• The 'Muralizer'of Muralitharan
• New post for Hallaldeen
• Edwin was a perfectionist
• Le Kandyan Open
• Gopalan trophy cricket to be revived in the future
• What ails National Amateur Aquatics Sports Union?
• Mini Tennis in Batticaloa
• Forget the actions - Let's change the law
• Golden Spitz
• Avery Brundage, the colossal Olympian
• Junior rugby in KV
• Marion's signature event
• Eddie in Torch Relay
• Chess training programme

The 'Muralizer'of Muralitharan

By Rohan Jayatilleke

The cricket journalists and commentators have a penchant to coin words to describe the unplayable spinning ball be it leg or off spin.

In the West Indies cricket scene in the early years were Europeans, Africans, descendants of African slaves brought to West Indies by Europeans to work in sugar and cotton fields and the East Indians who were brought to the Caribbeans as indentured labour.

In fact, for the same agricultural labour gangs were brought the Chinese. In Sri Lanka too Britishers first toyed with the idea of bringing Chinese labour for opening up the land for cash crops of coffee, rubber and tea but, later decided otherwise as Chinese ate as much as ten times the Indians and finally opted for the South Indian indentured labour on the 'infamous' 'chundu' system operated by 'kanganies'.

Two prominent Chinese who represented West Indies in Test cricket in the late 20s were Ellis 'puss' Achong (Trinidad) and Herbert Chang (Jamaica). Achong (popularly known as "puss") was more prominent because of his slow left-arm bowling. He played in three series against England from 1929 onwards with modest success. It is generally accepted in cricket journalists and commentators brigade that the expression, "Chinaman" for the left-arm spinners' googly (wrong'un) came into cricket parlance because of "puss".

The famous spin 'duo' of England Tony Lock and Jim Laker made the cricket scribes to mint another two words 'Locked' and 'Lakered'. Now comes Muttiah Muralitharan, off-spinner of Sri Lanka bagging 291 scalps in a mere 57 Tests (upto the conclusion of year 2000 Sri Lanka South Africa Test Series) and this writer with all humility takes credit to mint a new word for Muralitharans' spinners' as 'Muralizer' like the electrical energy 'stabilizer'. If the Sinhala term "Aswedumized" for opening up a land lying fallow for paddy cultivation is now in the Oxford Dictionary, the new term (noun) 'Muralizer' and the verb of it 'Muralize', muralizing, and muralization like globalization could be globalized among the cricket scribes fraternity.

In the past there were great spinners like Lance Gibbs, Alfred Valentine, Sonny Ramadhin, Gary Sobers (West Indies), Maninder Singh, Bishan Bedi, Ravi Shastri (India) and Abdul Qadir (Pakistan). But diminutive ever smiling Muttiah Muralitharan from the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka, is the priceless pearl of all the spinning pearls of the world.

On being honoured as the 'Man of the First Test' (Sri Lanka Vs South Africa at Galle International Stadium) and interviewed by another great Indian spinner and the adjudicator of the First Test Murali said, "spinning is patience". Conversely, Murali with the patience of Job, unruffled even if he's driven over the ropes or driven to the ropes with the sweep shot or even padding up by the batsmen or, bat-pad, pad-bat timid technique employed against him, Murali probes the patience of the batsmen. Thus patience of the batsmen withering away and Murali's patience redoubling, the batsmen commit suicide. Thus another 'scalp' is in Murali's bag. Whether Murali will reach the 300 wicket haul at the end of the two Tests in the offing against South Africa is safe to be bet on even with your last shirt, as guiles of Murali could Muralize any batsman.

Once an Indian cricketer commented, 'Murali can turn the ball even on a surface of glass'. This statement is challengeable as Murali can spin (Muralize) on any wicket. He keeps those in the field, at the wicket, in the grandstands or around the ropes guessing all the time. He puts the batsman in a tangle, in 'Alice's wonderland' making the wicket-keeper to do a twist and turn or a waltsz to collect his deliveries, and he with every delivery puts his team-mates on the horns of a dilemma, whether the furniture would be disturbed, LBW thin edge of the bat or a skier.

Murali is a utility player, always with a smile, confident of himself, and contributing immensely to his captain in the field with his fleet of foot, safe hands and unerring returns of the red or white orb to either end. No cheeky singles with Murali. Once an Indian knowledgeable cricket writer Vijay Lokapally surmised "It is not just his bowling that makes Murali an attractive cricketer to watch. Watch him field and you would realise what a spectacle he is. This prodigious spinner of the ball can become a deadly proposition if the pitch happens to assist". That was said three years ago, in the Indian publication "Sportstar".

Muralitharan is the most traumatized cricketer in the world. This happened in the Sri Lankan tour of Australia in 1995-96. Many in Sri Lanka may not be aware that there is 'Cheque Book Cricket' and 'Cheque Book Cricket journalism' both written, audio and video. When, the 'Fair Dinkum' of Australia feel that there is going to be a dent in their bloated euphoria of cricket, then the Cheque Book emerges and heavy cheques fly to the cricket ancilllary services (written, audio and video). If 'match fixing' charges are levelled only against the players, it could be vis-a-vis the umpires and the press and audio and video personalities. In Australia, there is a strong anti-Sri Lanka lobby of those who advocate separatism and it may be their cheque books that aided and abetted the "Murali throwing episode'. Many would not admit that "Murali episode' Down Under contributed to the revival of cricket, after the Sri Lankans Rebel Tour of South Africa, which decimated our cricket throwing the baby with the water in the bath tub. The entire team root and branch stood by Murali led by Arjuna Ranatunga, the skipper who always calls a spade a spade, when he emphatically said, "in my opinion it was a charge that was aimed at weakening our cricket and Murali was an unfortunate victim in the needless controversy". However, as every grey cloud has a silver lining, Australian Umpire Darrel Hair, calling Murali for throwing and the cricket commentators and the journalists such as Richie Benaud and others vindicated Darrel, to keep the kangaroo on the hop all the time, did Sri Lanka cricket the greatest favour by uniting the team into a formidable force and the Sri Lankan expatriate community in Australia to stand shoulder to shoulder to protect the off-spinner from further humiliation.

The Sri Lankan Cricket Board deserves the praise for the logical and legal manner this 'Hair' syndrome was taken up with the ICC. The legalities of Muurali's action came under the scrutiny of the committee appointed by the ICC and the million times rehearsed video footages proved Murali had a born abnormality in his wrist and hence the abnormal and thus the impression that his action was not legal.

In fact, Hair's ghost-written, presumably, work was critical of Sri Lankan skipper and Muralitharan, which is by itself scandalous behaviour while umpiring the international fixtures. The ICC is dead as as a 'Dodo'. It may be the Aussies are bone of the bone of John Bull. Every historian knows why, how, when and for what the Englishmen were brought or sent to Australia.

The Indian skipper Mohammed Azharuddin, who has a very close relationship with Murali both on and off the field, respects the sincerity of Murali once remarked, "He may not have great variety in his bowling but, he is the most accurate spinner. It is difficult to relax against him at any stage because he can get you even at the fag end of the day". How prophetic are Azhar's surmise.

It is not bowling alone that makes Muralitharan a Gentleman Cricketer for he holds no grudge against Darrel Hair, Aussie umpire and his out of this world fielding. Many remember, including Azharuddin, the catch Murali took to dismiss him in the final of the Asia Cup 1997 Murali ran along the boundary, held on to the ball as it dipped and then swivelled back as he came tantalizingly close to overstepping the rope. Even Azharuddin was perplexed for it was a great shot and great catch, no one other than Murali would have very precariously held onto within the hair's breadth of distance from the rope.

In this hour of euphoria of Sri Lanka cricket aother duo cannot be overlooked. Percy Abeysekere started the "One Man Cheer Squad' and then joined by Lionel. They kept the Sri Lanka cricket flag flying, even though Hair and co......., attempted to dethrone Sri Lankan cricket.

New post for Hallaldeen

Former Sri Lankan sprinter Shariff Hallaldeen has returned to the island after seven years with NCMS Sodexho, Dhahran to take up an appointment as the sports co-ordinator at Wycherly International School, Colombo. He will also be the head of physical education section in the school.

He had worked in Saudi Aramco Sports Complex as recreation specialist and Head of Sports and Recreation Unit.

Hallaldeen was captain of the Sri Lanka Athletic team for the Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the sixth Asian Veterens Athletic championships in 1991. In 1987 he represented Sri Lanka in 100M, 200M and the sprint relay events at the Veterans' World Games in Melbourne.

He was a former vice president of the Amateur Athletic Association of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka's Veteran Athletic Association.

Edwin was a perfectionist

Edwin Moses was a perfectionist, is still a perfectionist, though not over the hurdles. A multi-faceted personality, Moses revolutionized the 400m hurdles, had a mind-boggling winning streak of 122 races (including heats) and went out of the scene with two Olympic gold medals, as many world championship titles, and four world records, without dispute.

He has been the greatest intermediate hurdler of all time. Edward Corley Moses, born on August 31, 1955, at Dayton, Ohio, rose from near obscurity to stardom in 1976, by winning the Olympic title in a world record time at Montreal. By March, 1976, Moses had run just one competitive 400m hurdles and July he was the Olympic champion. That was the beginning of the Moses era which continues for well over a decade.

Perhaps the Montreal Games missed a great showdown between the then world record holder John Aki-Bua of Uganda and Moses because of the African boycott. Missing also from the line-up was Briton Alan Pascoe, because of a leg injury. But the fact remained that, in the years that followed.

Moses dominated the event as no one ever had. With his long legs gliding over the hurdles, Moses was a sight to watch on the track. His basic speed, which went up to 45.60 for the 400m flat, coupled with his ability to use 13 strides all along the hurdling route, helped Moses gain a decisive advantage over the others. He was the one who perfected the 13-stride pattern and he looked to be capable of improving on that but faded away after a stunning defeat at the Seoul Olympics by countryman Andre Phillips, who had chased him all along without success, by then Moses had missed the 1980 Moscow edition (due to the US boycott) won the gold again in the Los Angeles Games in 1984, apart from winning the 1983 and 1987 world championships. Three more world records had also come by then, 47.45 sec. at Los Angeles on June 11, 1977, 47.13 at Milan on July 3, 1980, and 47.02 sec. at Koblenz, Germany, on his birthday in 1983.

From August 26, 1977 at Berlin when he lost to German Harold Schmidt to June 4, 1987, at Madrid when his unparalleled winning streak was ended by countryman Danny Harris, Moses was simply unstoppable. The defeat against Harris brought the best out of Moses in the same year at the world championship in Rome. Moses won a close battle with Schmidt and Harris and at the 1988 US Olympic trials Moses was back in form beating Phillips, Harris and Kevin Young who,four years hence would shatter his world record while winning the Olympic gold at Barcelona.

Phillips had his final reward for sheer perseverance when he won the Olympic gold in a record time of 47.19 at Seoul, while Moses came only third behind Senegal's Amadou Dia Ba. The next year he took a sabbatical to set up the US athletic body's drug-testing programme, missed 1990, made a brief come back in 1991, in between trying his hand out with the US bobsleigh team, talked about a major come back in time for the 1992 Olympics but that never materealized.

Eight years after he effectively went out of the scene, Moses still owns five of the top 10 timings in the world in the all-time list for the 400 hurdles. He had sub 48 timings for 11 seasons between 1976 and 1988 and was never beaten in a championship race, barring that Seoul debacle.

A well, respected figure in international sports circles, Moses has been a pioneer in the war against doping, as a member of the IOC's athletes commision.

-Thushara Kumarasinghe

Le Kandyan Open

By Leonard Ratnayake

All leading players are expected to take part in the Le Kandyan Open Squash tournament organised for the second sucessive year by Sri Lanka Squash Federation in collaboration with Le Kandyan hotel which is to be commennced from August 12 to 20 at the Hotel Lanka Oberoi.

The preliminary round matches of the tournament will be held at the Hotel Lanka Oberoi courts premises from 12 to 17th August, who are the co- sponsors of the tournament while all the finals are expected to be played in Kandy at the Le Kandyan Hotel premises.

The Squash Federation will be conducting this tournament for men's, women's men's intermediate, over 35 masters, over 45, boys and girls under 19, 17 and 15.

Managing Director of Connaissance Hotel Managing (Ptv) Ltd. said that they are very keen to sponsor a tournament of this nature and hope to do better this time. He also said that they have invited the schools to send their participants to vigil their eager eyes at how the leading squash players are in action and even would encourage them to learn a game of this nature. He also said that they will be anticipating to offer two free memberships for every school in Kandy where they could send two representative from their respective schools for practices.

Gopalan trophy cricket to be revived in the future

By Bernie Wijesekera

The traditional Gopalan trophy cricket match between Sri Lanka (the CCA XI) against Madras started in 1952, is to be revived again according to sources.

This annual contest which was worked off on a home and away basis has generated tremendous enthusiasm between the cricketing fraternity here and in Madras.

It also helped improve the levels of the game and built fellowship. Unlike present times the Lankans were starved of that much needed competition. Then some of the best willow-wielders on either side were on show.

The first match was skippered by F.C. de Saram. This team included Vernon Prins, C.H. Gunasekera, Stanley Jayasinghe V.J.H. Guna-sekera (then Secretary of the CCA) Bob Bartels, T. Shanmuganathan and Mahes Rodrigo, Sri Lanka won the tie played at Chepauk grounds. In the 'return ' CCA also led by F.C. - CCA won.

In 1955 the CCA XI was led by Vernon Prins, had players like Stanley Jayasinghe, Makin Salih, Lucien de Zoysa, Robert de Kretser, Dooland Buultjens, beat South India, who were the Ranji Trophy champions. T.B. Werapitiya (who later became the president of the BCCSL) opened with Makkin Salih. Old Antonian A.C.M. Lafir was also in the limelight during this time with his batting skills. There were quite a number of celebrities, who played for S. India in the past. Fast bowler C.R. Rangachari, C.D. Gopinath, Kripal Singh world class leg-spinner V.V. Kumar, Milka Singh. Beside them there were many others, who played with distinction for S. India. (According to Prins, Balu Alaganan played for S. Thomas' Mt. Lavinia in a couple of games and led Madras to win the Ranji Trophy. Whoever, who suggested for the revival of this contest should be comm-ended. This will also afford playing opportunities to the youngsters to play competitive cricket regularly against S. India where the levels of the game is quite high.

What ails National Amateur Aquatics Sports Union?

By Annesley Ferreira

National Amateur Aquatic Sports Union of Sri Lanka, commonly known by its acronym "Naasu" is an anachronistic organization in many respects. Be it swimming, diving, waterpolo or synchronized swimming (Aquatic sports of nassu) have declined alarmingly, perhaps beyond return. Associated with Aquatic sports for over fifteen years, including my stint with the defunct "Sun" newspaper, never have I seen such decline of a sport of Olympic discipline as in the present situation of naasu and/or Aquatic sports. Naasu sent thirteen swimmers and five divers, to the 14th Asia Pacific age group swimming and diving championships (Asiapac) to Koahsiung, Chinese Taipei, from August 2nd thru 6th, 2000. One may ask for what purpose are these swimmers sent to such a highly competitive championships where powerhouses of swimming dominate, while our standards are shamelessly poor.

When Colombo hosted the 9th Asiapac in August, 1995, it was believed to be a disaster for several reasons such as: lack of funds [a budget of Rs: 2.5 million was proposed], organizational skills to run a championship of this scale [an estimated 28 countries were to participate] training and the need for a qualified international swimming coach to meet the level of competition of the dominant swimming nations of East Asia: China, Korea, Chinese Taipei, to name a few. Four such championships have since been held and the performances of Naasu participation have been ridiculously appalling during these years. Lets examine these performances:

1996 - 10th Asiapac / Pusan, South Korea. Swimming: one [01] Bronze and eight (08] diplomas.

1997 - 11th Asiapack / Taipei, Chinese, Taipei. Swimming: one [01] silver / one [01 ] bronze / and six [06] diplomas.

1998 - 12th Asiapac / Selangor, Malaysia. Swimming: four [04] diplomas / diving: two (02) diplomas.

1999 - 13th Asiapac / New Delhi, India. Swimming: none/ diving: two [02] medals.

By far the most successful Asiapac was in Colombo in the past four years, where our young team established one national record and sixteen age group records in swimming and three golds, one silver and four bronze medals in diving. In the overall medal count Sri Lanka's Asiapac team won three golds, one silver and five bronzes and was placed ninth out of the fifteen countries that came for the 9th Asiapac. what was important about these championships were that the subsequent championships saw the Colombo event to be the most successful in every aspect of organization, administration and management, as was reported in the respected and authorative sports magazine the "sports star" of India. Every swimmer and diver achieved their personal best - an all time outstanding achievement.

9th Asia Pacific age group swimming and diving championships new records established /,long course / August 25, 26 & 27, 1995.

New National record:

01. 50 metres freestyle / girls age group open

30.01 Shanika Ransinghe [previous record: 30.27 / Shanika Ranasinghe].

New age group records

01. 50 metres freestyle/ boys age group (3) 11/12 years event

27 .99 Gihan Ratnatunga [previous record: 28.34 / Prateesh Seevaratnam].

02. 100 metres freestyle / boys age group (3)/11-12 years event

1:01.63 Gihan Ratnatunga [previous record: 1:02.93/Adrian Jayawardene].

03. 200 meteres freestyle / boys age group (3) / 11 -12 years event.

2:16.04 Gihan Ratnatunga [previous record: 2:18.50/Adrian Jayawardene].

04 . 50 metres freestyle / boys age group (2) /13-14 years event

26.88 Prateesh Seevaratnam [previous record: 27.29 /Tivanka de Alwis].

05 50 metres free style/girls age groupl (1)/ 15-17 years event

30.01 Shanika Ranasinghe [previous record: 30.11/Shanika Ranasinghe.

06. 100 metres backstroke/ boys age group (3) 11 -12 years event

1:12.71 Gihan Ratnatunga [previous record: 1:14.04/ Gihan Ratnatunga].

07. 100 metres backstroke / boys age group (2) 13-14 years event

1:07.33 Asela Pradeep [previous record: 1:10.29 /Charya de Saram].

08. 200 metres backstroke / boys age group (2) 13-14 years event

2:30.92 Asela Pradeep [previous record: 2:34.75 / Charya de Saram].

09. 200 metres backstroke / boys age group (1) 15-17 years event

2:28.08 Marlon Delano [previous record: 2:28.45 / Julian Bolling].

10. 100 metres breaststroke/ boys age group (2) 13-14 years event

1:16.35 Conrad Francis [previous record: 1:16.48 / Tivanka de Alwis].

11. 200 metres breaststroke / boys age group (2) 13-14 years event

2:47.27 Conrad Francis [previous record: 2:47.31/Inthikab Sikkander].

12. 100 metres butterfly / boys age group (3) 11-13 years event

1:07.51 Gihan Ratnatunga [previous record: 1:09.41/Gihan Ratnatunga].

13. 200 metres butierflystroke/age group (2) 13 - 14 years event

2:30.26 Conrad Francis [previous record: 2:30.90/Gheffari Dulapandan].

14. 200 metres individual medley/ age group (3) 11 - 12 years event

2:30.83 Gihan Ratnatunga [previous record: 2:36.90/Gihan Ratnatunga].

15 . 400 metres individual medley / age group, (2) 13 -14 years event

5:33.20 Sean Lee [previous record: 5:33.57 / Gheffari Dulapandan].

16. 400 metres individual medley / age group (1)15-17 years event

5:09.91 Marlon Delano [previous record: 5:10.45 / Gheffari Dulapandan]

Organizational skills deployed at the 9th Asiapac were of such high professional quality that subsequent championships lamented the organizational capability of the then Naasu's organizing committee who ran it. Compliments and commendations were galore for Colombo inspite of the near attempt "sabotage" of the Asiapac by the authorities, including the ministry of sports. If not for the grateful and timely intervention of Her Excellency the President, the organizing committee would have been forced to abort Sri Lanka's largest assembly of countries, ninteen [19] of them, surpassed only recently [200] by the visit of the junior cricket international held here. Some of the most formidable swimming nations would have to return home without their participation after having travelled [some at personal expense] to this annual Asiapac. This would have had disasterous consequences for the continuation of these championships which is recognized only after the final world championships so that the regional countries too can excel. The number of countries to assemble in Colombo was to be twentyfour [24] had it not been for the bomb explosion at Independence Square, a mere two weeks before the 9' Asiapac.

This expose is written at the initiation of the overwhelming number of our sports pages readership. The objective is to provide an outside view of Naasu and assist to improve the administration and developmental activites of Aquatic sports. It is appreciated that those concerned submit constructive suggestions to be presented to Naasu for their consideration and implementation. Sports desk, The Sunday Times, Colombo.

More Sports Plus

Return to Sports Plus Contents