Cricket: Sri Lankan batsman comes out leading with his mouth

By RICHARD BOOCK

It was not so much Russel Arnold's bat as his mouth that was providing the entertainment on the eve of tonight's one-day international between Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

The Sri Lankan, who carved New Zealand's bowling to all points of the compass last season, was on the front foot again yesterday, even though the opening match of the Coca Cola Cup is not due to start until 9 pm.

Arnold was one of Sri Lanka's stars during last summer's tour, leading the averages with 179 runs at 59.66.

He is expected to again be one of the big threats when the triangular tournament begins at Colombo's R. Premadasa Stadium.

In an internet column, the elegant lefthander has questioned the Kiwis' stance on pitch preparation, suggesting it was hypocritical of coach David Trist to express any dissatisfaction over arrangements in Sri Lanka, given the green-tops prepared for teams visiting New Zealand.

Trist was last week reported as being surprised and disappointed that pitches for the triangular tournament were being tailor-made for the host nation.

This was something of a turnaround from last season, when the New Zealand coach joined with captain Stephen Fleming in criticising local organisers for not preparing surfaces better suited to his team.

Arnold, who played such a major part in Sri Lanka's 4-1 series win in February, wrote that the New Zealanders should not complain about the slower pitches, considering the conditions his team encountered.

"When we played in New Zealand the pitches were real green tops. Some had so much grass that even Murali [Muttiah Muralitharan] struggled to spin the ball.

"I very much doubt that Australia's trio of fast bowlers would have been given half that amount of grass."

He said the tourists would find things difficult tonight after such a long lay-off, and the fact most of the players would be dealing with a 30 deg C change in temperatures.

"I have to say that I don't envy them."

New Zealand warmed up for the opening ODI with a comprehensive 167-run win against a so-called Sri Lanka A side yesterday, although the 12-a-side format and the fact that three New Zealand batsmen were retired suggested it was anything but a demanding examination.

Nevertheless, Fleming was pleased with the performance, which saw Mathew Sinclair (64), Craig McMillan (58) and Nathan Astle (48) boost the total to 293, before the Sri Lankan A side collapsed to be all out for 128 in 36.5 overs.

All-rounder Dion Nash made a quiet return from injury, making 12 off 16 deliveries and then bowling five overs, and could be in line to play his first ODI since turning out against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo last September.

If he does back-up tonight, it will probably mean no room for Jacob Oram, who is in line to sit out the match alongside second spinner Grant Bradburn and left-armer James Franklin.

New Zealand (from): Mathew Sinclair, Nathan Astle, Stephen Fleming (capt), Craig McMillan, Lou Vincent, Chris Harris, Dion Nash, Adam Parore, Kyle Mills, Daniel Vettori, Daryl Tuffey, Jacob Oram, James Franklin, Grant Bradburn.

Sri Lanka (from): Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Kumar Dharmasena, Kumar Sangakkara, Avishka Gunawardene, Dilhara Fernando, Suresh Perera, Chamara Silva, Dulip Liyanage, Dinusha Fernando.