• Thinking Cricket with Ajith
• Free cricket equipment for schools
• Briefly
• Fijian 'Magic', stole the limelight 
• Kulasekera in form
• Trinity improve
• Injury-hit Redondo turns down AC Milan salary
• Would be cricket umpires
• Police and CH in exciting draw 
• Viraj Perera puts Colts to the sword 
• Sri Lanka to replace NZ in Pakistan?
• Army torpedo Navy 34 - 3
• BRC turn tables on Old Anandians at hockey
• Tangalle and President's XI joint champs 
• Australia pulls out of Indoor Tournament
• Mastery SC Champions
• Can Havelocks be lucky today?

Thinking Cricket with Ajith

The number and miscellany of books on cricket and cricket coaching provide astonishment to many, but this 290 page A-4 size manual printed on thick art paper and presented in an easy to read and easy to understand manner, is undeniably quiet different. From the received messages read at the launch, that includes eminent cricket personalities like former England Captain Mike Brearley OBE., the renowned cricket writer and BBC commentator Christopher Martin-Jenkins, former Australian Cricket Manager Dr. Cameron Battersby, it is evident that this book has already gained much international recognition as an indispensable training guide. No wonder it is packed systematically throughout 250 pages of A-4 size, with a wealth of practical information and worthwhile good advice, that can be readily used and easily referred to, EVERYDAY, throughout one's cricketing life, to get the best out of one's potential, The preface to this book from none other than the much respected former England Captain Mike Brearley itself, is not only a personal tribute to his hard work, experience and determination in overcoming a huge trauma in being struck down as a Paraplegic, but also a worthwhile international recognition gained by a Sri Lankan, which we all should be very proud of. 

Ajith Perera, a Master of Science Graduate, is not only qualified academically and professionally in the sphere of Analytical Chemistry, but also in wider field of cricket, extending to many avenues. S. Skandakumar the very well known cricketing personality, Rohan Wijeyaratna the much respected cricket journalist and that Sri Lanka's most eminent compere Dr. Vijaya Corea along with Hemaka Amarasuriya and Sanath Jayasuriya, everyone of them in their speeches, recognized the very impressive yet unbeaten innings of Ajith Perera recorded on his cricketing Score book and played with relentless commitment to the game. Glowing tributes were also paid for his determination and courage in playing a straight bat to life's googlies in his present plight. His unhesitating endeavours, even now seated on a wheel chair are to share the wealth of information acquired, pass over the broader experience of the game gained in both Sri Lanka and England, and to impart the wide knowledge accumulated in over a quarter of a century's unfeigned devotion to cricket with his very close active involvement, all aimed to raise its overall standards, in the best affordable manner. They are certainly a great inspiration and an invaluable lesson to us all. 

Inspite of his present plight, the limited number of copies printed are offered to Sri Lankans here at a concessionary affordable price of just Rs. 695/- net per copy to make certain that it is available to all, an almost give away for a manual of this nature and quality- certainly a worthy excellent investment for a lifetime. It could easily form the ideal gift that one has been looking for, to be presented to a young cricketer or donated to your club/old school. 

Mr Hemaka Amarasuriya in his Chief Guest's address indicated that THINKING CRICKET is certainly more than a cricket manual. "It is a 'bible' on cricket training, ideally suited to cricket coaches and the young up and coming cricketer and even useful to an experienced player as a ready reckoner, to refresh his memory from time-to-time on all vital aspects of the game. Had this book been available to me 40 years ago, perhaps I too could have made meaningful contributions on field of play, by drawing from its contents. He further stated "This meticulously prepared book of excellence, far exceeds in versatility and in presentation both, whatever manual on cricket that has been produced before in this country, prior to this launch today. With an analytical mind, Ajith analyses in detail, every aspect of the intricacies of the game, no others have done before." 

Speaking on the vital aspect of overall cricket training and none yet to sponsor this key aspect, Sri Lankan Captain Sanath Jayasuriya very appropriately highlighted in his address that "this indispensable training guide from Ajith Perera comes to us at a very important time, when we even do not yet, have a proper cricket training academy, to nurture our future heroes". Sanath further remarked that Ajith has given us a high quality-training guide that provides good direction and proper guidance with foresight. 

Ajith says that the book has been written specially to : 

* To the relatively inexperienced enthusiastic schoolboy cricketer and semi-experienced up and coming young club cricketer.

* To the youngster who has lost spirit and had become dejected with (early) set-backs, but wants to regain lost self-confidence and come back with hope and encouragement. 

* To the experienced senior player who has the desire and the need to quickly refresh his memory - a good source of ready reference material, in all the key aspects of the modern day cricket. 

* To the ex-player, parent, adult, master-in-charge or teacher, who has been forced by circumstances to play the role of a coach. At a time when the supply cannot meet even 60 % of the demand for a competent and an accredited coach, they will find here good guidance and the required tools for their highly responsible tasks, in the formative years. 

Free cricket equipment for schools

The equipment, which is worth Rs. 6.8 million, includes 348 bats, 348 pairs of pads, 696 pairs of gloves, and 9,684 balls. These materials are for schools that are registered with the Sri Lanka Schools' Cricket Association, including 111 schools with Under-19 teams and 126 schools with Under-17 and Under-15 teams.

This programme is part of the BCCSL's efforts to encourage and develop cricket among the country's youngsters, since the schools foster the nation's cricketing talent.

The equipment was distributed at the BCCSL headquarters on the 12th, 13th and 14th of September by H.L.B. Gomes, President of the Schools' Cricket Association of Sri Lanka, B.S. Perera, Secretary of the Schools' Cricket Association of Sri Lanka, Michael Tissera, Member of the Interim Committee of the BCCSL, Chief Executive of the BCCSL Anura Tennekoon, Director Development of the BCCSL Duleep Mendis, Director Cricket Operations Bandula Warnapura and Marketing Director Jayantha Kudahetty.

Briefly

Shriram shuttlers shine

The brilliant play of Fernando and Dias Abeysinghe gave Ceylinco Shriram the Inter-Company men's championship.

Sanjeeva de Silva and Dilshan Fernando of Ceylinco Shriram too played intelligently to win the Inter-Company Open Championships and Doubles events.

Meanwhile Ranmali Wijesinghe, Kalyani Rodrigo and Shamita Lane also of Ceylinco Shriram were in a class of their own as they went on to bag the Inter-Company tournament for women for the second successive year. 

AmCham Charity Golf 

Each year the AmCham Tournament has been growing in popularity the first year Rs. 200,000 was raised for the Young Entrepreneur of Sri Lanka (YESL) the second year Rs. 400,000 for the Jaipur Foot Program.

This year the proceeds will be donated to the Castle Street Maternity Hospital specifically for environmental clean up.

Drought Relief Programme

All items that were sent to the BCCSL were transported to the area in a truck hired by the Board and handed over to the Office of the Government Agent of Hambantota by the Manager of the Sri Lanka Team, Air Commodore Ajit Jayasekera, and other officials of the BCCSL, on Monday, September 10. These were distributed to farmer families in the village of Joolgamuwa, which is located in the interior of the Hambantota District.

They included a large number of food items and medicine such as milk powder, drinking water, sugar, rice, flour, dhal, tea, onions, potatoes, canned fish, and soap. The members of the staff of the BCCSL also made personal contributions with which some of these essential items were purchased.

The Sri Lanka Cricket Team and the BCCSL also hired two water bowers for the distribution of water for a period of one month, each of 6,000-litre capacity, at a total cost of Rs. 210,000/=, following discussions with the Drought Relief Co-ordinating Committee. In addition, the BCCSL is in the process of hiring a third bowser.

Carrom Federation practice

Mathivanam heads Colts

Vice Presidents: Trevor Rajaratnam, Nishantha Ranatunga, Tissa Abeywardena; Hony. Secretary: Walwin Goonetilleke; Hony. Treasurer: S. Paramasivam; Hony. Bar Secretary: Upali Hewage; Hony. Ground Secretary: Eric Upashantha; Hony. Cricket Secretary: W.M. Sumanaratne; Hony. Social Secretary: Peter O. de Zilwa; Hony. Billiard Secretary: C. Boteju; Hony. Hockey Secretary: T.I. Jamaldeen; Club Captain: Chaminda Mendis; Cricket Captain 1st Div: Chaminda Vaas; 2nd Div: S. Alexander; 3rd Div: Sampath Perera; Under 23: Kaushal Weeraratne; Ladies Cricket Captain: S. Sivanathan; Cricket Secretary Mrs. M. L. Munaweera; Hockey Secretary: Mrs. Dilka de Silva; Executive Committee Members: Gamini Goonasena, Mahen Siriwardena, M.W. Rajasingham.

Fijian 'Magic', stole the limelight 

By Bernie Wijesekera

Amerasuriya who spoke at the dinner, hosted to the visiting teams and the guests at the Le Kandyan said their package for five years will continue upto 2003. They were happy to be in the scrum where everyone enjoyed to the hilt. It turned out to be a good omen. The visiting teams were able to break the long drought too. A torrential downpour amid thunder and lightning. Most welcome to the people in Kandy. 

Peter Hill, the CEO Sri Lankan Airlines, the response from the 15 participating teams from abroad was good. Undeterred by the recent happenings - terrorist attack at the KIA. Six airlines suffered as a result. But still we fulfilled our obligations to fly in all the teams. Despite all these setbacks we will still fly higher to play a vital role in promoting international events in this country. Though faced with setbacks Sri Lankan Airlines play a vital role for the promotion and development of sports, he said. 

Rugbywise it was a fascinating two-day spectacle for the fans. 

The Lankans did well to stun S. Korea for the first time and create a new dimension in the country's rugby history, after suffering defeat at the hands of Malaysia 14-12. 

Here it was Fijian 'Black Magic' at its best. 21-year-old Nasoni Rokobiau, playing for Malaysia was the showpiece at the 7s. A bundle of energy with a zig-zag run, he bemused the defence whenever he took the field, and had the fans bewildered. Fittingly he was adjudged the man-of-the-tournament. He richly deserved it. 

First love

Pity Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, the local skipper, who scored nine tries in this tournament to help Sri Lanka in a big way. Sri Lanka did well to beat the Czech Republic S. Korea to enter the quarters and did well to beat Germany to enter the semis. 

Jayasinghe could have been among the three contenders for the man-of-the-tournament. But ironically the selection panel thought otherwise and gave the other two spots to a S. Korean and Chinese Taipei. No one will deny that the Fijian player - turning out for Malaysia winning the award, but Jayasinghe should have come into reckoning. 

Sri Lanka did well to come to the semis, but lost to S. Korea in the return in the rain. S.K. had strongly built forwards, who had the speed and strength and better game plan to outwit Sri Lanka. Though the Lankans couldn't make to the final it was an excellent effort by them. If you don't lose then you don't know how to win. Coach Nimal Lewke, his assistant Asanga Seneviratne, manager C. Rupasinghe did a good job with their charges. With more hard work they should be a force to be reckoned in any 7s tournament. 

Of course there was a team sponsor iOnesphere Lanka. In the end iOnesphere adjudged two Lankan players - Ravi Jayasuriya (day one) and Sanjeewa Jayasinghe (player of day two). They promised to help and promote rugby in the future for its development, said its CEO, Anura T. de Silva, after the presentation at the Le Kandyan Resort. 

IRB Rep was there

The Singer-Sri Lankan Airlines 'sevens' could be compared with any one of them. Fifty percent of them are staged in the Asian region. It augurs well for the future of the sport." He commended Kandy SC for organising this tournament and for its continuity. It gives your players that much needed exposure and for youth development at grassroots level. Sri Lanka is placed third in the Under-19, while the seniors, fifth in the Asian region. Since 1998 there are 14 nations - newcomers China, Arabian Gulf, Pakistan and Kazakhstan have joined the scrum. 

Japan is ranked 18 out of 20 in the world ranking and S. Korea 21. They are developing fast. S.K. has 450 players playing rugby and has a reserve team in the world. 

The IRB is seeking to add further from Asia to the series in 2002. Singer-Sri Lankan Airlines will be one of them, he added. Then it will be 60 percent from the Asian region.

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