Friendships nowadays between internationals is a common sight after the dawn of franchise cricket in the name of IPL,CPL,BBL and what not. And not to forget the love and hate relationships on the field with the heat of the moment on the pitch. But this is about a relationship that is so toxic which still lives up to date. Arjuna Ranatunga and Shane Warne are two most widely renowned cricketers who accomplished a might when they graced the cricket field. One is a world cup winning captain and the other is the runner up with most test wickets. But did you know that these two cricketers had an unusual relationship to share?
Episode 1
1995-96 Australian tour
It was a hot day in Sydney and Ranatunga was facing the Aussie attack. He started getting cramped and had requested for a runner. And what followed from the Aussies was filth targeted on Ranatunga. “You don’t get a runner for being an overweight, unfit, fat, c**t” was the reply from Ian Healy behind the stumps and the whole world listened to it through the stump mic. The tour went on and the Murali’s no ball fiasco damaged Ranatunga and Sri lanka even more in image and emotions.
Episode 2
1996 Wills World Cup
India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka co hosted this world cup and it was the inaugural time for the islanders to host the tournament in the stint of 20 years in tournament history. Sri lanka was scheduled to play Australia at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and the whole nation was waiting at the edge for a glimpse of that game. But the dreams were shattered as Australia refused to come to Sri Lanka depicting security concerns. The whole nation of Sri lanka was deflated. But the country captain Arjuna Ranatunga felt more than deflation on that action. He was hurt. He wanted to give them the courtesy back. He went on in a press conference and said the Aussies were just plain scared to play the game in Sri Lanka and it is something to expect from an ordinary team like them. (Mind you, the Aussies were the number one side at that moment). He also went on to say that Shane Warne is an overrated bowler. He also stated that Sri Lanka would love to wait for Aussies in the Final. It seemed like a mere statement to the ears of the cricketing arena, but not to the Aussies. They were frustrated and Shane warne was badly hurt. They wanted to seek revenge. The days went passed by and as destiny wanted to see more, Sri Lanka and Australia made it up to the final battle. The stage was set. Australia were put to bat by Ranatunga and they scratched their way to a decent total of 241-7. For many opponents at that time, with the Aussie bowling line up, that would have been curtains. But not to be for the Sri Lankans who had mastered the art of taming bowling line ups and chasing scores out. When Ranatunga came to bat, Sri Lanka had lost 3 wickets and Aravinda de Silva was well set. From the moment Ranatunga made strides to the ground, he was being barraged with abuse by the Aussies. Ranatunga later mentioned it even got personal and he had to calm down Aravinda so many times back to his senses. But Ranatunga kept his cool. His moment arrived as Arjuna almost hit Shane warne on the face which scratched his ear on the way for four and tossed the next one over square leg for six. Ranatunga ended up the chase with a 37 ball 47 and lifted the world cup for the first time as a chasing captain.
Episode 3
1998-1999
Ross Emerson called Murali again for throwing in the tri series between Sri lanka, Australia and England and Ranatunga took charge of his team and walked out as a protest to the decision with his team. This caused chaos in the cricketing arena with heated debates on the rights and the wrongs of Ranatunga’s actions. But Ranatunga had to face firing consequences of his decision. In 1999 nearing the world cup in England, Warne wrote to a column in a newspaper.
“There is plenty of animosity between Arjuna and myself. I don’t like him, and I’m not in a club of one.” Though Sri Lanka and Australia didn’t meet in that world cup, the defending champions were knocked out from the first round and Aussies went on to win their 2nd world title.
Episode 4
2003 world cup scandal and 2004 tour of Sri Lanka
Arjuna Ranatunga had retired from Cricket in 2000 and had already won a parliamentary seat from general elections in 2001 when the 2003 world cup happened. But the whole world was shocked to hear that the veteran Australian leg spinner had been tested positive for a substance and it was decided to send him packing home from South Africa. He couldn’t bowl a single delivery in that world cup. He had later stated that his mother had given him a fluid tablet to improve his appearance to get rid of his double chin. Shane warne was banned for one year from any form of cricket. Meanwhile, Arjuna had stated that Shane warne should be banned for life and he is no role model to any youngster watching.
It was in 2004 that the Aussies came back to Sri Lanka and in a press conference the leggie stated,
“Arjuna, he’s probably slotting himself around at 150 kilos at the moment, is he? Swallowed a sheep or something like that.”
Arjuna who is never in the side to digest tantrums was quick to respond,
“If I swallow a lamb or a goat, it is none of his business. But I must tell him that I don’t swallow those pills and blame my mother for it,” Arjuna lived up to his name and hit the bull’s eye. He continued,
“I am fine and fit at 95 kilograms. It is better to swallow a sheep or a goat than swallow what he has been swallowing.
“I am certainly going to meet him. I may even invite him to attend one of my campaign meetings. Though I know I may risk losing some votes.”
Episode 5
Shane Warne’s Century: My Top 100 Test Cricketers
In Shane Warne’s book of his 100 top test cricketers, with courage he named Ranatunga as his 93rd. He wrote,
“Through gritted teeth, I have put Arjuna Ranatunga in my 100, because everybody knows I don’t like Ranatunga… if there was any way I could knock him down to number 101 for the purposes of this book, I’d be delighted to do so.
“The basic problem I had with Ranatunga was his attitude towards the game. He didn’t play cricket in the right spirit and tried to manipulate the laws and regulations without actually breaking them.
“I can remember occasions when he led his team off the field because he was unhappy with an umpiring decision, ordered an umpire where to stand behind the wicket, called for a runner by faking injury to disguise his own fitness – he looked as though he’d swallowed a sheep – and told his teammates not to shake our hands after a match.
“He was described as a little Napoleon early in his captaincy career and I think he took it as praise, he was so irritating. I have not heard a good word for him from a single international player outside Sri Lanka.”
Even Ranatunga had told later on that he had moved on and respects Shane Warne as a cricketer, but the ashes between them are still fuming and never had taken a break. You will see Virat Kohlis, Steven Smiths, Mahela Jayawardenas, and many more showing aggression and wanting to dominate on the pitch. But I doubt if we will ever see another cold war under the skin as animated as “Ranatunga-Warne” in the cricketing chronicles.
-Kasun Ekneligoda-
