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England
pace attack way ahead of Lankans
They were more accurate, made use of the conditions and have been more positive. This has put the additional pressure on the Sri Lankan batsman. Bowlers win matches definitely when it comes to the long game. The Englishman won the second test because their bowlers penetrated and got batsman out. Of course some of the Sri Lankan batsman contributed to their downfall. To be apart of the International make up pace bowlers fall into three categories. Bowlers who are quick and rely on pace. Bowlers who bowl at a brisk pace and can also move the ball in the air and moreso off the pitch. Bowlers who are medium pace and have plenty of variation and are more suited for one day cricket. Bret Lee, Shoaib Akhtar, Dilhara Fernando are in the category of quick men. They hurry the batsman with extra pace and bounce and cause an element of fear of being physically hurt. The list of bowlers in the next category are where most slot in. It's a long list. Glen McGrath, Shaun Pollock, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Andy Caddick, Chaminda Vaas, Heath Streak are some names worth mentioning. These bowlers keep coming at you. They do not give a batsman much breathing space. Hardly are they known to bowl to bad overs on the trot. Should it happen, rarely , you can bet your bottom dollar that the next spell will be a lethal one. Lance Kluesner, Mathew Flintoff, Abdul Razak are useful medium pacers who depend on variation and cunningness to deceive the willow wielder. They are miserly with giving away runs and strangle batsman and force them to err. Should you be operating off a long run up, hold the ball upright on the seam and put in effort to make the ball travel quickly through the air, then when you are maturing as a bowler fit into one of these cagtegories and work for perfecting. The maturing age for a quick bowler is between nineteen and twenty one. Pace has dominated the current series with the exception of the two marathon spells bowled by Muttiah Muralitharan. This means batsman being forced to play plenty of back foot strokes. It is an area that the English Batsman have displayed a lot of improvement, Marcus Trescothick, Mark Butcher, Michael Vaughan, Graham Thorpe seem to have put in plenty of work to punish the loose delivery, leave what needs not to be played and defend what needs to be kept away. They are making the most of playing against the Sri Lankan paceman and are bound to do the same when the Indians arrive for the second half of the Summer. The ultimate test it will be when they tour Australia and have to face a barrage of deliveries aimed at the throat! The Sri Lankans are in the midst of their test playing against the Englishman. This will be the mildest of test what awaits them in South Africa and Australia will be far more sterner stuff. Wesley
strike hard at rugby Legendary T. Mylvaganam, a dazzling hockey player. The school took upto rugby in the mid '50s. Eddie Buell was its first captain in 1956. The present Principal Mr. M.A.P Fernando was the M.I.C. (rugby) and Prefect of Games in the '70s saw the school taking to serious rugby. The Campbell school has taken to rugby and has proved their mettle at the junior level during the last couple of years according to Mr. Fernando. The school had the likes of Reggie Bartholomeuz (Winger), Iqbal Musafer (fly-half), Kishan Musafer (Winger, presently playing for CR), Neville Perera etc. All donned the Red Shirt and played for the country. The juniors during the last two years have been in the forefront winning titles. They have been developing the game at grassroots level. It has borne fruits according to coach Dishantha Priyadharshana, who is in charge of the junior and the First XV team. Of course Wesley is fortunate to have the services of S.W. Chang as Consultant (a storehouse of knowledge) to assist the coach. Wesley last week won the All-Island Under-15 Rugby championship defeating St. Sylvester's 27/0. No team in the he entire tournament crossed their line or scored a point in this 10-a-side, staged in Kandy. Last year (2001) the Under-17 team in the All-Island Cup (10-a-side) were runners-up to Isipatana. Last year the Under-15 team toured Malaysia for the 10-a-side and was runner-up in the Cup. Chang, a keen student of the game, has managed junior national teams abroad. There is a squad of 25 who are prepared to learn and committed to the sport. They have to take the rough with the smooth. They learn by their mistakes. If the Wesleyites are doing well in the on-going season, this attributes to the tremendous support afforded to them by the OWSC, the immediate past president Navin de Silva and the incumbent president Tyronne Maye. The Prefect of Games, versatile old Wesleyite sportsman, Kenneth de Silva is spending much time attending to their needs (Heavy pack). The team led by Lahiru Boteju (No. 8) leads a hardy pack and a member of W.C. Junior team Steve Perera (prop), Ziard Thahir (centre) Sri Lanka youth players. 13 of last year's players are in the squad. Prasad (fly half), Rukshan Omar, Julian Francisco (h/backs), Nuwan Samith (centre), Zaki Badurdeen (fullback), Chithraja Weligamage (prop). The boys are all geared up and started with a bang. Defeated Trinity for the first time 21/0 (friendly) won against St. Anthony's Kandy (with 5 national players tournament match) in Kandy 12-8 in a rousing contest. Beat Carey 24-13. There are ten players, who are still Under-17. They are knowledgeable about the basics and the laws of the game. Taught to maintain the spirit of the game at all times and play to the whistle. Mr. Fernando said, indiscipline will not be tolerated from whatever quarter. The outcome is secondary, the game that matters in the end. Parents
to donate trophy in Suranga's memory As a kid Suranga has been playing with the present Captain Anuranga Walpola. His mother speaking with emotion and tears trickling told When my son was carried to the hospital after getting injured whilst practising. Amma, please donate a stretcher to the school. His mother Nelum and father Sunil, 'don't worry Putha, we will fulfill it'. His mother Nelun with tears said 'my son didn't want to undergo the same agony to another player (gets injured) to be carried off in a hand-made stretcher. It was a premonition. He suffered a brain injury. Everything in life is temporary. "Life is uncertain but death is certain". He was a humble and lovable son - the only precious gem we had. But when time comes one has to go. Some have to die for others to live. You need not be sorry, your son sacrificed his life which is an eye-opener for the powers-that-be and for the schools to take notice and make available with medical facilities which solely lacking especially in the local schools rugby circuit. Put aside a doctor, even with a medical box. We are donating a stretcher to the school before the Royal-Isipathana match this season. Further, will donate a memorial trophy for his lasting memory. Rugby is a beautiful game and fittingly, Isipatana has made a name in this sport in the schools rugby fraternity. He has gone, but his name will be remembered. Besides playing rugby he excelled in the class room, too. A/L Student, he studied upto year four at Richmond College, Galle. He was a juvenile athlete emerge before he come upto Isipatana. Winner at the javelin throw in the Western Province Meet and excelled at the senior level, too. Besides this
memorial trophy, in the name of their son, the family is prepared
to help a less affluent student with a scholarship from junior level
for his entire school career. Golf
Union is wide awake Sriyan de Soysa heads the Union enthusiastically with his A.D.C. Mark de Silva. Great plans and great events are scheduled commencing with the Junior Grand Prix sponsored by the better Cola PEPSI. Lalith Kumara & Anura Rohana are sharpening their skills for the Malayasian Championship through mid-May and the prospects are that Anura or Lalith will bring home the Trophy and Title. On their return they will participate in a few domestic events after which the time will be ripe for the Sri Lanka Amateur Championship when they will have to match their skills against the best from Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Singapore & Indonesia. Asian Games Junior Golf Amrith De
Soysa Professional
Golf |
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