How Good was Arjuna Ranatunga?

[Munna]

We've heard and seen Imran Khan in all great captaincy discussions and forums, and no one would ever doubt his abilities as one of the greatest ever all-rounders of the game too! Whenever we discuss captains, imran khan almost always tops the charts by everyone and then there are the mentions of some great australian captains, clive lloyd, michael vaughan, mike brearly, stephen fleming etc.

However, i've always believed that Arjuna Ranatunga has never been mentioned too much in the good captains books... although he lead Srilanka to a world cup victory.. and then he also turned non-recognized players into great players who set many trends for the modern game!!! But still I wonder why Ranatunga has so often been so under rated by the media despite being a good tactician and a more than decent batsman himself and possessing a fighting spirit, in fact, he had all the ingredients that a good captain should have?

 

[Random Aussie]

He was a really important captain for Sri Lanka. Not just because he won a World Cup either.

Sri Lanka were a team that could be pushed around before the fatman came into his own, he gave them pride and self respect to stand up to the other teams and start dishing it out. A little like Ganguly did for India but with a lot more success.

Having said that he was a rampant cheat as far as using the runner rule and some of his actions were poor. The only captain I can recall being sledged by the opposition captain to the tune of:

"You are a disgrace to your country" And Alec Stewart meant every word of it.

But on the whole, an enormous figure in Sri Lankan cricket not just by waistline. Very good player of spin too.

 

[Salman]

He played a big part in changing the ODI game for the better by being one of the first captains to encourage pinch hitting and an aggressive batting approach within the 1st 15 overs.

Sadly when SL won the world cup, not too many people at the time took SL cricket very seriously which probably resulted Ranatunga not being as appreciated as other cricketers of the same era.

 

[nsaviguru]

He was a really important captain for Sri Lanka. Not just because he won a World Cup either.

Sri Lanka were a team that could be pushed around before the fatman came into his own, he gave them pride and self respect to stand up to the other teams and start dishing it out. A little like Ganguly did for India but with a lot more success.

Having said that he was a rampant cheat as far as using the runner rule and some of his actions were poor. The only captain I can recall being sledged by the opposition captain to the tune of:

"You are a disgrace to your country" And Alec Stewart meant every word of it.

But on the whole, an enormous figure in Sri Lankan cricket not just by waistline. Very good player of spin too.

I think your memory has deceived you and you have forgotten Ponting (great player probably one of the greats of the game but also renown for his sledging and extra curricular activities on the field)

 

[Random Aussie]

I think your memory has deceived you and you have forgotten Ponting (great player probably one of the greats of the game but also renown for his sledging and extra curricular activities on the field)

Please enlighten me as to when an opposition captain has called Ponting a disgrace to the game on the field.

Otherwise keep your irrelevant thoughts to yo'self. You feel me?

 

[nsaviguru]

Please enlighten me as to when an opposition captain has called Ponting a disgrace to the game on the field.

Otherwise keep your irrelevant thoughts to yo'self. You feel me?

It is very difficult for me to answer that question because quite simply I am not into guys, but I do have a couple of gay classmates I will ask them and then inform you tomorrow as to whether they want to feel you.

The only reason you Aussie's are bitter about Ranatunga is because he called Warne an overrated useless bowler (I certainly don't agree with him but that is his opinion) before 96 final and then went out their and smashed Warne all over the park with it winning Sri Lanka the cup. Also he refused to continue the game after one of your infamous umpires no balled Murali for no reason other then the color on his skin and later accused Pakistan of ball tampering.

As far as Ponting is concern he has been called a lot worse then disgrace for his actions on the field, I dont have to go far just recently did you even read your own papers after his finger waving incident with Alam Darr or did you not hear your own commentators eg(Ian Chappel) rip him for his disgraceful behavior and for swearing at the umpires. He has also been most recently in warm up game been called a LOSER )))

Here some of the articles to prove my point (please provide a link or a videos to your baseless claim about Ranatunga)

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/story/233695.html

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket...ricky-ponting-20101228-1992i.html?from=smh_sb

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/cricket/3319695/Hes-urn-absolute-disgrace.html

http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/arrogant-ponting-must-be-fired/2008/01/07/1199554571883.html

 

[Robert]

But still I wonder why Ranatunga has so often been so under rated by the media despite being a good tactician and a more than decent batsman himself and possessing a fighting spirit, in fact, he had all the ingredients that a good captain should have?

I remember Stewart calling him "a disgrace to the game" on the field. He was often pushing the boundaries of the Laws and indulging in gamesmanship and that cost him a lot of respect.

 

[nsaviguru]

I remember Stewart calling him "a disgrace to the game" on the field. He was often pushing the boundaries of the Laws and indulging in gamesmanship and that cost him a lot of respect.

And what fielding position were you occupying? Does making/supporting a baseless claim satisfy you? Provide me with the link to your claim? The only person who has called Ranatunga a disgrace was Warne in his column in reply to Ranatunga calling him overrated. Get a life and stop supporting someone just so you can suck up to him.

 

[spiron]

Please enlighten me as to when an opposition captain has called Ponting a disgrace to the game on the field.

Otherwise keep your irrelevant thoughts to yo'self. You feel me?

So only if a player is called as a disgrace or something which remotely has the same meaning by another captain, only then he would be considered as a person with double standards ?

 

[pinger]

Geez, didn't take people long to get some sand where the sun don't shine.

You are asking for peoples opinions of players. Not always are they going to be the same as yours, or favourable in regards to a person.

Not all of the opinions need quantified empirical proof for them to be opinions.

 

[Jo_Don]

Good bat, but extremely lazy and unfit, leading to him quite often bending a few rules.

 

[James]

It is very difficult for me to answer that question because quite simply I am not into guys, but I do have a couple of gay classmates I will ask them and then inform you tomorrow as to whether they want to feel you.

Haha, PP has been awesome lately ) don't even know how to follow that one up.

contrary to the roasting RA has received, I actually felt his post was a fair assessment of Ranatunga, and mostly complimentary.

 

[Sanchez]

I remember Stewart calling him "a disgrace to the game" on the field. He was often pushing the boundaries of the Laws and indulging in gamesmanship and that cost him a lot of respect.

And what makes Stewart's statement the truth when he himself was one of the worst losers around(96 QF comes to mind where he tried to physically intimidate Roshan Mahanama)

 

[Robert]

And what fielding position were you occupying?

Heard it on the stump mic, as did Random Aussie and millions of other people watching the match on telly.

Does making/supporting a baseless claim satisfy you?

What baseless claim have I made or supported?

Provide me with the link to your claim?

What claim?

The only person who has called Ranatunga a disgrace was Warne in his column in reply to Ranatunga calling him overrated.

Nope, Stewart did it as well.

Get a life and stop supporting someone just so you can suck up to him.

Supporting Stewart so I can suck up to him? I've never met the bloke and am never likely to.

And I have a very nice life, thanks. What do you gain by being so rude to people? What are you so angry about anyway?

 

[James]

Get a life and stop supporting someone just so you can suck up to him.

I know that Shehryark and MIG don't like us to make smileys the basis of our posts, but this one gets a big fat )

 

[Jo_Don]

I know that Shehryark and MIG don't like us to make smileys the basis of our posts, but this one gets a big fat )

lol, you said fat in a Ranatunga thread.

 

[James]

unintentional comedy, the best comedy of all...

 

[Inherent Ignorance]

Ranatunga is the godfather of Sri Lankan cricket.

 

[nsaviguru]

) I can't believe I was defending Ranatunga of all people, I must have had a hard time sleeping last night (which I really did no joke, thanks to "Systematicx0x" theory about LION MEAT and fast bowlers)

But just to put the icing on the cake and end this discussion on a good note:

Here is what Alec Steward really said/thinks about Ranatunga. VIDEO EVIDENCE

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Random Aussie/Robert You guys have just been officially PWNED with this I announce my retirement from this thread.

 

[UmarAkmals-fan]

It is very difficult for me to answer that question because quite simply I am not into guys, but I do have a couple of gay classmates I will ask them and then inform you tomorrow as to whether they want to feel you.

The only reason you Aussie's are bitter about Ranatunga is because he called Warne an overrated useless bowler (I certainly don't agree with him but that is his opinion) before 96 final and then went out their and smashed Warne all over the park with it winning Sri Lanka the cup. Also he refused to continue the game after one of your infamous umpires no balled Murali for no reason other then the color on his skin and later accused Pakistan of ball tampering.

As far as Ponting is concern he has been called a lot worse then disgrace for his actions on the field, I dont have to go far just recently did you even read your own papers after his finger waving incident with Alam Darr or did you not hear your own commentators eg(Ian Chappel) rip him for his disgraceful behavior and for swearing at the umpires. He has also been most recently in warm up game been called a LOSER )))

Here some of the articles to prove my point (please provide a link or a videos to your baseless claim about Ranatunga)

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/story/233695.html

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket...ricky-ponting-20101228-1992i.html?from=smh_sb

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/cricket/3319695/Hes-urn-absolute-disgrace.html

http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/arrogant-ponting-must-be-fired/2008/01/07/1199554571883.html

+1 well said bro ...u owned RA

 

[Saj]

As a batsman he was crafty. A wily old fox who would get under the noses of the opposition.

Technically not the greatest but he put a price on his wicket, worked hard and batted with responsibility.

He had a great cricketing brain and was a very good captain.

 

[Munna]

^ this is something that shud hav been the center of discussion in this thread ... not abt the controversies he went thru ... all great players have had some kind of controversy at some stage in their careers, but that didn't make them any less good a cricketer!
imran and wasim were 2 captains who used to beat the hell out of their team mates on field rite there! javed miandad have also had many ugly spats on the field!!
ranatunga was known for his tactics... i still remember before 96' wc final .. how he gave some australian like statements to gain some psychological advantage over the australian counter-parts!
but the highlight of his captaincy was also the stand he took for muralitharan against that umpire emerson if i remember correctly ... who alleged him of throwing!

but other than all these... he was also the only one perhaps who was actually pushing for a sri lankan tour of pakistan after the 2009 attacks .. perhaps only due to the fact that hez always been against icc and bcci !! thats one of the reasons i have a soft corner for him .... though his insistence wouldn't have been a good move if it had been agreed at that time!

 

[AZ]

As a batsman he was crafty. A wily old fox who would get under the noses of the opposition.

Technically not the greatest but he put a price on his wicket, worked hard and batted with responsibility.

He had a great cricketing brain and was a very good captain.

yep, that about covers it really.

I really respect him as an administrator as well, the time he was involved with SLC he made some very sound statements regarding the over-exuberance for IPL.

 

[Inzy's Fan]

Raanatunga as a great captn for Sri lanka and bowled part time spinners as well. Him and De silva were a good act.

 

[zhivago]

I believe that he was better than Steve Waugh ( Ponting doesn't even compare). He won the world cup with just two world class bowlers, Vaas and Murali. He is responsible for the respect SL cricket has today. Murali would have quit long ago if it wasn't for him. Other captains who suck( Ponting) are called successful just because of the team they had at their disposal. But it was Ranatunga who made a world beating team with limited resources.

 

[Random Aussie]

The only reason you Aussie's are bitter about Ranatunga is because he called Warne an overrated useless bowler (I certainly don't agree with him but that is his opinion) before 96 final and then went out their and smashed Warne all over the park with it winning Sri Lanka the cup. Also he refused to continue the game after one of your infamous umpires no balled Murali for no reason other then the color on his skin and later accused Pakistan of ball tampering.

As far as Ponting is concern he has been called a lot worse then disgrace for his actions on the field, I dont have to go far just recently did you even read your own papers after his finger waving incident with Alam Darr or did you not hear your own commentators eg(Ian Chappel) rip him for his disgraceful behavior and for swearing at the umpires. He has also been most recently in warm up game been called a LOSER )))

Here some of the articles to prove my point (please provide a link or a videos to your baseless claim about Ranatunga)

LOL, facts and you aren't friends eh? Each to their own.

Simple assessment of a player as asked in the OP and I get this bakwaas from resident tool....oh well. Have a nice day and all that.

 

[Random Aussie]

I believe that he was better than Steve Waugh ( Ponting doesn't even compare). He won the world cup with just two world class bowlers, Vaas and Murali. He is responsible for the respect SL cricket has today. Murali would have quit long ago if it wasn't for him. Other captains who suck( Ponting) are called successful just because of the team they had at their disposal. But it was Ranatunga who made a world beating team with limited resources.

True but that Sri Lankan team was no collection of hacks. That was a quality team.

 

[nsaviguru]

True but that Sri Lankan team was no collection of hacks. That was a quality team.

You have been ROASTED/TOASTED "mate" but I do give you credit for accepting reality and posting on this thread.)

Now I really am retired from this thread. No joke.

Wrong quote.

 

[zhivago]

True but that Sri Lankan team was no collection of hacks. That was a quality team.

I was comparing his team with the teams which successful captains like Steve Waugh and Clive Lloyd had. How many members of Ranatunga's team are remembered now?

 

[zhivago]

I was comparing his team with the teams which successful captains like Steve Waugh and Clive Lloyd had. How many members of Ranatunga's team are remembered now?

That was a rhetorical question.

 

[nsaviguru]

LOL, facts and you aren't friends eh? Each to their own.

Simple assessment of a player as asked in the OP and I get this bakwaas from resident tool....oh well. Have a nice day and all that.

You have been ROASTED/TOASTED "mate" but I do give you credit for accepting reality and posting on this thread. )

Now I really am retired from this thread. No joke.

 

[Random Aussie]

I was comparing his team with the teams which successful captains like Steve Waugh and Clive Lloyd had. How many members of Ranatunga's team are remembered now?

Jayasuriya
Kaluwitharana
Gurusinghe
Aravinda De Silva
Ranatunga
Vaas
Murali

Would be the ones I remember. Then again, we won in 1987 with a collection of hacks. The thing is Ranatunga had them united and playing as a team.

 

[Random Aussie]

You have been ROASTED/TOASTED "mate" but I do give you credit for accepting reality and posting on this thread. )

Now I really am retired from this thread. No joke.

You could give yourself a high five eh?

 

[lilFlip]

The Great Arjuna Ranatunga

A World cup-winning heavyweight

1963
Birth of the man who lifted the World Cup for Sri Lanka. Arjuna Ranatunga was a wristy left-hander with his fair share of attitude, but he knitted a flashy side into a fighting unit, which took the world by storm in 1996. Fittingly, Ranatunga was there to hit the winning runs against Australia in the final in Lahore. He made his debut as a chubby teenager, in Sri Lanka's first-ever Test, and bowed out as a tubby thirtysomething, after playing in their 100th match as well.

-Espncricinfo

For me he is one of the best captains ever (From SC: After Imran Khan!)
A fighter who had guts to fight fire with fire, especially vs Aussies.
Also introduced the great Muttiah Muralitharan to world!

#happybirthdayArjunaRanatunga

 

[London_Lahori]

Great captain and good player. Turned SL cricket around.

 

[Robert]

Alec Stewart told him "Your conduct today has been appalling for a country's captain" on the pitch.

Warne couldn't stand the man but still rated him as #100 in his top 100 cricketers IIRC. He did help put SL on the cricket map.

 

[style_guru]

If someone wants to learn how to take singles while conserving energy, just watch Arjuna's batting. I rarely saw him galloping between the wickets, and his singles were as easy as a sunday morning.

Also, he wasn't prepared to be bullied by other established teams, and his character slowly went into the team's blood. Arjuna to SL is what Gun-Goli is to India.

 

[SL_Fan]

Don't agree with every thing he did but overall an ATG captain and a very solid bat. Belated happy bday champ. Go easy on the cake tho big fella

 

[Justcrazy]

He was innovative.

A lot of fame that got was basically initiative of Arjuna.

 

[SL_Fan]

He was innovative.

A lot of fame that got was basically initiative of Arjuna.

Yeah great cricket brain. Plus brilliant with the mind games as well.

 

[test_fan]

Badass! Obviously English and Aussies won't like anyone from SC who stands up to them.

 

[Eagle_Eye]

Epic pawnage in this thread

 

[Nikhil_cric]

A brilliant ODI captain and strategist. Wasn't it his idea to promote Jayasuriya to open?

 

[Hitman]

Here's what Alec Stewart said -

"Your behavior today has been appalling for a country's captain".


[utube]d48QZrRPzhs[/utube]

 

[MenInG]

Arjuna Ranatunga is synonymous with a glorious phase in Sri Lankan cricket. He led the team to the 1996 ODI World Cup title - a momentous achievement that transformed the nation from minnow to powerhouse.

An astute leader and gritty batter, Ranatunga is credited with identifying and developing several talented youngsters who would later go on to represent Sri Lanka with distinction. This sort of long-term planning is missing in the current set up, Ranatunga said.

Ranatunga visited the Karnataka Olympic Bhavan here, and was shown around the premises by Karnataka Olympic Association President K. Govindraj. “When I retired, there were about four or five cricketers who had been groomed to fill my place. The same applied when Aravinda (de Silva) retired. Up to 2015, we had really good teams which promoted young guys. Unfortunately, after 2015, we did not groom future captains and players. That is the reason we have had about 10-12 captains in the last seven years. I captained the side for about 11 years. Sanath (Jayasuriya), (Kumar) Sangakkara, (Marvan) Atapattu, Mahela (Jayawardene) - they all captained for at least four to five years.

“Every team needs strong leaders. This is where we are lacking,” Ranatunga, 58, said.

“In the 1996 World Cup, I batted at two-drop. I then shifted down to six to get Mahela in at five. That’s how you build a team for the future. Nobody asked me to step down the order, especially after having won a World Cup as captain, but that’s what a good leader does,” Ranatunga said.

“When you play cricket, you think of tomorrow, not today. Now, everyone is after their own personal glory. And our cricket board is the most corrupt institution in the country. They have messed up everything. We produce several young talented cricketers, but they are managed very badly,” Ranatunga added.

Sportstar

 

[NishanKonar]

I personally rate Arjuna Ranatunga as the best captain ever from Asia ( better than Imran , Ganguly or Dhoni )

U need to understand where Sri Lanka stood when he took over as captain. They were basically minnows like Zimbabwe ( till 1994 ). But around 1994-96 Arjuna raised the standards of his team by leaps and bounds. Identifying and promoting eccentric talents like Jayasuriya and Muralitharan , get the best out of Aravinda de Silva and transforming him from Mad Max too a responsible batter , and revolutionized ODI cricket with the go-hard-in-opening-15-overs strategy

Above all he had a non nonsense attitude towards the snobbish England and Australian cricketing set ups and never backed off from a fight for respect and dignity. for his team. I have a feeling Ganguly's approach towards the Aussies was largely inspired by Arjuna

Great leader !

 

[sweep_shot]

I am actually surprised he doesn't get mentioned much.

He is probably as good as Imran Khan in terms of leadership (if not more).

Very underrated.