'We're heading towards disaster by ignoring Tests'
Posted on Jul 18, 2008 at 11:12 | Updated Jul 18, 2008 at 11:17
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Tags: cricket, cricket interview, Arjuna Ranatunga
Mumbai: On the sidelines of the India-Sri Lanka cricket series, former Sri Lanka captain and now the Board President Arjuna Ranatunga was in Mumbai to promote the Emrald Isles as a tourist destination. CNN-IBN's Roma Khanna spoke to Ranatunga about Sri Lanka's ability to produce unorthodox cricketers and more.
Sri Lanka's unorthodox cricketers:
I really don't know from where do they come but whenever we struggle to get a spinner, suddenly Murali came out. And now that Murali is getting close to finishing his career, Ajantha (Mendis) has emerged . And even the fast bolwers are good. In my time, I never had proper fast bowlers but now I don't know where they are coming but they are blessing for the Sri Lankan team.
Interest in Tests:
When you are playing the shorter version then you just go out there and then it is more like power thing. And by the time you realise it is all gone but to survive in Test cricket, you have to have the character. So, it is something I always cherished in my cricket career.
Champions League?:
My major concern is long-term cricket. Though, of course you need money, and Twenty20 cricket is where you earn money. But if you don't protect the Test and the One-Day cricket, then we are heading for a disaster. So, that is something we have to take a proper balance and analyse it properly and try and go ahead.
Country vs Clubs:
You feel very sad that some of the players are thinking of money rather than playing for the country. I don't want to talk about those players but my theory was always that playing for the country was the best thing to happen to me. And if they don't play for the country today, they will realise it later, especially after finishing their careers.
Champions Trophy:
We have the Indian tour where we have three Test matches in three different venues, followed by One-Dayers in two different venues. So, we are ready with five venues for the Champions Trophy. If the teams want to play in Colombo, we can finish the entire thing in Colombo and if they want the outstation venues, we still have outstations as well.
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Posted By Dr Nandakumar Moorkath
There might be isolated players like Arjuna and Anil Kumble and some others who would argue vigorously for Test Cricket.But
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