Are Lankans Playin Australia or India ???

"about comments by Sri Lankan players before their series with Australia (2007) : Is this a 'Holier than Thou' by the Lankan's or is it the pressure speaking?"

Sri Lankan's are in Australia for tough series with the world champions. From the time they have landed, press is going on about Muralidaran being a target for crowd abuse. Murali has in past had quite tough time in Australia. And with a guy like Ranatunga cautioning him about going to Australia, media seems to have taken the cue and has been hyping up the challenges Murali will be facing. Everyone knows the mind-game that Aussies play before any major series, this time its Murali and the tough-time he might face.

Murali is out there to prove himself. He has been a very successful bowler everywhere - except Australia. He is also expected to get those nine wickets to break Warne's record of 708 wickets. Jayawardane has stated in press that with the best pace attack in years and Murali, Lankans have the chance of winning a Test series in Australia.

Given this scenario it is to be expected that Sri Lankan's will be desperately trying to shift the media attention and the pressure that comes along with it away from them. Seeing that Aus and Ind had a tough series (verbally?) and that Ind are to come down-under soon enough seems to have given Lankan's the fodder for diversion that they desperately seek now.

To achieve this Lankans have opted to foul-mouth Indian reputation on a international stage. Hardly a day goes by without one or other senior of the Lankan side saying that they will play the game "decently.. and not like Indians". If ever there was a instance of cowardice on display this is it : running off and hiding behind your big neighbours back.

To be fair to Aussies, the way Symonds was treated was very very bad and Sreesanth seems to have crossed the line. But I do not think that Aussies did not give as much they received. And why not? As Ponting said, its their kind of game. Its part of the game - and if Ind want to be more aggressive (albeit verbally) its their call.

Now, where does Lankan's come into all this? Even Aussies seem to have forgotten (for the moment at least) the way they got treated in India, but Lankan's seem to dwell in criticising India's way of cricket at every available opportunity.

Indian cricketers had the courage to take it up to Aussies knowing that they are up for a tough tour in Aus soon. While Lankan's, they are challenging India verbally while preparing to play Australia.

Although, it would be incorrect one might be tempted to say that Lankans seem to have forgotten which team to concentrate on at the moment.