In and around...
One day series for F.C.de Saram Trophy
The forthcoming one-day Series between the Sri Lanja 'A' team and Tamil
Nadu will be played for the late F.C. de Saram Trophy. This was revealed
to The Sunday Times by Bandula Dissanayake a senior official of the Colombo
Dist. Cricket Association.
Dissanayake will accompany the team as Manager, while A.R.M. Arooz will
be his assistant, Roshan Mahanama, the 'A' team's coach, will also accompany
the team. The team left on Friday (Oct.12). Besides the one-day Series
which will begin on Oct. 14 (Sunday), they will play a four-day match for
the Gopalan Trophy. The tour ends on Oct. 23.
Late Col. F.C., deserves this honour initiated by the Col. D.C.A. for
his services to Sri Lanka Cricket. A former Royalist and Oxford 'Blue'
FC scored the first 100 for the 'Blues' against the Aussie team led by
W.M. Woodful, which team included late Sir Don Bradman, in 1930. A versatile
sportsman, F.C. played a dynamic role as player-cum-administrator for his
club SSC and for Sri Lanka Cricket. He served as Secretary for the Cricket
Board during the tenure of late Robert Senanayake.
According to Dissanayake, it was a unanimous decision by the CDCA to
honour late de Saram. The tour is being organised by the Col. DCA is fielding
a team with a blend of youth and experience.
In the past, this annaul contest was much look forward to in the local
cricket calendar. F.C. led the first CCA team, against Madras for the Gopalan
Trophy tie with players of the calibre of C.I. Gunasekera, Vernon Prins,
Stanley Jayasinghe, Bertie Wijesinghe, A.C.M Lafir, H.I.K. Fernando, Tita
Nathanielsz etc., played in this annual contest. Madras had the likes of
C.R. Rangachari, C.D. Gopinath, Kripal and Milka Singh and V.V. Kumar a
wily leg-spinner who played at the national level. Former old Thomian Balu
Alaganan played with Prins for S. Thomas' and later played for Madras.
Late M. Sathasivan, left and indelible mark at the Chepaulk Stadium, when
he broke English batsman Joe Hardstaff's record of 216. 'Satha' made 217
for Sri Lanka - one of the best seen at this venue.
The team Tilan Samaraweera (Capt.) Upul Chandana, M. Vandort, T.M. Dilshan,
Jehan Mubarak, Ian Daniel, Upeka Fernando, D. Fernando, A. Ganegama, K.
Weeraratne, R. Herath, P. Jayawardena (Keeper), N. Pushpakumara and Gayen
Wijekoon
Leo's six-a-side cricket
The Leo Club of Colombo will organise 'Leo 6s Y2KI' on behalf of the
Leo District Council 306A. This softball tournament that is been organized
by them for the 9th year is open to all Leo Clubs in Sri Lanka.
The event is to be held on October 31 from 8.00 am (registration closes
at 7.45 am) at the Colombo University Grounds. Challenge trophies would
be presented to winners in the male and female categories. Registration
is Rs. 450/- per team. The tournament would be played according to 'softball
rules' and would be officiated by umpires from the softball association.
For more details please contact either of the following: Leo Fazlan
- 077-789429, Leo Dilshard - 077-795912.
HNB dominates
The Cup championship was won by Hatton National Bank, who are dominating
the Private Sector sports scene - winning the top berths in cricket and
netball. The team led by Sri Lanka 7s stalwart, Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, fielding
virtually a Lankan team, carried all before them to outplay Sampath Bank
in the final.
Sampath, too were not short of talent, but some of their key players
took the field despite injuries and fought a relentless battle to the end.
Indispensable guide for everyone
Reviewed By: Ranjit Fernando
During my school cricket playing days there were around 20 schools playing
the game and the best coaches in the country were coaching these schools.
These men had all played the game at the highest level, and knew a great
deal about playing and coaching it. With Sri Lanka's admission as a full-member
of the International Cricket Council, the game has grown beyond recognition
and is played in almost every nook and corner in the country. The number
of schools playing the game has increased by two hundred fold and keeps
propagating at a hectic pace, and administrators are finding it virtually
impossible to cope with the question of finding suitable, knowledgeable
coaches, to meet this demand. While every effort is being made to put out
large numbers of qualified coaches at basic level, it must be appreciated
that it takes a fair number of years for a coach to mature and give out
his best. Information is being regularly fed to these new coaches and at
times it is difficult for them to grasp everything in a short space of
time.
'Thinking Cricket' written by Ajith C.S. Perera is a brilliant publication.
I have no doubt that it will to a very great extent fulfil the need of
readily producing the information and guidance all Cricket Coaches, and
even players need. The author, with his academic background has been very
analytical and has presented this book in a fashion, which is easily grasped.
He has covered areas, which are usually not available in a regular coaching
manual, and as such it becomes invaluable.
Many cricketers when they come to representative level have no knowledge
of areas like team meetings and take some time to participate in these.
Ajith has included such topics, which coaches at school level should look
to put to practice, so that players do not find these foreign to them,
when they come to the higher levels, and will in no way feel inhibited.
The chapter on practicing skills is particularly enlightening, as I
find many coaches do not organize their sessions well enough and others
in fact do not do it at all.
My belief is that a two-hour coaching session, well organised is quite
sufficient at school level and this could be very easily achieved if coaches
have effective plans. Thinking Cricket will give them an idea as to how
this could be done. A very good coverage has been given to Physical Conditioning,
and as this has been done after seeking expert opinions from proven people
like Alex Kontouri, it could be used as a practical manual.
The book has got some excellent photographs, which helps to illustrate
what the author is saying. It is extremely well written and covers almost
all areas, which are required by every active coach and by all cricketers.
I have no doubt 'Thinking Cricket' should be in their reference libraries.
N-Car, too excel
Another team that impressed at the 'sevens' - N-Car, who won the Bowl championship.
N-Car, too gives encouragement to school leavers to be in continuity.
Their director, former CR and FC player now turned a leading Rugby Ref.
Dilroy Fernando too played for the side. A keen student of the game, is
doing much for the promotion of the game. Dilroy said our participation
is just not to win a trophy, but to enjoy and maintain the spirit of the
game. This the players achieved to the fullest, whilst playing in this
tournament. |
