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Not
all plain sailing India, Bangladesh,
West Indies, Zimbabwe and Pakistan have all succumbed to the abilities
of Sanath Jayasuriya's team. The two top nations of Test cricket
Australia and South Africa and not in the vanquished list. Yet,
the feat of nine wins is admirable. Bob Woolmer, the former very successful South African Coach had this to say one after a spell of nine Test matches which did include wins, losses and draws. "On reflections and after nine Tests, I quite honestly say that we had no idea of what we were heading into and as we progress its reminiscent of, I guess, sailing in the Whitbread around the world yacht race. Remaining in that analogy we have certainly a variety of different seas, some stormy, some choppy - few calm! The secret to being successful during this period is to remain calm during the stormy periods. The recent home series is a case in point. The storm that followed after the Durban defeat was met resolutely by the team and its administrators. There were the inevitable, our bowling was less disciplined than we were all accustomed to and our fielding was below par. This was exacerbated by the off-the-field dramas, both in Johanesburg and Durban. We had lost the real force which was on concentrating on the main areas of our cricket performance. Performance is measured by the end result and the strength of the opposition. To this end Sri Lanka's bowling could be termed as woefully weak in their outings, in the late spring conditions they are encountering at present. They are yet to encounter any of the current England players. Hardly any hopeful either. Yes, the bowling has been exposed. Chaminda Vass is the only exception. He is probably still not operating on top gear and more could be expected from him. The others are regularly going for four runs per over and only picking up a few stray wickets. Any opposition who comes up against a Sri Lankan attack minus Muttiah Muralitharan must consider themselves having a fifty percent better chance of scoring runs. That mental plus will make it even more difficult for those with the task of delivering the leather. The batsmen have come up with more noteworthy performances. No real big scores but sufficient contributions to build up form. In alien conditions occupying the crease during the early stages of the tour is an all important requirement. Middlesex CCC is the final warm up game to be played at the headquarters of cricket - Lords - which is also the venue for the first Test. The sparring is over it will have to be a dress rehearsal of the "real thing" by them.
In their first confrontation against the Navy after a slow start, they generated much fire in the second half after being held to a 3-0 lead in the first 30 minutes. In the end with their sleek blackline, they ran to ground the ball over the line at regular intervals. Past may be a memory, but when rugby history is written then one has to delve to the past. The park club has produced some of the great players, who did proud for the country - late Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Dr. Hubert Aloysius, Nimal Maralande, Y.C. Chang (the present coach), Gamini Fernando, the combination of Jupana Jayawardene and Glen Vanlangenberg, Thajone Savanghan, Hisham Abdeen, Frank Hubert, 'Gogi' Tillekeratne, Suntheralingam etc., has done proud for the country and for the club. The present
president Michael Jayasekera, is a versatile sportsman to hail from
S. Thomas'. He was a pulic schools athlete, ruggerite, who donned
the Lankan jersey. But rugby was his first love like his contemporary, Jagath Fernando of Royal, who opted for rugby, when he could have opened batting for Sri Lanka. Perform Miracles They are co-ordinating
with burly Chang with their experience and knowledge. Chang is being
assisted in the coaching by Alex Nishantha Chanaka, a last year
player. Chang said,
the lads still had much to learn though they are playing in the
big league. They have to be fit strong and totally commited. Otherwise they have to sit on the bench. Not only for the club even for the country. Unlike today's players there were limited opportunities - mainly the All-India tournament, which was much looked forward to. We will go match
by match he added. It's a young squad. They will be taught to play
the game in the correct spirit and enjoy it. That's what rugby is
all about. He is working
at Hatton National Bank. It may be due to an official transfer or
for reasons best known to him. No one is indespensable. Rugby is
a team game. Individual brilliance is not the final outcome in any
team sport an official said. Old
Zahirians Rugby Club deserve more support Thanks to a concerted effort by the old boys and wellwishers who helped us. There is much talk by the Rugby Union that more clubs should be formed to give playing opportunities for the mass exodus of schoolboys who have played for their respective schools. Where are the opportunities for them, but sitting on the bench. A pioneer
in rugby OZSC has a grinding task to keep the game going. Last year the then Minister of Sports, Lakshman Kiriella, assisted Kandy Youth SC. He did it in good faith with a view to giving playing opportunities for the lads in the Hill Capital to indulge in the sport as many schools have taken to the scrum in Kandy unlike in the past. They had no planning and virtually pulled down the shutters. KYSC, failed in their obligations. Again a dieherd rugby supporter performed the rescue act, for their very survival. What about OZSC and other emerging clubs? The Ministry of Sports headed by the youthful Minister Johnstone Fernando, must give serious thought to help promote clubs too rather than to an odd club here and there. Help those who deserve help and with a better infrastructure. OZSC, this season will be led by Zubaideen an utility forward. The team will be coached by Nasim Gaffoor. Last year Gaffoor was player - cum-coach. This year, he will solely indulge in coaching. The club is fortunate to get the assistance of Fasal Burah, the former CH and FC prop, who has played in the big league for a long time. He has much experience and oversees the training especially fitness. Burah possesses rugby skills in abundance. Whilst at CH, as he came under Anton Benedict and Tony Amit. According to Burah, most of the last year's players will be there. Riyas Anis, who played for CR last year as fullback, Risam Hanis (CR and Havies) will turn out for OZSC, this season. Rajiwa Karuanaratne (Thurstan), Mohan Feranndo, ( a Benedictine) and Shahan from St. Peter's and Dhammika, a 'lock' from Isipatana, is among the 35-member squad. OZSC, will play all their homes matches at Maradana. Today (Sunday May 12) play host to CR and FC.-BW |
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