COLOMBO, Aug 12: Modern Sports are fuelled by the power of megabucks. It is the survival of the financially fit. If Test cricket has to enjoy the patronage of corporate houses and spectators, then the players will have to realise that they have as much responsibility as the administrators in making the sport exciting.

The ongoing contest at Colombo has found India and Lanka been guilty of showing a distinct lack of urgency in expediting the proceedings, which has been a major contributory factor in the slow over-rates.

On the first day, play was extended by 60 minutes, on the second by 48 minutes and the third by 29 minutes. Yet, the requisite number of 90 overs could not be completed on two of the days two overs short on day one and 5.4 overs short on day three as lights faded in the stadium.

The attitude of the teams have to be questioned. Barry Richards, the legendary South African opener who is here as a television commentator, was critical in voicing his opinion to The Indian Express: ``It's obvious the fines are not working. Because someone else is paying, it's not affecting the players. Perhaps, as Greg Chappell feels, the guilty captain should be suspended for a match or two. One has to start thinking in terms of radical measures. It's a real problem for the administrators and a way has to be thought beyond the mandatory fines. The fines are peanuts for somebody like Aravinda de Silva.''

The International Cricket Council (ICC) code of conduct, which specifies the standard playing conditions, states that ``overs will be calculated at the end of the match. For each over short of the target number, 5 per cent of each players' match fee of the fielding side is to be deducted for the first five overs and 10 per cent thereafter.''

Over rates are assessed on the basis of 15 overs per hour -- a minimum of 90 overs in a six-hour day, subject to deductions like two minutes per fall of wicket, four minutes per drinks break and the actual time lost through injuries and on-field medical help as also problems relating to sight-screen adjustments.

But all said and done, it still does not justify an appalling over-rate of 12 per hour as has been the case in this match.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.