Date-stamped : 02 Jan96 - 14:35 STACKPOLE PRAISES SRI LANKA TEAM The Sri Lankan cricketers acted with dignity when ace spinner Muttiah Muralidharan was called for throwing seven times in three suc- cesive overs on the first day in the second boxing day test match at the MCG said former test opener, now one of the ABC commentators Keith Stackpole to the Daily News. Stackpole who opened batting with Bill Lawry gave his views about the Sri Lanka team and on the on going ball throwing ep- isode that has reached a climax the world over. Stackpole said if this happened to any other country or for that matter to the Australian team, umpire Hair could have been posed with outbursts on the field from the players. Despite this shock the Lankans acted in an exemplary manner on and off the fields. They are a set of complete cricketers who took up this controversy in the correct spirit that brought about sym- pathy all around. Muralitharan is a good bowler to any good side. He turns the ball a lot. He has a bent arm but I dont think he really throws Stackpole said. Has he played for a side like Australia apparently he could not have faced with this dilemma. Q: What have you got to say about Sri Lanka and its improve- ments? A: Sri Lanka must have two or three genuine fast bowlers in the team. Wickremasinghe is a good bowler but he must be told to bowl to a better line to be rewarded. As Chaminda Vaas is not all that quick now than what was earlier. He should be a good first change stock bowler but not made to open the attack. Had Sri Lanka the third pace- men in the MCG test then Wickremasinghe and Vaas could not have been taxed to the maximum and the pair should have bowled better in short spells. Q: Any other areas? A: Sri Lanka should have a good opening pair to start with. The present pair of Mahanama and Hathurusinghe gets about too early. Mahanama is a good player with experience but he must play more straight as he tends to get out too often on the off stump. His technique needs ad- justments. Hathurusinghe plays most of his shots behind the wicket. He hasn`t much shots on the front. This was evinced when Sunil Gavaskar first came to Australia. To overcome these it is essential that they work hard to give Sri Lanka a good start which has become a major set back. Aravinda De Silva is an exciting player. But in this game he played a subdued role for the sake of the side who was made to struggle. Arjuna Ranatunga is a chubby left handed batsman who has the stamina to play pretty well with a sweep shot. Arjuna and Brian Lara are two lefthanders who handle Shane Warne with confidence. Q: What is the difference between Arjuna and Lara? A: Lara is a complete cricketer with wristy stroke play all round the wick- et. In the middle order there is another lefthander with immense potential in Hashan Tillekaratne. Hashan who has already made the mark in the international scene, that too with a brave hundred in the Perth test. Another area that Sri Lanka should take note of for a test class gloveman. The present keeper Romesh Kaluwitharna is a good entertainer with his batting for one dayers. His keeping has let down Sri Lanka in the last two tests. For Sri Lanka to emerge as one of the best in the established game then it has to be hard work to harness talent. This only could be done with better planning for the future. Q: Who helped Australia to be the top team today? A: There are quite a number of people who helped towards this end. But Bob Simpson the present cricket manager is the person who was the cog in the wheel. Simpson really helped Australian cricket with his knowhow and experience during the last decade to be a force to be reckoned with. Of course, Allan Border as a long standing cap- tain contributed much for the game and for its uplift. Today Mark Taylor has a "Tay- lor Made" squad to reign supreme. Taylor, him- self is a good captain and has the ability to get the best out of his team. Source:: Lake House/Lanka Internet Services Contributed by vg (vpg0001@jove.acs.unt.edu)