Muttiah Muralitharan took over every inch of the Galle Stadium here on Sunday. Giant hoardings welcomed fans from the entrance. An all-girl band brought in specially to mark Murali’s swansong were a disappointed lot when Sri Lanka decided to bat. The world record holder was presented a gold plated plaque by sports minister C.B. Rathnayake. Both teams posed for photographs with the departing record holder.
To see M.S. Dhoni walk out for the toss in the team blazer was an uplifting sight. At a time when the some of the game’s rich traditions are being done away with for convenience, this is an act that upholds its sanctity. The coin used for the toss was also unique. It had Murali’s image engraved on one side and his records on the other.
Tiger conservation has its ill effects too. A member of the electronic media was put through some hard questioning by locals here when they spotted the journalist sporting a “Save the Tiger” T-shirt. The locals mistook it for a political message from India. Only after careful explanation did they understand. A local even offered to buy new apparel if the owner was to throw the old one away!
The life line of Galle is its auto drivers. The tourist population has swelled over the last year but cabs are yet to become a concept here. Sajee is popular for the closeness he enjoys with some of the international stars. He is a good friend of Laisth Malinga and helps television crews in translation when they had interviewed Malinga’s neighbours and friends.
Sajee also played a role in the production of a documentary on Sanath Jayasuriya.
With many from the fishing hamlet of Matara unable to communicate in English, Sajee provided the answers to the missing link.
Both Sangakkara and Dhoni are having problems with their bowlers bowling no-balls. But how is this for coincidence. Dhilara Fernando who has a long history of over stepping actually has his residence situated in a area called No Ball Junction.