Messing up

Poor umpiring decisions have put the game to shame

By Bernie Wijesekera

King cricket has made vast strides in the international scene - thanks to the individual brilliance of some of the players since 1981. But sad to say, that standard of umpiring here has hit a low ebb and has put the game to shame.

If the game is to improve the umpiring levels have to be improved be it schools, clubs or international level.

This is a 'must'. But the hierarchy from whatever quarter has not taken time or interest to put it right, but has interfered into its affairs. In its wake incompetent men are appointed to officiate at international games, who are inconsistent in their decisions. Thereby has disgraced themselves, the game and the country in general.

The recent happenings in the Test series between Sri Lanka, Pakistan and S. Africa, and the triangular series raised many an eyebrow.

Put aside those, who have played the game and are knowledgeable critics, but even the street vendor made comments about some of the dubious decisions made by the local umpires. Some of them were "blind decisions". A couple of them could be tagged as ....cheating. Still Sri Lanka lost the Test series to Pakistan 2-0 and levelled the tie against South Africa one - all.

Sri Lanka a couple of years back were drawing up an infrastructure to emerge as the best test playing nation by year 2000. It was a laudable move by the powers that be. But fell on the way side due to petty and narrow politics in sport. Apparently even with the assistance of umpires Sri Lanka has to make a long walk to achieve its objective.

The hierarchy must stay put grandiose projects - including new international venues. In the end white elephants to maintain. But they should do well to focus attention to improve the umpiring standards. In any form of democracy there should be an independent body i.e. the judiciary. The way the umpires were picked at the behest of interested parties has much to be desired.

Here again little thieves are hanged, but great ones escape. This is how some of the international umpires here get away despite their poor decision making.

Record Books

Some of the decisions given by our local umpires have a special place in the local record books. How come a batsman being ruled out twice in one delivery. It did happen in Asgiriya.

Indian opener Srikanth was in full cry when he reeled off four fours in an over. He was ruled out leg-before yards away from the leg stump. He was amazed at the decision, looked up to the high heavens and was out of the crease. A player picked up the ball and ran him out. The leg umpire's hand went up. The Indian media went to town. Then Martin Crowe was caught at forward short-leg. Players howled 'Alluwa kiapan'. (Well held) But Crowe refused to walk out despite the head umpire's hand firm and erect - like a railway signal. Then he walked up to the leg umpire for his assistance.

He later overruled the decision. Here the fielder could have been honest to himself and done a Johnty Rhodes. Rhodes, held Sanath Jayasuriya. He was given out by the umpire.

But Rhodes revoked it as it came off the ground. Crowe went on to score a stroke-filled 100 and thrilled the fans. In the end Martin Crowe, was given a special award for not walking out. It was a "comedy of Errors".

Then came another incident in a Test match against India where an umpire was involved, where the batsman was yards out of the crease. In the end the player went on to score a 100, aided and abetted by the umpire. None of the Indian fielders clapped when he reached the "ton". He should have walked out on his own and could have done proud to his school and the country. Today the game has turned to be too professional and big money at stake. This in turn has lost its image. Its no longer a gentleman's game.

In Sri Lanka some of the officials must take part of the blame for interfering into the affairs of the umpires.

The tours made here by Zimbabwe and Australia, too were marred by poor umpiring and came in for criticism.

According to an official who toured with the Lankan teams to South Africa and Zimbabwe it is said that they were critical about the umpiring here - especially where two umpires were involved.

There was another incident where an umpire melted under pressure on and off the field. He gave some dubious decisions. The Aussie tour management in the end made a scathing report against him. He was at the receiving end and was removed from the international panel.

Number of chinks

The president of the Association of Cricket Umpires' in Sri Lanka, Lakshman Kiriella, who is also the deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs said that there were quite a number of chinks among the umpiring fraternity. I'll do my best to put them right during my tenure.

The international panel though picked by the BCCSL but still they come under the ACUSL umbrella. They must strive to maintain its dignity at all times. Whoever wins it doesn't matter in the end. Its not the end of the world, he added.

There may be human errors but strive to avoid it. Today there are officials appointed by the Cricket board to handle its affairs (paid). Their prime duty is to pick the ones that matter.

In the past the umpires were held in high esteem and did their best sans fringe benefits, unlike today's umpires who are even put up in five-star hotels.

They deserve all these facilities, but act without fear or favour.

Bad umpiring is not confined to first class and club games alone. But poor schoolboys especially from the outstation schools too suffer.

Today even umpires have taken to coaching and their fraternity help them to go places at the expense of the rural schoolboys.

The future of the game is among the village schools and not among the affluent schools. To this effect the late Gamini Dissanayake, who was the president of the Cricket Board at that time acknowledged it.

What they need is not international stadiums, but basic facilities to improve their skills, which is lacking.

Gamini had the vision to achieve his mission and did much for the game under stress.

He once said doing politics was much easier than running the affairs of the BCCSL. But still had kept them together. Courage and resolution are the spirit and soul of his virtues.

Dissanayake acted on merit than on petty issues which is the bane in Sri Lanka among sport bodies due to power hungry politics in sport.

Sri Lanka has a long way to emerge as a top cricketing nation. They could achieve with a concerted effort.

But the local umpires, too must contribute to its success, whilst acting without fear or favour.

Athletic coaches top at exams

The closing ceremony of the inaugural IAAF Level-1 Course organized by the AAA took place under the patronage of the Sports Minister S.B. Dissanayake.

Speaking on the occasion the Minister thanked the IAAF lecturer P.H.D.Waidyatilaka Vice President of the AAA and Chairman Technical Committee for his efforts in streamlining the examination system for Technical Officials in athletics.

Waidyatilaka in his address stated out of 26 participants 23 passed Level-I and 7 candidates scored over 90% to reach the eligibility standard to follow Level-II Course in future.

He attributed the high percentage of success to the great interest and keenness with which all participants followed the entire course and thanked them for the excellent co-operation rendered by them throughout the five-day course.

The participants to whom The Sunday Times spoke were of the view that their success apart from the handwork they put in was mainly due to the manner in which Mr. Waidyatilaka conducted the course. According to them Waidyatilaka has the potential to be one of the best international lecturers.

The following candidates passed Level - I and qualified to follow Level -II Course: R.A.Siripala, R.G.N. Chandrasekera, Palitha Jayatilaka, K.P.P. Fernando, Shanti De Abrew, Lal Chandrakumara, R.P.Liyanage.

The following passed Level-I : S.Thotaliyanage, M.R.U. Bandaratilleke, A.S. Gunaratnam, T.M. Devendran, K.P. Gnanapala, Ivy Dissanayake, Jaliya Gunatillake, M.A. Abeyratna, Gamini De Silva, Y.K. Kularatne, Geetha Pathiranawasam, H.G. Ariyaratne, Austin A. Fernando, A.S.P.Chandrasekera, Padmini Weerasinghe, K.D.Darmawardena.

The Indian from the Caribbean island

By Rohan Jayetilleke

With the gaining of independence in 1947, the partitioning of India to India and Pakistan came into being. Consequently two ICC members emerged, Pakistan and India. The former Indian Test cricketers too were bifrucated. However, the present day Indian Test cricketer Robin Singh's story is of another mould.

The village of Princes Town, lies deep in the county south of Port of Spain, Trinidad (West Indies). There is fairly a high concentration of Indians here, descendants of Indian indentured labour brought from India by the British to work on sugar cane plantations, about 211 years ago. The fourth or fifth generations of these ethnic Indian settlers, know nothing of their ancestors' mother country. There is hardly any traffic from West Indies to India. It is only when Indian Test series are played in the West Indies they become conscious of their roots. However, these Indian descendants are fiercely West Indian and not Indian, in cheering. In contrast Robin Singh, born and bred in Prince Town made it to India and was in the 1989 Indian Test team to tour West Indies. It was more of a homecoming for him.

The grandparents of Mr. Ramnaraine, father of Robin Singh, moved from somewhere in the Punjab, India several decades ago to Trinidad, to work in sugar fields. Mr. Ramnaraine is no sugar farmer but, an electrical engineer in the Princes Town sugar factory, which is the engine of economic power of the village. Robin has hundreds of cousins in his village, of whom he cannot keep a track of.

When Robin Singh arrived with the Indian team and visited his home village, the whole village turned up to welcome the boy from the Valley Boys Club, who made a cross migration to India and return home as an Indian Test cricketer. The national selector of Trinidad Harry Lala (another of Indian descent) was there to welcome Robin. It was announced that the ground in which the Valley Boys play will be named after Robin. The brewery of the area consented to erect a plaque to mark what will be Robin Singh Oval.

Robin's brother Rajendra had set up a practice net for Robin, when Robin was young as the brother was keen to see Robin shine in cricket. The net is now in seed as there is none to play now. The pitch is made of concrete measuring 11 yds and is still playable with a steep slope.

Rajendra explained to the cricket scribes that in order that one must pitch the ball on length and not short and in order that Robin would be one of the best bowlers for West Indies he provided the slope.

Their home is on stilts with a well laid out garden. Robin's sisters Kamini, Kushumavati, and Chandra live with their parents. His brother Rajendra lives in a nearby village. The Indians of Trinidad and Tobago are fiercely motivated and hard- working. They nurture the soil with their hard labour and sweat and very triumphantly claim " it is the Indians' agriculture that feed the people".

Princes Town is about 60 miles from town Port of Spain. On your way you are sure to see even women's cricket matches, if it is a Sunday. There are Hindu temples and Hinduism thrives shoulder to shoulder with Christianity and Islam. It is observed spinners come from the south part, which is mostly Indian and the great spinners of the past were Sonny Ramadhin, Ranjit Nanan, Subash Fergie Gupte. The most unusual thing about Robin is, he is essentially a batsman and his medium paced bowling is good for a change to break up partnerships. Robin migrated to India and is now an Indian citizen.

Trinidad gave three things - Calypso, music, the limbo dance, and the steel band. Thus the West Indian cricket lovers blend these three musical extravaganzas with cricket and it is lovely... lovely ...lovely cricket with no match fixing index fingers pointing at West Indies.

Martial Arts means discipline - Khalid

Have you ever thought of taking up Martial Arts to defend yourself? If you haven't, don't worry, this is not an invitation to join a Martial Arts class but about a man who is professional in the field of Martial Arts.

M. Hassen Khalid is married and has eight children. He had his education at St. John's College, Dematagoda and is the youngest in a family of three boys and two girls. He's also the Grand Master, Founder cum Chief Instructor of Fei Quando International Martial Arts Academy.

Q. Are any of your children into Martial Arts?

A. Yes, four of them were involved in Martial Arts. Two girls and two boys. At present, only three are involved because one daughter is studying for her A/L Examination. So she has stopped temporarily.

Q. What is the most important thing about Martial Arts?

A. It is discipline. Discipline of the mind, body and behaviour. In Martial Arts, it's 85% brain and 15% technique.

Q. Why do you think more men and women are taking up Martial Arts now?

A. Most of them are conscious about fitness than before. Also it has become a fad. Various people join for various reasons. Some to keep fit, some for self defence. Also there are a few who join to build up their will power. In general, most join because it has become a fad.

Q. Are there special requirements for a person to excel in Martial Arts?

A. Not really, because as I said earlier, it's intelligence that's most needed in Martial Arts. Technique is only 15%. You don't need muscles to overcome a giant, only intelligence.

Q. In some countries women can or tend to carry some sort of protective gadget or weapon for self defence. Why do you think that kind of self defence is not promoted in Sri Lanka?

A. Firstly, it can be used for unnecessary or illegal purposes. Secondly, even though our country has developed technically, our way of thinking, behaviour and habits are still the same.

Q. If given a chance, are there any famous movie stars or sports personalities you would like to meet?

A. Yes, I'd like to meet Arnold Schwarzeneggar and Amithab Bachchan.

Q. What do you consider the greatest achievement in life?

A. I think being able to be where I am today, having formed my own style of Martial Arts, is a great achievement for me. And I have created a Martial Arts solely for my country Sri Lanka.

Countdown to the Olympics - 25 days [22]

The Olympics, a lifetime event

By Annesley Ferreira

Just twenty-five (25) days to go, less than a month, for the most spectacular sporting event of all-time. A small nation, that became world champions in three separate sports, would lead a global population of more than four billion people to witness one of the finest and futuristic extravaganza in living memory. Lets look at Australia's Geo-physical characteristics as against our own island nation, as of this writing. They are:

01. geo-politically: Australia - The Commonwealth of Australia

Sri Lanka: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

02. Physical Land Area: 2,906,368 sq. ml. or 7,682,300 sq. km.

Sri Lanka: 25,343 sq. mi. or 65.610 sq. km.

03. Population: Australia: 17,500,000 [1992]

Sri Lanka: 17,400,000 [ 992]

04. Population growth per annum: Australia - .6%

Sri Lanka - 1.5%

05. Life expectancy at birth: Australia - 73 male/80 female

Sri Lanka: 65 male/73 female

06. Official Language: Australia - English

Sri Lanka - Sinhala, Tamil

07. Literacy: Australia - 99%

Sri Lanka - 88%

Australia:

A highly industrialized island-continent, Australia is blessed with an abundance of mineral and agricultural resources. Originally settled as a British penal colony in the 18th century, today's Australia is an increasingly diverse, multi-cultural nation that has abandoned its "White Australia" immigration policies, and is assuming a leadership role in the pacific region. Its tourist attraction includes the Great Barrier reef and splendid beaches.

Sri Lanka:

Years of ethnic strife between the majority Sinhalese and minority Tamils cast a pull on this beautiful island-nation. Once known as Ceylon, Sri Lanka became independent from Britain in 1948 and went back to its traditional name in 1972. It exports textiles, high quality tea and a flourishing tourism industry.

Legend and lore continued:

Anthony Nesty edged Matt Biondi of the United States by a fraction of a second, .01 to win the 100 meters butterfly in the 1988 Seoul Games and gave the South American tiny nation of Surinam, its first-ever gold medal.

Bulgaria won the quarter-final over Israel in Soccer at the 1968 Mexico Olympics in which the deciding factor was the toss of the coin. The opponents finished regulation time deadlocked at 1-1 before the coin flip determined which team would advance and which team wouldn't. Bulgaria won in the semi-finals before losing 4-1 to Hungary in the championship game.

One of the more joyous gatherings of Olympic athletes took place at London in 1948. The world welcomed the return of the games after a 12-year break due to a global war that resulted in an estimated 55 million military and civilian casualties. "For me, the 1948 Olympics was a liberation of the spirit," said Czech distance runner Emil Zatopek, who won the 10,000 metres and finished second in the 5,000 metres at the London Games. "After all those dark days of the war — the bombing, the killing, the starvation - the revival of the Olympics was as if the sun had come out. I went into the Olympic village in 1948 and suddenly there were no more frontiers, no more barriers. Just the people meeting together. It was wonderfully warm. Men and women who had lost five years of life were back again."

Uganda's John Akil-Bua set a world record in the 400-metre hurdles in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, and an Olympic record. It is presumed, John belonged to the largest family - Akil-Bua, whose father had eight wives, was one of 43 children. John ran a 47.82 in Munich, chopping .36 of a second off the world mark and became Uganda's first Olympic gold medalist.

Lance Larson of the United States finished second in the 100-metre freestyle in the 1960 Rome Olympics - even though he had a better time than anyone else. Larson touched the wall in 55.1, one-tenth of a second ahead of John Devitt of Australia, who swam in the adjoining lane. "At the end of the race I thought I was second," said Devitt, "so I congratulated Lance, climbed out of the water and tried not to think about it." Larson began celebrating - prematurely. Devitt was awarded the gold - and since a loser's time cannot surpass a winner's time, Larson's time was adjusted. "Everybody down there told me I had won" - said a bewildered Larson. "I cannot understand it," Max Titter, the American member of Fina, called the decision of the judges a disgrace." Larson explained later that since he could not bring his trailing left arm over in time to touch the wall ahead of Devitt, he reached for it with his right - under water, which evidently escaped the notice of the finishing judges, who were seated at an angle from the finish line. Slow motion film of the finish clearly showed Larson touching the wall before Devitt.

In the next countdown to the Olympics we will examine Sri Lanka's prospects at the Millennium 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Much as been written about Sri Lanka's medal count event before we have participated - from winning a gold in the women's 100 and 200 metres, a final placement in the 110 metres women hurdles event to the bizarre medals already determined by the AAA Chieftain, that with the times recorded - a medal is almost for the begging in the 4 x 100 metres women's relay and the 4 x 400 metres men's relay. Other medal prospects are noted in shooting and sailing - absurd as they are - the kind of winning hysteria that has been calculatedly mounted by those who have carved their places to go to these extraordinary games in Sydney. All of them are between the ages 40 and 80 years - are the real medallists in this extravaganza event.

[In association with C Vijitha Fernando, Trustee, Duncan White Sports Foundation]

Thompson dominated the Decathlon for 11 years

By Thushara Kumarasinghe

Many have described the Decathlon as "suicide in 10 instalments". No wonder only a few have lived through it with incredible success.

Daley Thompson, the only man after Bob Mathias to win two Olympic Decathlon golds dominated this gruelling event for nine unbeaten years till 1987.

During that period, Thompson twice won the world Olympic, European titles and three Commonwealth gold medals. More importantly, Thompson added a dash of glamour to this two-day test of strength, speed and endurance in giving British athletics one of its most durable champions.

Born of a Nigerian father and a Scottish mother, Thompson first entered the Olympic arena as an 18-year-old in Montreal in 1976. He finished 18th behind champion American Bruce Jenner whose world record he was to break only two months before winning the Olympic gold in Moscow in 1980. Before Thompson emerged on the scene, most people believed that only those who could not excel in one event, become decathletes. Another notion was that decathletes were better in track than in field events. And lastly, those who pursued this form of "Suicide" did not last long. Thompson went on to prove otherwise.

A look at Thompson's best in each of the 10 disciplines reveals the man's abilities. If, on one hand, he could run 100m in 10.26, 400m in 46.86, 1500m in 4 . 20 : 3 and 110m hurdles in 14.04 . On the other he posted 2.14m in high jump and 5.25m in pole vault. In long jump one of his strongest events, he leaped to 8.01m. A fair idea of Thompson's strength can be had from the fact that he could hurl the shot put to 16.10m discuss to 49.10m and javelin to 64.04m.

In all, Thompson set four world records. The last one 8847 points, came first in the Los Angeles Games in 1984, and stood unchallenged until American Dan O' Brian tallied 8891 at Talance in 1992. Beginning 1982, it was Thompson's rivalry with German Jurgen Hingson that added to the keen following of Decathlon. And perhaps, it was the desire to beat the German that proved instrumental in Thompson's unbeaten nine-season streak. In order to maintain his reign, Thompson trained harder than others and did not miss his reigners even on Christmas Day. As Thompson once said "I do it (on Christmas Day because on-one else would, so it gives me an extra day's work over them."

After beating Hingsen in the 1982 European Championship, Thompson repeated the triumph with a world record of 8,714 in the 1983 World Championship at Helsinki. The rivalry had already developed and the British media ensured that it was not overshadowed by the deeds of the all-conquering American athletes.

It was the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, that saw Thompson and Hingsen battle it out like never before. After seven events, both were going neck-and-neck. But once Hingsen complained of stomach flu, it was never the same and Thompson went on to win with a record of 8,847 to Hingsen's 8,695.

Consistency remained the hallmark of Thompson's career. From 1977 to 1988, he crossed 8000 points every season before groin, thigh and knee injuries slowed him down and eventually pushed him away from the scene.

After winning 12 successive Decathlons from 1979 to 1986, Thompson's success rate declined. His marriage to childhood mate Tanisha and the subsequent birth of a girl, perhaps, did not leave him with enough time to train hard.

As a result, in the 1987 world Championship, German Democratic Republic's Torsten Voss took away Thompson's title and left him struggling at the ninth place with a tally of 8,124.

In the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Thompson was there to try and put the name of Mathias out of the record books. He was clearly not in peak conditions and surprised few by accumulating only 8,306 points for the fourth place. Four years later in Barcelona, Thompson did not make a bid and thus bid adieu.

Test matches of by-gone days

By Bruce Maurice

The second Test of the 1907-08 series played at Melbourne was even more exciting than the first Test played at Sydney. But this time England turned the tables on Australia and won the Test by one wicket. It was in this Test that the great John Berry Hobbs (later to be knighted) made his Test debut.

Australia batted first, and after an opening stand of 84 between Trumper and Macartney, they were able to score only 266. Australia's captain Monty Noble was the top scorer with 61. When England batted, Hobbs opening the innings made 83 and this was the platform for Hutchings to smash 126, 106 of those runs coming with 25 fours and one 6. England finished with 382 with a lead of 116. In the second innings, Australia compiled a score of 397 with five batsmen scoring half centuries. S.F. Barnes captured 5 for 72 from 27 overs. England were now left to score 282 runs to win the match and level the series.

After the fifth day it was 159 for 4 and still anybody's game. When Rhodes was run out, it was 209 for 8 and still 73 needed for victory. Barnes and Humphries put on 34, but 39 were still needed when the last pair came together.

Finally with one run needed the batsmen went for a suicidal single. But Hazlitt's throw was wide off target and England scored a thrilling win to level the series.

Scores: Australia 266 (M. A. Noble 61, J. N. Crawford 5 for 79) and 397 (W. Armstrong 77, M. A. Noble 64, V. T. Trumper 63, C. G. Macartney 54, H. Carter 53, S. F. Barnes 5 for 72)

England 382 (K. L. Hutchings 126, J. B. Hobbs 83, A. Cotter 5 for 142) and 282 for 9 (F. L. Fane 50).

Special guests at Trinity inter-house cricket contest

Sri Lankan cricket stars Kumar Sangakkara and Kaushalya Weeraratne will be special guests at the annual Inter-House softball cricket tournament organised by the Trinity College Old Boys Association (Colombo Branch) on September 17 at the CR&FC hockey Grounds commencing at 9.30 a.m.

Tickets priced at Rs. 175 each could be obtained from the following: Prabath Harshakumar Office: 337321/421994/329682. Mobile: 071-726155; RomeshJayawardena Office: 424483-6. Res: 713922; Anil Gunatilleke Office: 300437/300555. Res: 727147; Sanjeeva Jayewardene Office: 434646/440478. Res: 593069.

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