Test championship gathers momentum
Whatever the shortcomings, the recently initiated Test Championships has
gathered momentum and is on the move. There will have to be some tinkering
work on certain aspects like the points system, but the compulsion to play
a minimum of two Tests per series is definitely a move in the correct direction.-
Now the Test playing nations are touring on a more uniform basis and
not just catering favourite countries. The stronger playing nations are
also not able to log games against each other.
Bangladesh is the one sore point. They will be beaten comprehensively
by all other nations. Some of the records achieved against them could even
be termed as ridiculous. It is a mistake the ICC should never make again
to accept teams that are not completely ready to play Test cricket.
Teams get into one day cricket - the game with limits and restrictions
- quicker than to 'Test' cricket. A good example was the performance of
the Kenyans against Sri Lanka 'A'. They were just not upto it in the four
day games. In one dayers they performed so much better and were equal to
the oppositions. Kenya are next in line to join the big boys. At this stage
they seem four or five years at least, away from reaching that status.
Should the ICC be able to afford pumping in money a second and third
division competition of Test cricket. The 'A' teams of the top Test countries
could be combined with a few fringe countries. In the Third Division, the
'A' couple of nations could be fitted in with half-a-dozen rising Associate
Countries. The Second Division could play four day Unofficial Tests and
the Third Division could have their game over three days. There is no substitute
to improving in the long game than by playing good opposition at that type
of cricket.
The new Test format sees the best players tested on all surfaces and
conditions. It took nearly 20 years since Sri Lanka got Test status for
the West Indies to play a series in this country. It resulted in Brian
Lara being pitted against Muttiah Muralitharan on slow spinning pitches.
The "Beauty' and the 'Beast' both displayed their skills and what a contest
it turned out to be!
The Pricewaterhouse Coopers ratings look real now. Much more in line
with the Tennis Professional Rankings. The top six batsmen in the recent
batting rankings are: Sachin Tendulkar, Adam Gilchrist, Brian Lara, Mathew
Hayden, Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara.
Sri Lankan players have stood to gain. They are getting more exposure
and the better players are fighting their way to the top. Jayawardena has
been around the leading bunch for a while but Sangakkara has suddenly made
a meteoric surge upwards averaging 53.0. He is growing in confidence and
should this trend continue, the top order combination of Jayawardena and
Sangakkara will be more potent than Ranatunge and Aravinda de Silva.
These top six batsmen certainly deserve their positions at the top of
the tree. They have been so consistent in all their recent outings. The
next six have as much to claim - Damien Martin, Hanger, Steve Waugh, batsmen
on the move upwards or those who have been there and are now gradually
slipping down.
Muttiah Muralitharan, Glen McGrath, Shaun Pollock, Shane Warne, Darren
Gough and Anil Kumble occupy the top six berths in the bowling line-up.
Once again, no disputing their positions either. Bowlers win matches.
Batsmen are required to score runs. The Australians top the team sheet
comfortably. McGrath (2), Warne (4), Gillespie (11), MacGill (14), Brett
Lee (joint 17), Miller (20), Fleming (25) rank in that order in the bowling
rating. The Aussies have seven in the top 25.. Pakistan and New Zealand
are next with three each. No wonder the Aussies are on top!
Test Cricket is definitely moving forward.
Point of view
That Royal-Thomian tie
The one day game was conceived in the early 60s at a time when interest
in the game was fast waning due to negative attitudes and 'the not to lose'
approach to the game, emerging at the time.
All this, notwithstanding the energy injected to the sport by the pulsating
Australia-West Indies series under Benaud & Worrel in 1959/60. To recapture
this fast dwindling interest the powers that were formulated a result oriented
version of the game & thus was born the Limited Overs enterprise. This
had the desired result of not merely bringing in the crowds but with it
the input of monetary gains, sadly not all of it for the moral upliftment
of the sport.
If the objective of the exercise was for the purpose of achieving a
positive result, [either a win or loss], then conditions could have been
so formulated as to achieve just this.
But it was not to be as was seen in the recent Limited 50 Over Royal-Thomian
encounter. A Tie In itself is not to be despised, for it could be more
thrilling than a win or loss from a cricketing view point, but the shorter
version is meant to produce a result.
For achieving this end, a little more thought plus a bit more tampering
with the rules could have been brought into play.
If at the end of the day's proceedings the scores are equal the team
taking less balls to have achieved this total should be adjudged the winners.
If they are still identical the team that has lost less wickets in doing
so should be the victors, if they are still the same & all other options
have been exhausted then as a last alternative a tie could be declared.
On the above reasoning St.Thomas' should have won the match by virtue
of the fact that they took one ball less to score 216, but alas it was
not to be as the rules do not so stipulate!!!
On the other hand had Royal got to 216 in lesser deliveries but failed
to score the winning run in the next few deliveries before they were dismissed,
they would have been the victors! ! !
- Channa Gunasekara
Ananda College prize giving
The annual prize giving of Ananda College will take place on March 27,
at 1.30 p.m. in the Kularatne Hall.
The Minister of Education Dr.Karunasena Kodithuwakku will be the Chief
Guest.
D.S. Stag Nite today
D.S. Senanayake College will hold their Stag Nite, at Shalika Hall, Narahempita
tonight at 8 p.m. onwards.
All old boys and well wishers of D.S.Senanayake College are invited
to rally around to help the school's development sport projects.
They have started with a re-development programme, at the College grounds,
with all facilities including a gymnasium. All proceeds will be diverted
towards this project.
Tickets available at the gate or contact M. Azad on 071-721285
(B.W)
Kalpani retains crown
Looking back at the 55th Table Tennis Nationals held recently, one cannot
help but feel that the achievement of the women's champion Kalpani Herath
has not been touted all that much. What should not be lost sight of is
the fact that she retained her crown which she first won last year at the
hardly believeable age of thirteen.
A little more confident and assertive now at fourteen, this young miss
from Girls' High School Kandy had to dispose of Sri Lanka's top player
Deepika Rodrigo by four sets to three in the semi-final. Confronting her
at the final hurdle was Sri Lanka's number two seed Dilini Madawala who
was brushed aside for the loss of only one set.
The format of the game has undergone a change. Eleven points now constitute
a set, while the number of sets has been increased to seven. Thus Kalpani
becomes the first champion under the new rules.
Ironically, Kalpani who first schooled at Holy Family Convent Kurunegala
was put through her paces initially by Chaminda, the brother of Deepika
Rodrigo. Come to think of it, beating Deepika in the semis wasn't the best
way of showing gratitude to her first mentor.
Incidentally, Kalpani was the runner-up in the doubles at the Nationals,
her partner being Pushpadana's Rifka Kameel.
Talk of women's tennis players in Kandy and the name that comes to mind
is that of Mahinda Ellepola. Mahinda who is presently celebrating his twenty
fifth year as a coach has gone about his work with the minimum of fuss.
He hasn't been quite unhonoured and unsung because he has the good fortune
to visit Baharain, India, Macao, Greece (for a seminar) and Hungary (for
a three month diploma).
In lighter vein, Mahinda has been very successful with table tennis
players of the fairer sex. Starting in 1977, Mahinda Ellepola has turned
out many a champion. Dilini Drieckze, Deepika Rodrigo, Upuli Mendis, Deevani
Warnakulasuriya, Gazala Muhajireen, Premanjali Sivanathan and Sepali Hanwella
are some of them.
Among the men, Christopher Arnolda and Umesh de Alwis were the proud
products of Ellepola's assiduous training system - he lays emphasis on
the five D's Discipline, Dedication, Devotion, Determination and Drive.
Asked whether men's table tennis players lacked the necessary keenness
to succeed Ellepola puts it down to the full of more glamorous sports such
as cricket and rugger.
Ellepola frankly states that over the past 25 years his career has had
more ups than downs. Asked as to how long he will go on, he declines to
set a definite date as, by and large, fortune has smiled on him upto now.
- Aubrey Kuruppu
Squash Queen Tehani for Japan Junior Open
By M.Shamil Amit
Fourteen-year-old schoolgirl Tehani Guruge the squash queen of Musaeus
College will take wing to Japan today to participate in the Japan Junior
Open tournament. She has been nominated by Sri Lanka Squash Federation.
This tournament is a part of the Asian circuit events that are held annualy.
Tehani will be participating in the Under 15 and Under 17 events in the
land of the rising sun. She will be there for one week. The countries that
will be participating in this tournament are Singapore, Malaysia, Korea,
Hong Kong, India and Pakistan.
Tehani has been in tremendous form in the recent past winning many titles.
And she created a major sensation last week when she defeated the reigning
champion and the more experienced Kushani Daluwatte at the Lakbima Open
Squash tournament in an excitng game which kept the spectators on their
feet.
Since taking part to the sport in 1998 Tehani has been improving with
every game and tournament that she has participated whether here or abroad.
She has experience playing in foreign soil having taken part in the Scottish
Junior Open in Edinburgh and secured third place and improved further to
be the runner up in the Under 13 category. This has been the best position
any Sri Lankan squash player has achieved on foreign soil.
She gave another polished performance at the Asian Junio Team championships
in Chennai when she defeated players from Japan and Korea. She was the
only competitor from Sri Lanka to have won a match in the events.
Tehani was selected to participate at the SAF Games which was scheduled
to be held in Islamabad in Pakistan unfortunately it was postponed due
to the bomb blast in USA.
For her extraordinary performance Wilson Sports Company of Malaysia
has undertaken in sponsoring Tehani with complete gear necessary to continue
squash. She has not fallen short of nutritional foods as Meads Johnson
are doing the needful providing her with Sustagen and other vitamins.
SriLankan Airlines will provide Tehani with a free return air ticket
for this tournament. Minister of Sports Johnston Fernando too has offered
her a considerable sum. With her school also giving her financial support.
Tehani's father Jayasiri Guruge brother of former Sri Lanka squash champion
Oliver Guruge will accompany her on the tour. Jayasir speaking to the The
Sunday Times said that her daughter is a dedicated player and before she
defeated Kushani at Lakbima Open championship she had earlier defeated
Kushani at the Otters Open. She was unfortunate to lose to the same opponent
at the Squash Nationals last month in a thrilling five setter which went
to the wire. It was her first attempt at the big title. But she showed
the ability and the talent she has and what her opponents could expect
in time to come. He concluded by saying he is grateful to the Principal
of Museaus College Mrs: N.K. Pilapitiya and Chandima de Silva Managing
Trustee of the school for giving Tehani all the encouragement and support
to achieve her goals.
Dinuk, Romesh lead fightback
By Marlon Fernandopulle
Left arm leg-spinner Dinuk Hettiarachchi captured four wickets and Romesh
Kaluwitharana stroked an unbeaten 68 as Colts SC staged a spectacular fight-back
to turn tables on NCC in their Premier League Semi final at the P Sara
Stadium yesterday.
After conceding first innings points to NCC, Colts came back strongly
to bowl out the star studded NCC line-up for just 190 runs in their second
innings. Leg spinner Hettiarachchi was the pick of the NCC bowlers when
he picked up the crucial wickets of Pradeep Hewage (top scorer in the first
innings), Aravinda de Silva and Hashan Tilakaratne in a tidy and accurate
spell.
The Maitland Place Club was sitting pretty at 103 for 2 wickets at one
stage but the exit of Aravinda de Silva triggered a collapse and Colts
tightened the grip on the game. Only Russell Arnold stood out with a stubborn
half century as the rest of the NCC batsman failed to come to terms with
Hettiarachchi(4/45) and Muthumadalige Pushpakumara who picked up 3 for
46.
Needing 217 to win Colts lost two early wickets to be 32 for 2 wickets
before Romesh Kaluwitharana(68 n o) and Sajith Fernando (38 n.o) added
99 runs in an unfinished 99 run stand which sealed the fate of NCC. Kaluwitharana
was in fine fettle hitting 11 boundaries in a 97 ball knock while Fernando
played second fiddle to his senior partner as Colts finished the day on
131 for 2 wickets needing a further 86 runs to book a place in next weeks
final.
NCC-324 &190 (Pradeep Hewage 31, Naweed Nawaz 20, Kumar Sangakkara
37, Aravinda de Silva 17, Russell Arnold 50; Dinuk Hettiarachchi 4/45,
M. Pushpakumara 3/46)
Colts CC 298 & 131/2 at close (Sajith Fernando 38 n.o, Romesh Kaluwitharan
67 n.o)
Mahela cracks 274
By Thushan Amarasuriya
Mahela Jayawardene hit his career best first class score 274 as SSC were
poised to clinch an outright win over Tamil Union in a Premier League semi-final
game at Maitland Place yesterday.
Mahela's fluent 274 came off 296 balls and included 31 boundaries and
four sixes as SSC amassed 561 to take a commanding 175 run first innings
lead. Pramodya Wickremasinghe was the pick of the Tamil Union bowlers claiming
5 for 81.
Trailing by 175 runs, Tamil Union were 145 for 5 wickets at close still
needing a further 30 runs to avoid an innings defeat.
Tamil Union - 386 & 145/5 (Ruwin Peiris 33, Indika de Saram 42 n.
o, Malintha Gajanayake 21 n.o; Ruchira Perera 2/35, Thilan Samaraweera
2/42) SSC -561 all out (Mahela Jayawardene 274, Thilan Samaraweera 29,
Malintha Perera 102; Pramodya Wickremasinghe 5/81, Upul Chandana 4/172).
Record stand
By M.Shamil Amit
A record first wicket stand of 216 runs between Dushantha Ranatunge who
scored 133 which had 16 boundaries and Shamika Fernando 107 hutting 15
boundaries for Ragama CC was the feature of the second day's play in the
Premier Plate cricket match between Ragama CC and Kandy CC beng played
at the FTZ grounds in Katunayake.
In reply to Ragama's score of 325 Kandy CC resuming on their overnight
score of 18 for 2 were bundled out for 118. Ragama CC batting the second
time were 365 for 9 at close. For Kandy CC D.Kolugala had the best figures
of 7 for 104.
Ragama CC - 325 and 365 for 9 at close (Dushantha Ranatunge 133, Shamika
Fernando 107, Vas Gunawardena 62; D.Kolugala 7 for 104)
Kandy CC - 118 (Suresh Perera 27; Tyronne Gamage 5 for 39, Rasika Priyadharshana
4 for 51)
Moratuwa SC on course to victory
Moratuwa SC require another 183 runs to secure an outright win over Kurunegala
YCC in the Premier Plate cricket match after the completion of the second
days play at Braybrook Place yesterday.
Kurunegala YCC - 115 and 316 (V.Chinthaka 57, S.Priyantha 80, S.Gamage
41, M.Maduwantha 18, D.Ramanayake 68; C.Hathrusinghe 2 for 83, M.Jayasena
2 for 62, D.Rajapakse 2 for 22)
Moratuwa SC - 201 and 48 for no loss (P.Ranaweera 37 n.o.) - MSA |
