could be a pill given by his mom.

But there are true gentlemen in Australian cricket too. One such person is that great former Australian skipper Steve Waugh. He was humble enough to appreciate Muralitheran's feat.

"I think it is an amazing feat and a great thing for Sri Lankan cricket," Waugh was quoted as saying. He even had gone on to say that the authorities have deemed Muralitharan's action legal and hence there is nothing more the Lankan spinner could do," Waugh has said. Besides Waugh, two other former Australians Bruce Yardley and Geoff Marsh, too commended Murali's feat.

Ranatunga stood strongly for Murali

If Muttiah Muralitharan and Susanthika Jayasinghe had been from a so-called 'big country', world would have treated them differently, with probably no problems whatsoever.

There would have been exaggerated comments and praise for them even if they are found guilty of an offence. Definitely it's not a sporty way but it is how this highly competitive world is treating you when you are from a poor third world country.

Either they would try to buy you to play or run for them or if not try to destroy your career in a tacit manner. Muralitharan's career would have had a premature end, if not for the brave action taken by his former captain Arjuna Ranatunga, who recently took oaths as a Deputy Minister. When Muralitharan was called for the second time in Australia, Ranatunga firmly stood behind his champion spinner.

Muralitharan and Jayasinghe are still serving Sri Lanka in their respective sports simply because they had the courage and mental toughness to face such situations. Perhaps they would have done even better if not for those obstacles.