Shane Gould, 11 world records

By Annesley Ferreira

Dawn Fraser of Australia was the most outstanding swimmer during the period 1954 to '64, being the first to swim the 100 metres freestyle under one minute.

She won this event in three straight Olympiads, 1956 in Melbourne,1960 in Rome and 1964 in Tokyo.

She most certainly would have made it five-in-a-row in 1968 in Mexico and in 1972 in Munich, had she not been suspended.

Also to Dawn's credit stood the 100 metres freestyle world record from 1965 to '72 with the 200 and 400 freestyle record under her name. Dawn was Australia's all-time most popular athlete.

DAWN FRASER (1955-64) Australia

The first swimmer to break the 1 minute for the 100 meter Free. Fraser won this event at three straight Olympiads: 1956 Melbourne, 1960 Rome and 1964 Tokyo; and probably would have won the 1968 Mexico and 1972 Munich, had she not been suspended from swimming. She held the 100 metre Free WR from 1956-72, and set WRs from 100 to 400 metres Free. Fraser was Australia's all-time most popular athlete.

JANET EVANS (1986-96) United States

By far the greatest distance swimmer in history. Evans set WRs for 400 800 and 1500 meters Free in 1987 & '88, that still seems superhuman. A triple gold medallist in 1988 Seoul Olympics (400, 800 Free, 400 Individual Medley), and a gold and silver medallist at the 1992 Barcelona Games. Evans was the Swimming World's 1988 and 1989 "Swimmer of the Year."

TRACY CAULKINS (1976-86) United States

In her first international, the 1978 World Championships, Caulkins won 5 golds and 1 silver. At her peak she could not compete at the 1980 Moscow Olympics because of the U.S. boycott. In the 1984 Los Angeles Games she won 3 golds without the Soviet Union. Perhaps the most versatile swimmer ever, Evans set 5 WRs, a record of 63 American records - in every stroke - and won 48 national titles, more than any other woman swimmer.

SHANE GOULD (1970-73) Australia

In a short but brilliant career, she set 11 WRs in every Freestyle from 100, 1500 metres and in the 200 lndividual Medley. Won 3 golds, 1 silver, 1 bronze at the 1972 Munich Olympics and was named Swimming World's 1972 "World Swimmer of the Year ."

MARY T. MEAGHER (1978-88) United States

"Madame Butterfly'' Mary T set majestic WRs in both butterfly events in 1981 that were truly "Beamonesque." Mary T's 57.93 for her 100 fly lasted until August 1999, when Jenny Thompson finally cracked it. Her 200 fly record of 2:05.96 remains on the books. At the boycotted 1980 Moscow Olympics, when she was at her peak, after which she went on to win the triple gold at the 1984 Los Angeles, and a bronze in the 1988 Seoul Games.

DEBBlE MEYER (1966-71) United States

At the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, Meyer became the first woman swimmer to win three individual gold medals at one Olympics. She set 15 WRs and was the first woman swimmer to break the 18 minutes in the 1500 metres Free, and the first under 4.30 for the 400 meters Free, the first under 5 minutes for 500 yards Free and the first under 17 minutes for the 1650 yards Free. Swimming World's 1967, 1968 and 1969 "World Swimmer of the Year."

RAGNHILD HVEGER (1935-54) Denmark

Considered by many to be one of the most extraordinary swimmers ever. Hveger was at her peak during WW II. She swam at the 1936 Berlin and 1952 Helsinki Games winning silver in '36. In 1941 she held the WR in all the Free events and the 100 metres Backstroke. Some of her marks lasted 15 years.

SHIRLEY BABASHOFF (1971-76) United States

One of the greatest women freestylers of all time. She set 6 WRs and swam on 5 world record relays. Won 2 Olympic golds and 7 silver medals. At the 1976 Montreal Games she was cheated out of 4 golds medals by East German doping.

KRISTlNA EGERSZEGl (1987-97) Hungary

The greatest woman backstroker in history. "Eger" won 5 individual Olympic golds: 200 back in three successive Olympics: 1988 Seoul, 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta. She got the gold in 100 back and 400 Individual Medley at the 1992 Barcelona Games. When she was only 14, at the 1988 Seoul Games, she won the silver in the 100 back. Her 200 back OR still remains.

CLAUDIA KOLB (1963-68) United States

The best allround woman swimmer of her time. Kolb won both Individual Medleys at the 1968 Mexico Olympics, taking the 400 IM by more than 14 seconds. She was silver medalist in the 200 breaststroke at the 1964 Tokyo Games and set 23 World Records.

Hayley gets a Goulden bonus

As Hayley Lewis walked along the poolside after receiving her world championship gold medal, a slim woman with long blonde hair ran from the crowd and kissed her on the cheek.

"My God, that's Shane Gould," said television commentator Tracey Wickham, the last Australian to win a gold medal at the world swimming championships.

It was a stirring moment. Gould, who held all five freestyle world records when she was 15, had returned from 15 years of self-imposed "exile" to anoint Lewis, her successor, as the golden girl of Australian swimming.

Not since Gould won three gold medals at the 1972 Olympics, setting a would record in each final, has Australia possessed a swimmer with the all-round potential of 16-year-old Lewis.

The Brisbane schoolgirl's gold in the 200-metre freestyle at Perth was the first major swimming title won by an Australian woman since Michelle Ford won a gold medal in the 800 metres freestyle at the Moscow Olympics.

Lewis also won the silver in the 400 metres individual medley, missing out on gold by one hundredth of a second. Just how good Lewis, a five-time champion at the 1990 Commonwealth Games, will become is a matter of conjecture. How good Gould was remains a subject of amazement.

Gould started breaking world records at 13. Her schedule at the Munich Olympics was 15 races in eight days. Result: three golds, one silver, one bronze. She once broke the 100 metres freestyle world record three weeks running.

She was treated like a goddess by sports-mad Australia, so much so her Munich medal haul was deemed disappointing by the Australian media.

The pressure of her fame eventually proved too much.

"Swimming for me was mostly a spiritual thing," Gould told the Sydney Morning Herald in October in her first interview for several years.

"I guess the problem was that all the materialistic competitiveness of the Olympic Games, and all that went with it, inevitably crushed my joy in swimming.

"That blissful sense that you get when your body is flowing through the water was lost because it was all winning and losing and world records - none of which is spiritual."

Gould rediscovered spirtuality in religion. She met former theology student Neil Innes, married him and moved to a small farm in Western Australia to live a life of simplicity and calm. But still she could not forget her golden youth.

"I made the decision to leave swimming at the very height of my powers and I don't regret this," Gould told the Herald.

"But even though I did it of my own free will, of course I was going to have problems when I went from standing on a podium with gold medals around my neck to finding myself on my hands and knees cleaning up after sheep."

Gould, who has four children, declined interview requests. She was uncontactable by telephone and letters were answered with a short, polite note saying she wanted to be left alone.

Only recently has she emerged from what she terms "a 15-year-long depression where I was always trying to bridge the gap between my two entirely different identities." She has started swimming again for fun and could not resist the chance to see the best in the world swimming in Perth, four hours north of her home in the Margaret Valley wine district.

To Lewis and her generation, Gould is probably just a name to be revered.

* Courtesy, The Olympian & The Swimming World, in association with C. Vijitha Fernando, DWSF

Martial arts or nothing

By Ravi Nagahawatte

Twenty-three-year old Nirosha Nilmini Perera didn't show a commitment for anything until the day she tried her luck at martial arts.

Anything she commenced didn't leave her with the drive to see it through to the end.

Nirosha started computer studies, sewing, dancing and even painting but she could not cultivate that commitment leave alone a passion that girls of her age would have shown in trying their hand at something they liked.

As for Nirosha the start to something new only progressed till she learned the basics.

Says Nirosha, "At this point I begin to think that this is as far as I want to go. This thinking pattern is usually accompanied by the idea that I can manage on my own without a teacher. But I rarely continue."

As she recalls her schooldays, Nirosha reminisced how a passion for dancing died gradually after a six gruelling months of practising.

She says that she had been real good at this, a dancing style which included learning both Hindi and Western steps.

However despite an inborn talent for dancing, Nirosha had seen no purpose to continue it any longer.

It had been at this time that thoughts of learning martial arts which originated sometime back, had begun to play up in the mind of this lass from Mahara.

Seeing fight sequences of martial arts legend Bruce Lee and Mona Lee on video had really inspired Nirosha to make her dream of learning martial arts a reality.

Little did Nirosha imagine that one day she would steal the limelight in an international fighting event.

"Four years after dabbling in this art of fighting, her moment of honour came a month ago when she won herself a second place at the World United Martial Arts Association's Milliennium Cup Tournament in Cheltenham, England.

The burning fire inside her to excel in this tournament never died down despite freezing conditions inside the tournament dojo. And it took little as a few seconds for Nirosha to make everyone open their eyes and take notice of her when she felled her opponent with a vicious punch.

"Sending your opponent for a count as early as in the first round shows that you have reached somewhere in the sport" said Nirosha adding that she had represented the country in this tournament last year as well.

Nirosha had been the typical youngest sibling in the family. Always into sports and never serious at anything Nirosha was never cautioned or scolded when she made it clear to all her folks at home that she was going to become a martial artist.

In fact she had received all the encouragement from a friend of her elder brother when she was in search of a martial arts class. That's how she had come under the watchful eyes of renowned martial arts teacher, Charles Anthony.

Nirosha recalls her first lesson in the class as if like today. "It was not as easy as I thought. Seeing heroes perform in the screen makes you copy them. But one must realise that they have had years of practice. It is the finished product. Just like a painting that has been completed. I realised that I might need fifteen years or more to get to that level. But I was determined" reminisced Nirosha.

One year into the sport and knowing the track record of how Nirosha does things it wasn't soon before she encounted thoughts that she had learnt enough.

"I wanted to quit as I had expericed what karate was. I had learnt the basics if I were to put it in my own words. But then my teacher showed me with what little knowledge I would be leaving the martial arts field if I had done so," said Nirosha.

Nirosha has continued with her eyes open since then. She has had this temptation to go and experience what other forms of martial arts can offer. But today, after four-and- a-half years of training, she says with confidence that almost all the styles of fighting have the same thing to offer. At present she holds a black belt in the free form of martial art that she practices.

There are times when she begins to think that it is time to go her own in learning this art.

But then she sits back with a sense of security thinking of her teacher who has gone before her in this renowned art of fighting. "Why should I do this when I have the services of a qualified teacher" says Nirosha.

Her words of wisdom could mean that she no longer is the Nirosha she was once known to be.

Next cricket fiesta for Sri Lanka in May, June, July

By Kasturiarachchi Warnakulasuriya

The next cricket fiesta will be in May, June and July, where Sri Lanka will take on different nations, different continents.

It is the duty of the media to discuss what the context is going to be in preparing for these tours and matches. First of all it will not be that easy as the recently concluded tours. Pakistan played with only a contingent, but not with its full-fledged experienced guys freely - Wasim Akram and Saqlain Mustaq were out at times. Captaincy was a very weak issue for them, in those matches a seasoned campaigner like Wasim Akram could not lead Pakistan. Paks had to depend on a weak captaincy in Saeed Anwer and now its Moin Khan.

Pakistan might bring in their new find, 18-year-old baby Imran Nazir. Remember Nazir, the opener who played in the recent junior world cup series in Sri Lanka. In the absence of all their masters, Inzaman Ul-haq, Shaid Afridi, Moin Khan, Yohanas, Younis Khan who made a century against Sri Lanka, this young guy, played an ambitious innings of 71 with 3 sixes and 5 boundaries against Klusener at Sharjah. Waqar Younis will be in fine form after the Sharjah matches. All the injured lot - Akram, Mustaq, Anwer, Azhar Mahmood will come here ready to grab their lost laurals against Sri Lanka and S. Africa to whom Pakistan fell victims 14 in a row in the short version of the game and above all Pakistan can now look forward under a new captaincy in Moin Khan - a determined player. Pakistan has brushed away their headache of changing captaincy now. Pakistan will now follow India, over this issue.

S. Africa will be the most difficult customer for us in the matches ahead.

Lance Klusener, their star bowler has been in a very consistent way of performance, having crushed Pakistan at Sharjah. Sri Lankans should not take easy, even though S. Africans will play without Allan Donald. Now Allan Donald's workload has been stored in Klusner, Kallis, Cronje, Boje and Ntini. What about their batting performances when seasoned campaigners like Kirsten, Cronje and all rounder Klusener failed on a good batting wicket, tail-enders delivered the goods in time. Boje, the tail-ender with his 8th wicket partner Elworthy (Not out 4) went on to a match-winning stand of 36 runs. How about our tail-enders? Last minute ''Pol-Adi" shots of Muralitharan fame, will not do. Lake House columns recently revealed the batting performances of Pramodaya Wickremasinghe, with a duck-bag of 16 with 5-in-a row. This scribe has been reiterating over the past years, that Sri Lanka should do a lot of homework, before embarking on tours and matches, to give our tail-enders, a very good batting practice at domestic level. Murali, Pramodya, Zoysa, Pushpakumara - they all get batting chances, once they are sent to the crease, in a nail-bitng situation. More and more practice matches should be given, putting them in opening stands or in middle order so that they get a chance of remaining at the wicket to gain lot of batting experience. For this important mission, we should make use of different kinds of domestic matches once the Sri Lankan team gets a break of about six months. No cricket administrator has ever looked into this weak point. "I'm not a batsman - I'm only a bowler concept'' should be done away with, from their mentality.

If we give them enough match practice domestically, at our leisure, I'm sure they will be able to add another 50 runs to each inning without throwing away the wicket, out of phobia or careless play. When will the authorities fulfill this most important requirement? My suggestion to BCCSL to have a "domestic match practice camp", with varied kinds of matches between SL team and stalwarts from clubs, first class cricket playing schools, our host of Test discards, has still not been taken into account by the cricketing authorities. We have enough experiences of losing matches due to our weaknesses of tailend-batting. can't we expect 50 runs in between the last 4 tail-enders, if they are properly guided for batting. It can be further strengthened in test cricket, to make use of them, to avoid the present day low scoring.

Another weakness among our young blood and even with Captain and wicket keeper themselves - Sanath and Romesh - is that they are going to play test cricket as the way they played one dayers during those fireworks displays of late 90s. In some recent instances, some test totals went down the precipice, less than what they had scored in one day cricket. The morale of remaining at the wicket, heading for a big score, with two or three good partnership performances, waiting for loose balls avoiding rash shots, should be the master- pieces in future test cricket for Sri Lanka. That morale will be the beam of light, as regards May, June and July matches ahead, for Sri Lanka, as all nations are determined to crush Sri Lanka, taking the full advantage of this rash weakness. Sanath, Romesh, Mahela and Dilshan should not be easy victim for Klusener, Kallis, Ntini, Waqar, Arshad, Razzaq, Kumble.

Recently concluded Sharjah matches where two Pakistan bowlers Waqar and Arshad Khan, performed single handed, should be a very good lesson for Sri Lanka. Though they lost to South Africa in a preliminary league, Waqar and Arshad Khan, took the bowling strength to their shoulders, to slice batting performances of Kirsten and Cronje, in the absence of Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akthar, Azzar Mahamood and Saqlain Mustaq who were pulled out due to injuries. Can we cope up, if we are to play without our two different maestroes Murali and Vaas?

What does that purely indicate? Still we have not been able to find counterparts for Vaas and Murali. All these years Sri Lanka has been experiencing or gambling to strengthen the bowling department as this gap will take another year or two, what's the best possible way for Sri Lanka to overcome this long felt need? While thinking of ways and means to improve the bowling department, we must put our utmost weight on batting. During the world cup triumph, we had a very good batting line up, right up to No. 7 the last man being Kumar Dharmasena. We should concentrate in batting seriously, to put up a big score in each inning we have all the potential, talents and capacity for that. what is lacking is, grit, determination, not to throw the wicket away at any cost, in playing rash shots, again the names of Sanath, Mahela, Romesh and Dilshan come in!

India with a new captain - Saurav Ganguli in their pocket, will always insist on Azzarudeen and Tendulkar hereafter for batting partnerships, which they have done very well over the past years and in the recent past too. Both are well competent to concentrate on batting, to hit powerful centuries now minus captaincy. Sri Lanka should make it a point.

Under these circumstances Sri Lanka will have to think a lot; a lot of home- work should be done; Game-plans should be thoroughly masterminded beforehand, under these difficult, different contexts in which they will have to play in May, June, July.

So let's make use of April to the fullest, to achieve these aspirtations.

Shane Warne is highest wicket taker for Aussies

Australia's flamboy ant leg spinner Shane Warne erased Dennis Lillee's Test tally of 355 wickets during the First Test against their rivals across the Tasman Sea.

Shane Kieth Warne was born on 13.9.1969 in Victoria and at present is the deputy to Steve Waugh.

His career which began in 1992 was in shatters during the 1998 - 99 period and during this period in 7 tests his Test figures were 289.5 - 62 - 918 - 14 at an average of 65.57. He was dropped during the West Indies tour.

However during the 1999 World Cup, he regained his lost confidence and was one of the architects of the 1999 Australian World Cup Victory.

Warne became famous in 1993 after the so-called "Ball of the Century". This was an inswinging leg break which pitched outside the leg stump and spun past the outside edge of a surprised Mike Gatting to hit his off stump. This happened at the Manchester Grounds during the 1st Test.

Warne is also one of the few bowlers in the world to take a Test hat-trick. This was achieved by him on 29.12.1994 at Melbourne during the 1994-95 series against England.

A little known fact about Shane Warne is that he is the only bowler from any country to take more than 50 Test wickets in a calendar year on 4 different occasions. He achieved this feat in 1993 (72 wickets), 1994 (70 wickets), 1995 (52 wickets) and in 1997 (68 wickets). Warne's Australia team mate Glen McGrath and late Malcolm Marshall have performed this feat on 3 occasions.

Shane Warne's full test career bowling statistics are given below: (upto 23.3.2000).

Matches Overs M Runs Wickts 5 w 10 w Best Average

V. England 18 972.1 338 2113 87 4 1 8/71 24.29
V. S. Africa 12 687.1 229 1342 64 4 2 7/56 20.97
V. W. Indies 16 547.2 133 1581 49 1 - 7/52 32.27
V. New Zealand 10 523.4 167 1185 59 2 - 6/31 20.08
V. India 8 362 81 1103 19 - - 4/85 58.05
V. Pakistan 9 426.3 139 1072 49 4 1 7/23 21.88
V. Sri Lanka 8 259 71 706 23 1 - 5/52 30.70
V. Zimbabwe 1 53.1 13 137 6 - - 3/68 22.83
82 3831 1171 9239 356 16 4 8/71 25.95

His batting statistics are as under Innings: 115 Not outs: 12 Highest Score 86 vs Pakistan (1999-2000) (H) 86 vs India (1999 - 2000) (H) Fifties 4, Total 1596, Average: 15.49, Catches: 60, Mode of dismissals Bowled 6, Caught 76, L.B.W. 16, Runout 3, Stumped 2, Ducks 20. M. L. Fernando

Test cricketers who were sent home - Part I

In the history of Test Cricket, there have been two instances of players being sent home for disciplinary reasons. The first instance was in 1936, when The Maharaj Kumar of Viziangaran sent Lala Amarnath home from England and the other was in 1958-59, when Roy Gilchrist of the West Indies was sent home from India. However, where Amarnath was concerened, the Indian Board forgave him and even appointed him Captain of the Indian team that toured Australia in 1946. But Gilchrist was not so lucky.

When the team was originally announced, Worrell was to have captained the side. But as he could not obtain leave from Manchester University, Alexander was re-appointed to lead the side. Now, Alexander had played in only seven Tests upto that time, and needless to say he was certainly not suited for the job. Especially when it came to handling an individual of Gilchrist's temperament. For some reason, right throught that tour, Alexander and Gilchrist were at daggers drawn. But there were also times when they got on.

That 1959 tour, may have been an unhappy tour for Gilchrist. But for the Indian batsmen it was worse. From the very first game at Baroda, he and Wes Hall had those poor Indian batsmen ducking and diving for cover. Having faced only a handful of medium pacers, they were certainly not prepared for the barrage that Gilchrist and Hall were going to give them. And even Garfield Sobers was faster than anything those Indians had faced for a long time. The first 'incident' took place in the first Test at Bombay. Hall was bowling and Alexander had put Gilchrist to field at leg slip. An idea of how fast they were, came home to Gilchrist, when one particular ball, went straight through him, hit the boundary board and bounced back. And all that Gilchrist had to do was bend down and pick it up. That was enough for Gilchrist. He had come to India to bowl those Indian batsmen out and not to get killed by Wes Hall. Gilchrist then strolled into the covers and told Bas Butcher that Alexander wanted them to swop places. Now Alexander said nothing of the sort, and, neither did Gilchrist get his permission. But Gilchrist was sure going out from that leg slip position.

When India started their second innings of that test they had to survive for 575 minutes. And God only knows how they did it. Pankaj Roy stuck it out for seven hours and Pankaj Roy must still be having nightmares about that innings. He never had a clue as to from where the next missile was coming from and did not know which way to run or duck. On one occasion he looked heartbroken, when Alexander dived to take a catch off Sobers and the umpire said 'not out'. - BM

Test matches of by-gone days

The first official Test match was played on 15, 16, 17 & 19, March 1877 between England and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Australia won the toss, and Charles Bannerman faced the very first ball in a Test from A. Shaw. From the very first ball, Bannerman dominated the innings as well as the England attack, and went on to score the first hundred in Test matches. But after scoring 165 he had to retire hurt, and Australia were all out for only 245. This total was by no means a formidable one and everybody expected England to top that score. But England were bowled out for 196 and that gave Australia a lead of 49 runs. Top scorer for England was their opening batsman H. Jupp and Australia's bowling hero was Midwinter who took 5 for 78.

With Australia having dominated the game so far, they were expected to give the England bowlers and fielders another leather hunt. But with Bannerman not available, they were shot out for only 104, by England's pace attack of Shaw and Ulyett, who took 5 for 38 and 3 for 39 respectively. England's target was only 153. But this was too much for them and were all out for 108 to give Australia a win by 45 runs.

In this Test, England was represented by only professionals who had toured Australia in 1876-77. But it may have been a stronger side if some of the leading amateur players were also included in the touring party. Scores: Australia 245 (Bannerman 165, Shaw 3 for 51, Southerton 3 for 61) and 104 (Shaw 5 for 38 and Ulyett 3 for 39) ; England 196 (Jupp 63, Midwinter 5 for 78) and 108 (J. Selby 38, Kendall 7 for 55). - Bruce Maurice

Donald and Pollock, the pride of South Africa

By Ramesh Joseph

Watching Allan Donald parad ing his skills is an exhilarating experience. The searing intensity of his eyes, the thundering runup, the sheer effort as the body uncoils before he lets rip, the lovely follow-through, the zipping delivery that leaves the batsman clueless, the unbridled joy following a 'kill'. A predator in every sense of the term, a giant among fast bowlers.

Now at the end of a glittering career, Donald, on the verge of 300 Test wickets, wants to ride into the sunset in a blaze of glory. And it would only be fitting, for he has provided the cricketing world with several unforgettable moments, never mind the occasional outbursts of temper. And in the not so distant future, when Donald bids adieu, the man missing him the most would be his pace bowling mate, Shaun Pollock. Ever since the red-headed Pollock made his debut in '95 series against England, he has formed a lethal combination with Donald. Pollock might not thrill one's senses like the 'White Lightning', but he is an extremely shrewd customer. He can move the ball both ways from a high action, and has the ability to surprise the batsman with a quick delivery. In other words, a perfect foil for Donald.

Donald and Pollock are assured of a place in the pantheon of great fast bowling pairs, but in several respects their's is an uncommon partnership. Donald was already a celebrated fast bowler when Pollock began his quest in international cricket, and keeping in mind the difference in age and experience, the two have, complementing each other, combined wonderfully. To his credit, Pollock, a good student of the game, was not overawed at the daunting prospect of sharing the new ball with a superstar such as Donald, when he could so easily have given in to the pressures. A glance at the South African pace attack before the arrival of Pollock is revealing. In this period there were several useful bowlers - Meyrick Pringle, Richard Snell, Craig Matthews, Fannie de Villiers, but none stayed long enough to become Donald's regular partner. De Villiers was an intelligent bowler, who knew how to chip away at a batsman's weakness, but his best moments came in the matches that Donald missed. Allrounder Brian McMillan was more of a support seamer, and left-arm quickie Brett Schultz, the most promising of them all, was laid low by injuries. It was only after Donald and Pollock started firing that South Africa made the transition from being a competitive side to becoming a major force in both forms of the game. Starting as tearaway, Donald has matured into a bowler who knows just about every trick of the trade. He brings in the subtle variations, recognises the importance of conserving his energy, reserves for the extra special occasion , and can conquer the conditions. Donald's speed in the air means he will remain a distinct threat even on the pitches of the sub-continent, that do not offer much assistance to the pacemen.

He goes for wickets in onedayers, and his aggressive approach which stems from immense self-belief, has served South Africa well, Donald wants to focus his attention only on Test cricket at this stage of his career, and one can well understand him. Accuracy coupled with lateral movement makes Pollock a distinct threat, and his probing off-stump line can pose searching questions to the batsmen. When Donald breathes fire at one end, Pollock ensures there is no respite at the other, the hallmark of a great pair. And they plan and plot the batsmen's downfall, it's team work all the way. For someone who is 'chest on' at the point of delivering the ball, Pollock does manage to bowl a lovely late outswinger. The latest theory doing the rounds is that being 'side on' or 'chest on' does not matter as much as a paceman's 'body balance'. Pollock can bring the ball back sharply into the right-hander too and has a well directed short-pitched delivery in his repertoire. The combative South African will assume the mantle of the spearhead after the departure of Donald and the additional responsibility should bring out the best in him.

Pollock will have the hard- working Jacques Kallis, a vastly improved bowler these days, the unpredictable Lance Klusener and the bright new prospect , Nantie Hayward, by his side in the years to come. There are exciting pacemen around for sure, but the South Africans would be hard pressed to find another combination with the cutting edge of Donald and Pollock.

Millfield School on tour here

By Bernie Wijesekera

Millfield School First XI team which enjoyed a successful cricket season last year in the school's history will embark on a 16-day tour of Sri Lanka starting on April 1. It's a first reward for the youngsters, with a superb team spirit and togetherness generated by the players which resulted Millfield School dominating the school cricket scene for 1999.

Millfield School, from Somerset, where the cricketing legend Ian Botham hails. It's a well-knit 15-member party and all are under 17, with an eye to groom them for the future, in preparation for the coming school cricket season. The team is coached by Richard Ellison. According to Ellison, three members of the touring party are current England U-17 team and two have played for the England U-15 level. The rest have played for West of England and for the counties in their respective age groups. Richard Ellison is a former England and Somerset all-rounder will manage the team on this tour. While Somerset and England 'A' bowler, Mark Davis will assist him. Besides the cricketers, there are 22 others making this sojourn including parents and families and members of the staff. This tour by Millfield was made possible by former S. Thomas' versatile sportsman Mohan Samarasinghe, who is now domiciled in England.

A dihard rugby supporter, Mohan captained the Mt. Lavinia School in rugby, athletics and riffle shooting. He also played hockey with distinction and represented Sri Lanka in this sport. Though away from, he has done much to help develop Sri Lanka sports especially rugby. West of England and Bristol University teams to Sri Lanka in 1998, for the CK&FC, Singer Cup Tournament. Ultimately they were the winners and runners-up of the tournament. Millfield School will play matches against their counterpart in Colombo and in Kandy during their 16-day tour.

Money spent on Astro Turf, A waste ?

By Annesley Ferreira.

A large sum of money has been spent on the relaying of the Astro Turf, the only one in Sri Lanka at the Sports Ministry Sports Complex at Reid Avenue.

The supervision of this Astro Turf is being handled by the officials of the Sports Ministry.

Maintenance of the Astro and its goal posts are so pathetic that one wonders of the gravity of playing first class matches there, facing injury.

The wooden board from the goal post is in tatters as seen by picture which playing time being wasted, when the ball goes past it.

Another is the slippery conditions of the Astro Turf which has to be watered at least half an hour before the match commences.

This slippery condition has arrived according to top officials of the Hockey Federation due to the vast amount of dust gathered when helicopters landing on the adjoing football grounds used by VIPs

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