Scorching tracks and record books

The only thing that could tumble Usain Bolt at the bird's nest was a pot bellied camera man riding a segway scooter. Justin Gatlin came close but that was probably the only consolation for the United States track team who lost out on all the six coveted sprint titles in the 100m, 200m and the 4X100m relay. Beijing was the place where Bolt announced his arrival in 2008 and seven years later, he ran into an orbit inhabited only by him and perhaps out of reach by mortals aiming to follow in his incredible foot steps. The Jamaican has now won all of the three fast races in the major championships starting from the China Olympics except one. The 2009, 2011, 2013 and recently concluded 2015 world championship titles are embellishments to his defense of his 3 titles in London 2012. The only blemish continues to be his 2011 Daegu disqualification for a false start in the 100m. 17 golds from a possible 18 is as mind boggling a performance as is his dexterity at sprinting despite being significantly over 6 feet in height. The enormity of the laurels he has won can only be put in perspective from the fact that he now matches the great Carl Lewis in the number of gold medals won in the Olympics and the world championships. His humongous strides have more than made up for the disadvantage of a slower initial acceleration. He has indicated that the glittering career may end at London in 2017 and if he manages to add another six major titles to his already bulging kitty, the track would bow in deference afforded to none before and in all probability never again. 

Catch me if you can

Mo Farah imitates Bolt with the lightning pose topping it with his signature M after the race but he is a trail blazer by himself in no small measure. A triple double in the 5000m and the 1000m starting at the 2012 London games, followed by Moscow and now in Beijing are titles that put him right on top of the list of great long distance runners. The Kenyans and the Ethiopians  come out in hoards to topple the Briton but his burst in the final lap leaves them all in his wake. He runs at the back and even cools his heels in the water puddle but when it comes to the finishing line, there is little anybody can do match his strides, a thing of ultimate beauty. He would go to Rio as the favorite to defend the titles he won at home and a double there would enhance a legacy that is already legendary. A "mobot" in Brazil will be some sight to behold.

M the best

Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce may not be as common a name when compared to her illustrious compatriot but her achievements in the 100m make her one of the great women sprinters of all time. Akin to Usain, she had a bad 2011 in South Korea but barring that hiccup, has won all the 100m titles starting from the 2008 summer games. She has been instrumental in some thrilling relay wins for Jamaica and remains in pole position to defend her title in 2016. There have been few world records broken in China but the one that did get broken was in the grueling decathlon. Ashton Eaton came in as the defending champion but managed to go a bit further by shattering his own mark. His final run at the 1500m event left everyone gasping and firmly established the American as one of the all time great athletes. The middle distance races of 400m, 800m and 1500m had their share of expected winners while a couple of new stars emerged. On the men's side, Kenyans Rudisha and Kiprop landed the gold coming in as favorites while Ganzele Dibaba had to be satisfied with the 1500m title after being ambushed by a sterling run by fellow country woman Almaz Ayana in the 5000m. The 400m men's title went to another young South African in Wayde van Niekerk who outran the American Merritt in a pulsating final and had to be stretchered out from the stadium more out of shock than fatigue. Another athlete to make her mark was Dafne Schippers. The former heptathlete in Oranje missed out on the 100m by a whisker but her blistering gold medal run in the 200m announced the arrival of a serious threat to the US/Jamaican hegemony in the sprints. If these world championships were an indicator to the impending summer games, we should be in for some history making under the eyes of  "Christ the Redeemer".

Aussies in Nott(h)ingham

Sixty is what David Warner munches to lunch on a typical opening day of a test match. Sixty is what Steve Smith has against his name by the same time if he gets in after an early dismissal. Sixty is what Michael Clarke doesn't think twice before declaring even if behind. Sixty is not what you see the mighty Aussies bundle out for. And you don't see Stuart Broad sheepish very often. It  was the sort of Ashes fixture that gets played on prime time over and over again in a highlights reel. Clarke had braced himself with the steely determination that is characteristic of him after the three day loss at Edgbaston. The "I am not retiring" call however gave way to the unfortunate end of a sterling career at Trentbridge. Clarke would certainly not be alone in walking into the twilight. His retinue of not so young men will make way for another rebuilding since the time the erstwhile greats in Warne, McGrath, Hayden and Gilchrist walked away from their glittering careers. Cricket seems to be favoring the home sides with alarming frequency. Of the coterie that runs the game, there seem to be preferences that have led to lopsided contests. Australia don't seem to like seam and swing. The English don't like bounce and the the Indians don't like either. Actually they don't like spin or DRS either going by recent humiliations. That leaves the list of things preferred by the BCCI minions empty. May be any Indian side winning the IPL should count for points in the world test rankings. That would "cement" their place in the top ten for sure.

 It was not very far off in the past where the positions of the victors and vanquished were on the other side of the equator. While the Kangaroos celebrated a facile world cup victory in front of an ecstatic home crowd, England returned with the proverbial tail between their legs. How sport portrays the cycle of life, only in very quick succession. Fairy tales and sport are certainly not bed fellows. The ones who leave their hallowed turf with the same countenance as the one they sported at their zenith are few. Father time creeps up silently as is his wont and champions sweep into history in tears more often than a triumphant smile. Some look for redemption one last time as do their loyal fans. Would Clarke have one last test century? Would Roger Federer land one last grand slam? Would Tiger Woods lay his hands on the green jacket or the claret jug one last time? Will Lee Chong Wei win a gold at the worlds or the Olympics? Moments that would bring goosebumps not just because they would be a last flourish but also because they would push mortality back a little only if temporarily.

The World Badminton Championships ended in Jakarta today and we had both the singles champions defending their crowns from 2014. Chen Long has taken over the mantle from the great Lin Dan and Carolina Marin is the lone bright spot from Europe in the midst of Asian hegemony. A word for Saina Nehwal though. She isn't the swiftest of movers and doesn't have a shot that stands out. Her game is built around perseverance and accuracy both of which seemed to desert her at the last hurdle today. She becomes the first Indian player to win a silver at the worlds to go along her London Olympics bronze. The Rio Olympics may well be her last hurrah and how dearly would she want to be on the podium there. 

The last grand slam of the year is upon us. Flushing Meadows has thrown some unexpected winners on the men's side in the age of the big four. Juan Martin Del Potro breached the fortress in 2009 and Maran Cilic smashed his way to the crown last year. The hard courts and glittering nights offer a chance for a fresh winner to break through. A betting man would however not go beyond the undisputed favorite in Novak. His form has been impeccable and the shape he is in both physically and mentally, it would take something extra ordinary for him not to be counting his grand slam spoils in two digits. Hope to see someone tear up the form book in New York. Serena slam done and calendar slam beckoning. The distance between the younger of the Williams sisters and her opponents is becoming yawning and even though she suffered a set back at the Rogers cup against the up and coming Swiss Bencic, you are sure to get very good odds if you bet against her. She has the sense of the big occasion and they don't get bigger than this.

Spanish delight

Garbine Muguruza is a bit of a tongue twister. But her game is far from being complicated. It follows the time tested method of serving hard and hitting the ball harder. It's not a game of touch and finesse on grass as it used to be when the Everts, Navaratilovas and Grafs ruled roost. The one who packs a punch goes far and she who hits the best gets crowned queen. The Spaniard had a facile win over her finals' opponent at last year's French Open and while that created a flutter, her performance against the indomitable Serena last Sunday marked the coming of a new star on the WTA tour. Her scalps to the road to the final included Wozniacki and Agniezka Radwanska, wins over opponents far above her seeding or experience. Her garrulous demeanor on and off the court did not betray the confidence and free flowing shot making that she displayed in her stellar run. The center court crowd loves underdogs and if she is young and trying to make a dent in the armor of a champion, they root for her with all their might. That the 21 year old was able to get two service breaks back in the second set of the final against probably the best server of all time is testimony not only to her determination but also the power of the spectator's voice. Her showing comes with an entry to the top ten in the rankings which would ensure slightly more benign draws at majors and if the Venezuela born star can keep up the good work, bigger feats await.

The Serena slam finally materialized. She huffed and puffed like only she can, especially against the home favorite Heather Watson but got cracking when it really mattered. At an age where her contemporaries are playing invitational tennis or basking in domestic bliss, she has raised the bar one more time and it doesn't feel like the dominance is going to fade away anytime soon. With an all time record for grand slams including the amateur era well within sight, the American needs no additional motivation to continue her winning streak. Also, with her home slam at the Flushing Meadows beckoning, a calender slams is up for the taking. History being made and obliterated in such quick succession makes the younger Williams the best ever to have played tennis if not the best ever athlete. Her exploits will take a life time to equal and if she continues her all conquering ways, it may well be out of reach of mere mortals. A serve that booms like thunder and an all round game to build on that first shot makes Richard's girl a force that looks impossible to tame. Whats the only thing left  to be achieved? The golden slam with an Olympic top spot.Wouldn't 2016 be the icing on the cake?

We had a repeat of the 2014 final on the men's side on all counts (if you disregard  the number of sets played). The top two seeds made it past some stiff competition, some from expected quarters and some from not so. While Roger served up a masterclass against Murray in the semis, Novak had to come back from 2 sets down against the big serving South African Kevin Anderson. It was a battle of the old master against the current indisputable number one. The question was whether the seven time champion can keep his potent serves at the same level against probably the best ever returner the game has seen. The first two sets were close and it felt like the dramatic second set win took its toll on the aging warrior. There was a perceptible drop in intensity and the match ended in a bit of a damp squib with Federer being broken twice in the fourth set.  Djokovic never really looked out of control and his own serve survived the grueling test. The  defending champion took home his third crown and a ninth major in total and if Stefan's papa continues to be in the form he has been in for the last few years, we will have three 10-time major winners playing together. If that's not the golden age of tennis, there will never be one.

The Welsh were not thought of charitably when the latest duel for the Ashes began in Cardiff. The pitch looked low and slow, something only the sub continent is accused of serving. However, the denouement would have delighted the English faithful with the three lions turning the tables on their more formidable opponents. Joe Root's dual innings earned him a well deserved "Man of the Match" but it was the absence of patience from their antipodean rivals that led to their undoing. It has been an unexpected start to the series and a lot of words said in the build up have now become hollow hoots. The Aussies will need to pull themselves together if they want to retain the ashes in the old blighty. Lords so far has been a run glut and they may need to look to the third test to level the scores. The careers of a few good men may well be defined when we get to the end at the Kennington Oval, none more so than captain Clarke.

Who let the brats out

Niceties make an appearance on the tennis courts every season in the English summer. An almost indignant white dress code, curtseys of yore and the draw in the name of "gentlemen" and "ladies" are the hallmark of SW19. You almost feel this anachronism in the days of fluorescent dressing and heckling crowds at the other show piece tennis grand slams. However, Wimbledon remains a first amongst equals, the crown jewel cherished  more by those who take the green lawns than any other title on offer. While history is something that embellishes the tourney, a few players, champions and otherwise have gone against the norm of keeping the peace. "You cannot be serious" made its way into the tennis lexicon when a certain John McEnroe squealed that line on a contentious line call. That he followed it up with "You guys are the absolute pits of this world" is stuff of folklore. McEnroe's rants help provide that tinge of color to the absolute white fabric that defines Wimbledon. Then there was Jeff Tarango who forfeited his match after walking out on being denied an ace followed by a warning and a penalty point. "You are the most corrupt official in the game" is something that you will not hear in ages on a Wimbledon court. Then there are assorted tantrums from the likes of the Romanian great Ilie Nastase and the defending champion Djokovic. The rarity of these outbursts and melt downs is what makes them stand out in a competition known for being a stickler for the manners. Will we see an entertaining chapter being added to this list starting Monday? Its  statistically improbable but certainly not impossible.

Shooting from the racquet and the mouth

We have Murray, Nadal and Federer in the same half of the draw with Murray slated to meet the Spaniard in the quarters. Novak should have a free run to the finals if he negotiates a tricky first few rounds without a stutter. He has been drawn to play the dangerous Kohlschreiber in the first round and his ranking of 33 does not bear out the quality that the German can display. A third crown for Nole would be the perfect healing touch after the despairing loss in Paris. He still remains the man to beat and with Becker at his side in the stands, he would not be lacking in motivation to match his mentor's title wins. All of the "big four" are prior champions and so the biggest incentive would have to be for the Swiss master to own the record of the maximum number of singles titles just for his own. An eighth has been in the beckoning for some time and the loss in last year's title match in the final set after doing a Houdini in the fourth would still rankle. The watching masses would again get behind the man who gave them reason to celebrate after eons of disappointment. Andy's play has been assured in the season and his steady rise in the rankings is testament to that. Nadal started off with a win in Stuttgart but followed it up with a shock loss to the Dolgopolov at the Queens. He has a nightmarish draw with a possible match against all the other three in line to win the title. But that is the price to pay when you slide down the rankings. Stan Wawrinka would want to land another blow in his now burgeoning career and if he can string together a set of impeccable matches, he can be the dark horse to look at again. Last year's revelations, Raonic and Dimitrov don't come in the tournament looking good for an encore but the former's serves and the latter's touch play are suited to the grass and if they do manage a run deep into the second week, it won't be entirely unfathomable.

Serena, Sharapova and Kvitova would be the names to contend against on the ladies' side of the competition. The two time champion Czech would want to bag a third title after running away with the final last year. Serena would want to put the drama aside to erase some bitter memories from recent performances on her favorite surface. Her booming serves are the most potent in London and unless she self destructs, (another game with 4 double faults on the trot should certainly not be on show) number 21 would not be a surprise. The usual challengers in Lucie Safarova, Simona Halep and Bouchard may find it a tad difficult to breach the aforementioned trio's power on the grass. A fortnight of grass court marvel is about to unfold and if that's not fodder for thought, what is.

The World hockey league semi-finals is a qualifying tournament for the Rio Olympics. While the Indians have already qualified, a match against arch rivals Pakistan is always a coveted one. The change in hockey's face has been so dramatic over the years that the two traditional super powers now bow to European and Australian hegemony. 4 quarters of 15 minutes each, no offside and TV referrals mean a fast paced slick game with very little leeway for error inside the D. Defensive techniques have improved tremendously leading to a stark decline in the number of penalty corners and poached goals are a common sight. All good for the viewing public. The match ended dutch with 2 goals a piece with both for Pakistan coming from set pieces while India getting theirs from field moves. Sardar Singh remains India's talisman marshaling his troops from the midfield.  While it was an exciting contest, both sides showed deficiencies before the goal and that is something they would need to rectify soon to be able to mount a challenge for the likes of the Aussies, Netherlands and Spain.  The game looks to be on the upswing for the two Asian giants and that is worth celebrating.

WOWrinka!

The form book (and the draw) suggested a Serb and a Swiss would be on court Philippe Chatrier come the third Sunday of the Roland Garros tussle this year. While the Serb kept his date with destiny, the man flying the white cross did not bear the Federer name. Instead, it was the man who has stepped out of his illustrious compatriot's shadow for good. Stanislas Wawrinka may come across as an unassuming proponent of tennis when compared to the flamboyance of some of the other leading lights but when he unleashes that single handed backhand, its poetry on the court. His Aussie triumph last year was in many ways the proverbial flash in the pan. He won it at an age considered ripe for retirement in these days of power tennis and then went back to being the usual casualty in the second week of grand slams. A first round exit at the clay courts of Paris last year was drowned at a popular coffee joint. Keeping his head down for a string of matches proved as difficult as it was easy showing flashes of brilliance. In the meantime, the child of war carried on with his all conquering ways. Another five setter in the Melbourne semis  this year against Djokovic ended in heart break for the pink tinged Swiss. Even a collision course with the indisputable king of clay was not enough to stop the Serb's march to the finals. His cabinet misses this one trophy that would consummate the career grand slam and the stars seemed aligned to write another chapter in this glorious era of men's tennis. Nadal was at his vulnerable worst and proved no match to the world number one's consistent and probing aggression. A straight set hiding on clay is not a regular occurrence for the man from Mallorca. Till the man who goes by the moniker of Stan, if you may pardon my attempt at rhymes turned up with a weapon good enough against the top seed's arsenal. Roger was blasted off the court in the quarters and while many saw that as a result of the higher ranked Swiss being off color, Stan's game was indomitable. As creditable as the win was, he still entered the finals a firm under dog and things seemed routine when the first set went along expected lines. A break of serve for Novak and he seemed on his way to the last leaf of glory to be added to his crown. And then came the assault. Watching those back hands slice the court with the efficacy of an adept knife through butter was as much exhilarating as it was satisfying. Here was a man who fought with one hand against an armada of two handed backhands and aced them all. That he did not flinch in the face of a determined effort from Nole is testimony that the mind was in as good a place as the game was. Following up on last year's break through and a Davis cup triumph, this would have tasted all the more sweet for the genial Swiss. Would he carry on and do an encore on the Wimbledon lawns? If the back hand fires like it did in Paris, i won't bet against the "Stan gun".

All in the head and the back hand

Serena Williams fought against grueling three setters, an unsettling illness mid way through the tournament and came up with number 20. She is the grand old lady in the times of teens but carries on with her feats in a way only she can. She was down and out at least a couple of times but rose like a phoenix to land a chance at winning only a third title on the coveted red dirt. While three may sound like a dear accomplishment for most, Serena's triumphs at the other slams made her performances on clay pale in comparison. She made sure she took a step in correcting that record. Lucie Safarova is a late bloomer and is the nice girl on tour. Though that belies her determination on court and her fight back after being a set and couple of breaks down would have stirred the imagination of many a connoisseurs. It proved to be a bridge too far to take the fight to the trophy but it certainly provided the watching public an engrossing battle. Grass is the American's favorite surface and with just a couple of more trophies to be hoisted to meet the incredible Steffi's record, a grand slam at Flushing Meadows in August would crown her the greatest of all time.Watch out for some fireworks.

Barcelona completed the anticipated treble with the La Liga, Copa del Rey and most importantly the Champions League titles. A strike force of Neymar, Messi and Suarez would instill fear in any team and the old lady proved to be no match to the onslaught at Berlin's Olympic stadium.Two of the three aforementioned stars got on the score sheet and the fact that all the three who scored including Rakitic have been signed in the last two years shows that the money has been well spent. While compact and precise passing is a hall mark of the continental giants, it was the counter attacks that earned them their fifth European title. Unsurprisingly, the biggest casualty of Barca's exploits was Carlo Ancelloti who had go make way for Rafa Benitez at the Bernabeau. Real Madrid ended the season empty handed in the wake of their bitter rivals' incredible showing and for the galacticos faithful, a change of guard was inevitable. Their talisman remains with them for another season but can Ronaldo lift them to some silverware before he moves on is a question only the football turf would answer.

It's clay time

There's a coup in the air and the pretenders to the crown are sliding their feet in glee. None more so than the man who currently wields the tennis racquet as a magic wand. The wizardry has not borne fruit on the Parisian red dirt yet but each passing year takes Nole that little bit closer to completing his impeccable collection. Not many would stand against Novak's place among the pantheon of greats but he certainly won't like to end up a la Lendl who conquered everything but never bit the grass. With just a single Argentine triumph at an ATP250 event, the emperor looks the most vulnerable he has ever been in his remarkable career on his beloved surface. A tenth title at Roland Garros is certain to provide the much needed fillip Rafael Nadal needs to jump start his lack luster return after getting that troublesome appendix removed. Losses to the Italian Fognini and the humbling he had to face against the blissfully married Murray on his home turf would certainly put a dent in the indomitable Mallorcan's confidence. Having dropped out of the top 5 in the rankings is not going to make the draw any easier and an early meeting with either the world number one or Murray is a real possibility. The normal whipped forehand has proved troublesome and the movement far from the tip toeing we are accustomed to. Whether its just rustiness or a physical niggle lingers is anybody's guess but the second grand slam of the year may see a seismic shift in the balance of power in men's tennis this year. Novak has been swamping aside anything that has come his way and with the Aussie open already under his belt and an ATP1000 title at his current home in Monte Carlo, a career grand slam should dominate the Serb's dreams. In Boris, he has someone who carries the burden of not having taken the clay home. While the German may not be able to tell him how to win the holy grail but he can surely let him know how not to lose. Andy Murray has been climbing back at the same rate as Rafa has been sliding and his form makes him a good bet to go all the way. If he can turn marital bliss into that calming influence, he could be the man to throw the spanner in the works of the firm of Djokovic and Nadal.

One more?

Serena starts a firm favorite in any tournament she plays. Her contemporaries have long disappeared either into domestic duties or slipped into the stream of time. She, however stands tall bearing the torch of a generation most teens today wouldn't identify with. What they certainly would be acquainted to is the Canadian Eugenie Bouchard. While she has been able to scorch the courts with her looks and play, her cabinet does not boast of a grand slam title yet. She has Simona Halep for company when it comes to boasting stakes and the Romanian would like desperately to get her name on the Suzanne Lenglen trophy. Maria Sharapova may be the defending champion but she may find it a tad difficult to defend her title with the years on the roll. But the lady who once described her play on clay akin to "a cow on ice" may still have a few tricks up her sleeve to surprise. A scintillating fortnight awaits with a hegemony on the line and history in the waiting. Bon Apetit.

Steven Gerrard says good bye to Anfield today against Crystal Palace. His has been a career that legends are made of. Its hard to see players today sticking to a club for as long as he has and while he may be past his glory days, the Liverpool faithful will miss the spark he provided. The high point of his stay has to be the incredulous come from behind win at the Champions League final against Milan at Istanbul. in 2005. After trailing by 3 goals at half time, a Gerrard inspired reds turned the tables on the fabled Maldini's team. The low has to be not winning the league even once over his 17 year stay at the Merseyside. Another grudge would be to have been part of some underwhelming performances at the world cup manning the famous midfield along side Frank Lampard and David Beckham. All in all, Steven Gerrard played with distinction and his inclination to return back to where he started, possibly in a coaching role would be well received by the club. As always, you will never walk alone.

Djoko hi-fier

Stefan should get ready for some more time in the limelight. Papa Novak hasn't let domestic bliss affect his game and with a rollicking start to the season, the toddler with Djokovic as his last name may well be ahead of the two sets of twins with the Federer moniker in the rolling stakes. The Serb was always the favorite to land a record fifth title on the Rod Laver arena and barring a slug fest against Stan a third year running, he never seemed to be out of cruise control. The limping stunt against Murray in the final was something Boris would not have masterminded but what counts in the final evaluation is that the Djoker now stands unparalleled on the sultry courts down under. Each of the top three now have their stamps of supremacy on one of the four grand slams and having them all play at the same time is a coincidence tennis is more than fortunate to witness. Whether the current world number one can break his Parisian duck will be clearer in a few months, but his place in the annals of the greats is beyond debate now. He is at the peak of his physical and mental abilities and a couple of productive years on the courts should certainly make sure he enters his name in the GOAT debate as well. Andy has bounced back splendidly and his back seems to be in good shape to take the load of top tier shot making. A third loss in the Aussie Open final would pinch, especially with the way he let that little mischief from Novak affect him. He is back in prime form now and should carry on challenging his conqueror in Melbourne for the biggest spoils right throughout the year. The other two of the quartet seem to have taken a few steps back and a way to the coveted titles would need to go through a Serbian confrontation.

Serena has had the measure of Maria for some time now. Sharapova's shrieks don't trouble her and neither do the Russian's forehands. That is because the American has a serve that stands in a league of its own and when that weapon fires, its impossible to get past her. With an 18th grand slam title, she is now just behind the legend of Graf in the numbers and getting there just looks a matter of when than if. The new brigade of the likes of Eugenie and Simona will need to find another gear to get past this old firm of ladies and going by the way the dice has rolled for the start of the season, it looks like experience will stand the test of youth for another year. It is difficult to look past the big four and the two ladies who competed in the final as contenders for the slams and that in itself is an ode to the longevity of these champions. We go into the break between the year's first two grand slams where the masters series take over with the favorites firmly in place.

The cricket world cup kicked off with a format as unpredictable as the rising of the sun. An extended group play to decide the quarter finalists is as much a drawl for the competition seeker as its a dream for the advertisers. A few needle games (how dearly would Pakistan want to change history tomorrow) should light up the otherwise soporific proceedings during the initial month of cricket. While the format may be designed to make sure the test playing nations have the best chance of progressing to the knock outs, it precludes the possibility of a fantastic run from one of the associates. Afghanistan have been the cricket story of the last few years. A war torn nation has managed to dilute some if its strife from it's cricket team's performances. Whether they kindle a miracle on the biggest stage is  in the realms of doubt but an upset or two should make sure they make the governing body realize that the sport is played on the field and not in the boardrooms. The black caps along with their trans Tasman rivals started off in style with huge victories and the two co-hosts certainly look like ensembles that would go far in the competition. The Proteas come in with their talisman DeVilliers in fine fettle and would look to break the series of unfortunate circumstances befalling their team in the quadrennial show piece.  Of the remaining five, who can make the last four is a betting man's game but its certainly not Russian Roulette. With their consistent ways of making the sporting ends of big tournaments only to play the bridesmaid too often, i would put my money on the Lankans to make the grade.