Sports

Sports

Double blue rugby makes terrific impact
Wesley has produced several well known cricketers and it is to cricket that the Campbell Park school is more associated with. But all that changed in 2002 when their rugby team came to the final of the schools A Division rugby competition and crashed to Royal.

Spearheaded by their Principal Mr. M.A.P. Fernando and the Old Wesleyites Sports club marshalled by Capt. Navin de Silva had been a source of encouragement to the rugby teams on and off the field.

On their way to the final Wesley beat Trinity for the first time. They also toppled St. Anthony's Kandy and St. Peter's. They left an indelible mark in the annals of Wesley rugby with their efforts in 2002. The team was led by granite hard Lahiru Boteju (No.8).

Two of the First XV players, namely Kasun de Silva and Zakir Badurdeen were picked for the Sri Lanka U-19 team for the Junior Asiad staged in Hong Kong. This year it was sweet revenge for the Wesleyites. They defeated Royal for the first time in their 47- year rugby history.

Starting the game with a right structure at grassroots level paid dividends, said Mr. Fernando. The hard work put up by coach Dishantha Priyadharsha who coached the first XV and the junior teams - (Under- 15 and 17) is now bearing fruit. He was assisted by Rugby consultant S.W. Chang. The good work was started by Sanath Martis in the year 2001. He laid the foundation for others to continue.

The school held their Colours Nite 2002 last weekend at the College Hall, amidst pomp and pageantry. Former Sri Lanka ruggerite and the present president of the Rugby Union Mohan Balasuriya and his wife were the chief guests.

Balasuriya said, it was a great honour for him and his wife to be present on the occasion, that too to honour the young sportsmen, who have brought honour to the school, both on and off the field. Wesley has maintained its dignity and its steeped tradition for sports. The school has always played a dominant role in cricket.

M. Sathasivam one of the finest products without doubt was one of the greatest batsmen, who made a name for the country at home and abroad. They have excelled in other sports, too. But judging by the ongoing performances - rugby has taken firm root.

More competition at school level will help the game to make further progress. "Wesley is doing just that", said Mohan Balasuriya. At the Junior National level the following Wesleyites represented the country for year 2002. Farveez Mahroof (Cricket), Kasun de Silva and Zakir Badurdeen (Rugby) M.S.M. Riyas (Soccer). Best team man - Danton D' Abrera Memorial Trophy donated by OWSC - ruggerites in Melbourne - Lahiru Boteju.

Best all round sportsman of the year - 2002 - Nuwan Samith. The Prefect of Games Kenneth de Silva did an excellent job and left no stone unturned for the success of the Wesley Colours Nite. Singer Sri Lanka sponsored the First XV Rugby team with a cash donation. BW

Blushes galore as Dyson meets the local press
First get the structure right, then think of becoming World Champions
Sri Lanka cricket is in total disarray judging by our performances in the Test arena. There are many factors leading to it. The Sri Lankans have been hitting a purple patch here and there due to some individual brilliance, but overall the picture is not that good.

At a recent media confab chaired by the Secretary of the BCCSL, Mohan de Silva to introduce the new coach John Dyson from Australia, who was here on a fact-finding mission before he takes over the reins. The media turned up in their numbers. One of them was a former cricket coach from Kalutara, now taken to sports journalism.

Apparently some of them, who attended the meeting didn't know the difference between the top or the bottom hand batting grip. John Dyson didn't show a semblence of arrogance when answering some of the questions directed at him. One pundit thought it was fit to ask him, as to how we must strive to make Sri Lanka beat Australia and emerge world champs. This question not only amused him, but amused some members of the audience as well. It not only embarrassed John, but also made Mohan de Silva blush too. John just smiled.

Let's have four or five nations on par than confining the game to one or two nations in the Test arena. The same observations were opined by Steve Bernard, the manager of the present Aussie team, who was here for the neutral Test match in the history of cricket staged at the P. Sara against Pakistan for the first time.

Instead of asking this question from John, he should have stressed on the hierarchy to put the structure right. Dyson can't perform a mircale with a cricket cupboard sans young 'Uns'. "Better to be ignorant of a matter than know half of it." Apparently Dyson may have noticed this as the world's biggest press meeting.

This happened in the past when the West Indies were playing Sri Lanka at the SSC grounds. It brings back nostalgic memories. Colourful character like late Christie Seneviratne senior journalist, who minced no words when the media shed was occupied by Telecom staff.

No seats for the media. This is the biggest press in the world. He walked upto the hierarchy immediately and said, "If you don't clear the press box, we are walking out". Late Tommy Perera was also there. That's how mediamen acted at that time.

Sri Lanka with all due credit has made several world records in their own backyard. It's great. But it has not served the game to be in continuity. Obsessed by a fairytale, we spend our lives searching for a magic-door and lost our kingdom of Peace says Eugene O'Neill.

This has happend to our sports not confining to cricket alone. Some of the "Mr. Know Alls" apparently may not be aware when Sri Lanka beat India in India. It was in 1964 at Ahamedabad when they were made to eat humble pie under Nawab of Pataudi (Jnr). The Lankans were led by Mike Tissera, He led the team with an unstinted team effort to make this epoch-making win.

The team included Abu Fuard, Norton Fredrick, Stan Jayasinghe, Dhanasiri Weerasinghe, T.C.T. Edwards, A. Polonnowita, Mano Ponniah, Sylvester Dias, Neil Chanmugam, L.Idroos, Darrell Leiversz, D.P.de Silva, H.I.K.Fernando, Ranjith Fernando etc. Leicestershire Pro. Jayasinghe gave a match winning performance. He even sacrificed his benefit match to play for the country. This match though an Unofficial Test, was not against India's 'A' side. The team included F. Engineer, Chandrasekhar, Dilip Sardasai, Abbas Ali Baig, Amber Roy, U.Kulkarni, R.Saxena Prasanna, Goel, Venkat. They were all top class players. SriLanka won this game by four wickets. It's a long drought (39 years) Sri Lanka still has to taste a win over India in Test cricket in their own backyard.

A cricketing nation is not judged by their performance at home. They must prove themselves with their grit and determination (away) in a Test series rather than make excuses. Without doubt Sri Lanka has made a tremendous impact with their exciting and entertaining cricket - thanks to the individual brilliance of Sid. Wettimuny, Duleep Mendis, Aravinda de Silva, Asanka Gurusinghe etc. Murali, Sanath Jayasuriya, Atapattu, Vaas (in the present team), Arjuna Ranatunga leading from the front in the '96 World Cup in Lahore.They won worldwide acclaim.

Sri Lanka are still to beat Australia, S. Africa and West Indies outside Sri Lanka. Where are the bowlers barring 'Murali' and 'workhorse' Chaminda Vaas? Fatigue has taken a heavy toll on them, too, without any bowlers to support who could be called first class. Apparently some of them can't find a regular place in their club sides. 'Murali' is no longer a vicious spinner unlike in the past. The opposition has studied him to play with a better technique.

Even a former Sri Lanka cricketer, who was an outstanding spinner in his time - now a national selector, agreed that we must start at grassroots level, with a bare cupboard sans young talent. What sort of planning have they done in the past to groom young talent? They have done a lot by putting old wine in a new bottle.

Where are the quality bowlers to help the game than mere trundlers, who are afforded with cheap Test caps. A country like India has gone for fast bowlers. Their cupboard is full with young talent. The likes of Zaheer Khan, Nehra and few others who could serve both formulas of the game. But they have not forgotten spinners, who helped them to play a dominant role in the Test scene in the past.

They are going in search for talented spinners to be in contention. The BCCI is starting a spinners' academy. It will be handled by the legendary spin- quartet B.S. Chandrasekhar, bearded Bishen Singh Bedi (left-arm), Earapalli Prasanna (a wily off-spinner) joined by Venkataraghavan - (also an orthodox 'offie'), now turned test umpire.
What has happened to the local spinners clinic? It has fallen on the wayside. Sri Lanka has produced world class spinners, the likes of Gamini Goonesena, Malcolm Francke and D.S. de Silva. D.S. has played first class cricket in England and Australia. He commands respect with a no-nonesense approach. He did a excellent job for Bloomfield.

Former Dharmasoka and Ananda cricketer, Ajit de Silva (a left-arm spinner of class) joined by Lalith Kaluperuma. D.S., could handle it if he's allowed to act independently. He will not deny it was Stanley Jayasinghe, who insisted him to take to leg spin bowling whilst playing for Nomads.

Sri Lanka should strengthen the spinner's arm for the future like India. The likes of 'Gamma', D.S. and Ajit could bowl on any pitch at home or abroad. They had the guile to bemuse batsmen.-BW

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