| Sports |
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| Sri
Lanka will face balls of fire in the Caribbean There were many factors for this setback said Ricky Skeritt, the Manager of the team in an interview with The Sunday times. They came here in Dec. 2001. Ricky commended the Lankan team's performance after the 1999 setbacks in their defence of the W.C., won in 1996. The West Indies board has taken remedial measures. But it will take about one and half years to close the gap - to bring it back to its glorious past, grooming youngsters to the team with the vision for a long-term future has borne fruit. The under-19 team got the better of England in a test series in 2001. Their present efforts against World (test champions) Australia fulfilled their aspirations and closed the gap as mentioned earlier by Ricky. On that 2001 tour to Sri Lanka - despite losing to the Lankans, Lara was in full cry - he smashed the Lankan bowlers. He made 261 and 131 in the SSC test. Spin-wizard 'Murali' conceded 100 runs in each innings. The game in
the Caribbean was in chaos. The ICC, too was concerned. They forgot
the past and got their act together. Viv. Richard's came to the
main-spring. Along with 20-year-old Omari Banks, Drakes. They were exposed against the World Champs (test) against the Aussies. They got the confidence, experience and technique to counter any bowler in varying conditions. The youngsters played like professionals. The young Windies team under Lara had to go through a long tunnel to see the light. That, too against Australia - the World champs. They played like seasoned professionals and had the Kangaroos on the hop in the final test in Antigua. They made the greatest run-chase in the history of test cricket - 418. In the forthcoming tour to the Windies starting on June 1, the local batsmen will come against a ball of fire against a lethal new-look West Indies pace attack which include three one-dayers followed by a 3-day warm-up game at St. Vincent June 14-16. The first test will be played from June 20-24 and the second test June 27 to July one. Joy
trip instead of practices They should have been training at the Welagedera Stadium instead. The Lankan team has a daunting task at hand when they take on the new look Windies team in the Caribbean next month. But they ignored the schedule set by the hierarchy, they were fit to go to Trinco to warm themselves at the seven spring wells, to see the historic Fort Fredrick and enjoy the hospitality of the Air Force Base at China Bay. The local team management must answer to this effect. Did they get the prior permission from the BCCSL? -BW SLRFU
should change the league format for 2004 The ideal league system should be the top 6 teams in the top half and the other 5 teams in the bottom half of the A Division. This means that each top half-group team will be engaged in 10 matches (home & away). At the same time each bottom half teams will have 8 matches (home & away). If the season starts in mid April, by June end the league will be over and the Clifford Cup knock out should follow immediately. For this tournament 5 teams (top half) and 3 teams (bottom half) should be selected. The same format should be adopted for the President trophy, which was formally known as the Premadasa Trophy. The last team in the top half should be ideally demoted to bottom half and the first team in the bottom will advance to the top half. The same rule should be for B Division teams also with the top side advancing to the bottom half of A Division and the last team will get demoted to C Division. Before a game is kicked off both teams should give the number of foreigners which they hope to play. If the opponent side does not field any foreigners then the other side also should not be allowed to field any. As we are finding it difficult to survive even in the Asian region, sides like Kazakhastan, Arabian Gulf and Taiwan have overtaken us. If foreigners are allowed to play for clubs they should be given the green light to play for the country also by giving a minimum requirement period of at least 2 years of stay in our country. The
storm before the calm for Kandy Youth But the unkindest cut of all is the fact that this season they have had to start off by competing against the best in the business. Compete is probably the wrong word to use in regard to a club that has been whipped 100-5 by Kandy SC, 47-6 by the Army, 86-6 by the CR and 47-11 by the Havies. Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Sadly not just yet because this Sunday they confront the might of the CH and FC. Stumbling from one defeat to another must surely have shattered their confidence. To add insult to injury, Kandy Youth has an increasing injury list. It appears
that all, or most of these problems have come about as a result
of being part of rugby's poor cousins. Kandy Youth should fight
on undeterred for the good times and bound to come later on when
they meet clubs such as old Zahirians and debutantes, Kurunegala
RFC. Until then it is a case of gritting your teeth, grinning. Some of the key players in the Kandy Youth line up are the skipper and number eight Navin Pulikuttiarachchi, scrum half Niyadagala, lock Chaminda Samaratunga and wing three quarter Hettiarachchi. Kandy Youth
will be represented by the following in Sunday's CH and FC game: |
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