The Sunday Times has decided to dedicate this coloumn to its readers so that they can comment about contents in our sports columns and features and also write their own thoughts on various sports with letters to the editor.

Commentator Roshan Abeysinghe’s observations in the Sunday Times of 18th October are well timed.
It is immediately after our poor showing in the Tri Series final against Pakistan followed by even the worse performance in the Championship Trophy and at a time when we are compelled to show something to rebuild team morale. The oncoming Indian tour is an ideal opportunity. So it is most crucial that we honestly identify where the shortcomings and faults lie and endeavour to correct them instead of one group ‘rumbling in the background’ and another trying to absolve particular individuals from responsibility and answerability.

If Captain Kumar Sangakkara, has got into the line of fire of the fans, rightly or wrongly, it is for understandable reasons. Most fans are simply ordinary folk (of course, keeping those calculating types out) who know to react only emotionally and forget matters within a day or two.

Then they eagerly await the next occasion to come out with all enthusiasm to give moral support afresh. They carry no ill feeling; they only want to see our side win and the other side lose, come what may; they do not know the complexities of the game. So any criticism should be seen in this context.

Another boosting aspect is that when fans expect you to perform the extraordinary they place so much esteem on you. The more difficult the task, the greater is the esteem. If our team were mediocre one led by a mediocre captain, none will complain simply because they wouldn’t have expected anything better!
That Sangakkara and our team is receiving so much attention alone is proof of their recognition. And it is very essential that we do not ignore the constructive criticism that evolved out of recent failures - a case of throwing the baby with the bathwater!

We can treat the forthcoming Indian tour as a Revision Course before the Final Exam – the World Cup next year, And the two instances where we failed – the Tri Series where we lost to Pakistan and the Championship Trophy – as Term End Tests. So this Indian Tour is a Godsend and let us make full use of it. Good Luck!

M.Z.Abdeen (Kandy)

Thoughts to Ponder

The Australians won the ICC Champions Trophy very convincingly. They played quality cricket and showed the world that they are superior to all other cricketing nations. They won all their matches except the one against India. Due to rain this game ended in a No Decision. I am sure if they had played that particular match to a finish Australia would have carried all before them.How did this Australian team become so strong and so difficult to beat? In their own country there is a concrete plan for their cricket. They always prefer to include young blood into their national side. Also their A Team is as good as their first team. More than five of their 2007 World Cup winning side has retired from Test and Limited Over cricket. But, still they have enough talent to feed the national team.

The Australian Selectors need not depend on old horses, because they have prepared enough young talent to feed the national team. The best part is all experienced players hang up their boots when it is time to quit and they help in building the team for the future. As a result they always give youngsters the due place. When people are not money hungry or power crazy, the people concerned could give off their best to the job they perform.

Why cannot our cricket officials learn something from the Australians? Our senior cricketers should follow the footsteps of Australian cricket veterans and retire with their heads held high. That will also pave the way for young blood.

In Australia politicians have never been known to interfere with the Cricket Board. It is just the other way in this paradise isle of ours. It is high time an independent body runs our cricket!

Hope all concerned will open their eyes and come forward with specific plans to put our cricket back on the map.

Bro. Nimal Gurusinghe