Having reached the end of the Golden Jubilee Quadrangular cricket tournament in Pakistan, it is time to reflect on the high's and low's of the week's intense competition.
Lahore's Gadaffi Stadium, which is located in an area where cricket fanaticism is at its optimum level, was the host to four of the world's powerful cricketing elite. The teams came to taste the victory of a coveted competition of a lesser magnitude to that in March 1996. Sri Lanka's memories of the World Cup would have been sweet, but sour to the other three who prematurely crashed out of the competition. South Africa, Pakistan and West Indies probably hoped that history would not repeat itself.
If there was to be a negative aspect to this tournament, it would definitely be the Pakistan cricket officials' decision to schedule all the matches as day/night encounters. Although this move may have benefited the organisers financially, it certainly inconvenienced the players. As every evening progressed, the dew factor proved to be a major setback for the fielding side. The bowlers faced difficulty in gripping the ball and the fielders tumbled down like avalanches while in pursuit of preventing the boundaries. However, the pitch was a boon to the batsmen of the participating teams, as runs could be predicted in excess of 300.
Apart from a few instances, the supportive and boisterous audience must be commended for displaying a high level of discipline and encouragement, which most probably made the visitors feel at home.
The Centurians
In the South Africa-West Indies match, the Springbok bowlers regularly threatened the West Indian all- rounder Carl Hooper, but he rose to the occasion, like a meteor, finishing with a well made 105. As always, Hooper could be relied upon to contribute his best at all times-the backbone of the West Indian team.! His century may not have satisfied him fully, as it was insufficient to force a West Indies triumph over the South Africans.
The Sri Lanka-Pakistan encounter, in my view, would probably be the best. After having set a challenging target of 281, the Pakistani bowlers failed miserably to restrict the free scoring Sri Lankan batsmen. Sanath Jayasuriya finished with a classic 134 off 110 balls, while Aravinda de Silva chipped in with 102 n.o. This deadly pair took the Pakistan bowling attack positively, blasting them to all parts of the Gadaffi Stadium, frustrating the bowlers and the local fans along the way.
Pakistan's prolific one-day record holder, Saeed Anwar, put his shocking duck against South Africa behind him, and got into the list of centurians, with a patient 108 n.o. Saeed failed to deliver the goods in the Sahara and Wills Challenge Cup, but came back superbly to prove his worth to the side.
South Africa, by far the most impressive team in the tournament (possessing a hoard of talented and match winning players), failed to produce a centurian batsman. Lance Klusener from Natal, frankly my man of the series, very nearly did that, but played an amateur's shot which sent him back to his dressing room on 99, in the Final.
Taking a neutral stance, the South African contingent are prone to true admiration. Led by an experienced and disciplined captain, in Hansie Cronje, South Africa were probably very unlucky not to go further in the 1996 World Cup. Backed by a prominent sponsor in South Africa (Standard Bank), their cricket boasts of very high standards from school level to national level. Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener, Gary Kirsten, Jonty Rhodes and Daryll Cullinan are a gift to South African cricket for many years to come.
Sri Lanka last lost a major tournament in Kenya in October 1996. What was the true cause for our poor performance in Lahore? Well, the answer is simple and very obvious. Our fielding was far from impressive! The dropping of good catching opportunities and wayward throwing contributed to our downfall. As far as the bowling department is concerned, Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan must be congratulated for a job well done. They once again stressed the fact that they are capable of restricting the opposition, even when defending a small score. However, Muralitharan's 'no balls' in the Final was real cause for concern. Yet, it is hard to believe that the same team won the World Cup for us, and commented as the best fielding side in the world!
Overall, it was an exciting tournament, which came to an end with great disappointment for the Sri Lankans. They will get two more opportunities to avenge the South African defeat. By then, I am sure they would have realised their mistakes and made amends. As for South Africa, they are probably saying, "England 1999, here we come"!?
Alfred Hensmen is one of Sri Lanka's top wing forwards. His interest in the game was sparked off when his uncle took him to witness a match between Havelocks and CH. After the game Alfred began to like the manly game. He continued to pursue his fantasy and today he can easily be termed as the country's leading flanker.
When The Sunday Times visited Longden Place on a sunny day to meet Alfred, he was doing his usual routine. He took time off to speak to us about his younger days, about rugby in Sri Lanka and what does the future hold for him.
He started to play rugger for his school Royal. However the game was not a favourite of his parents. The success he achieved in the sport helped him and encouraged him to be a perfectionist.
Alfred recalls how Royal's First XV coach in 1986 Dr. Fred Pereira, after watching him play for the Under17, spotted the talent in him and told him to come for first XV practices. It is here that Alfred began to unleash the talent in him. He also learnt the finer points of the game, which he says helped him to be a better rugger player. Alfred says that his first match was against Isipatana and says he will never forget the experience that he got whilst playing in front of a large crowd.
Alfie said: "After playing for Royal, I joined CR and FC and started to play the game seriously. After playing for about six years I made my international debut for the country in 1994. From that year I have been a part of the national team". When asked what kind of feeling he gets when he dons the Sri Lanka jersey, he says that he his very proud and happy to play for the country and is determined to do well when he represents Sri Lanka.
"Sri Lanka has a great captain in Priyantha Ekanayake. I admire his leadership qualities. Although he is in his sunset of rugby,I still think that he can play for another three to four years. With the second round of the World Cup only a stone's throw away, he has to be the captain of the team".
Viraj Prassanna who led Sri Lanka against the Northern Territories in the two Test series did well to draw the series one all. When asked what he thinks of Viraj as a leader Alfred Hensmen our best wing forward said: "I think Viraj did a good job as a captain. Viraj has only captained in one series and it is not fair to compare him with Priyantha. I think Priyantha is far ahead of Viraj because of his experience" He also adds that Viraj should be a better captain with experience. He can be better than Priyantha, I am really sad that I didn't get a chance of playing under Viraj.
Sri Lanka will meet Malaysia on November 29 and Taiwan on Janauray 17 in the World Cup second round qualifying games. When asked to comment on Sri Lanka's chances Alfie said: "We have a great opportunity of beating Malaysia but the match against Taiwan will be a tough assignment although we are playing that match in Colombo. The boys are taking both the matches seriously and I think we will be able to turn up trumps", he said. Expressing his view on the local domestic season, Hensmen said that Sri Lanka's rugby has improved because of the influx of foreign players where our forwards have learned a lot from them and now are doing well but it cannot be said the same about the back division where I think with a little bit of hard work we can produce better performances. I also think that restricting foreign players to one per club match in the coming season will open the doors to our local guys to show off their talent.This move is bound to help Sri Lanka immensely.
Alfie is also interested in swimming and soccer which he found little time to do after his involvement in rugby. He who loves rice and curry helps his father in his business, and says that he enjoys working with his father.
Viranthi Jayasinghe is Alfie's favourite . She comes after his love for his parents, but after his faith in God. His advice for a up-and-coming ruggeites is:"If you know that you are doing well in rugby and want to make it your future, you have to give everything to it and put aside all other things. With hard work you will reach the goal you have set".
Finally when asked whom he likes to thank among those who have helped him, he said : "I like to thank my parents, my girl friend Viranthi and all my coaches, without whose help I would never have climbed this far in the game. Alfred, who is now preparing to give off his best shot at the forthcoming World Cup second round games will not stop short of anything to give the title for his motherland.
Lanka Cavaliers go to Badulla to conduct their 4th outstation Cricket Programme at the Badulla Cricket grounds at the invitation of the Badulla Cricket Association headed by President R.M.U Ratnayake.
On November 15 they will play a match against a team selected by the Badulla CA while a Coaching Clinic for students in the area will be held on November 16. Percy Samaraweera, Chief Minister Uva Province will be the Chief Guest at the match.
The Coaching Clinic at Badulla consists of a lecture by Cavaliers skipper Bandula Warnapura and a former National Director of Coaching followed by a practice session.
Other locations identified are: Matara, Kurunegala, Negombo, Kegalle, Galle, Hambantota, Gampaha, Ratnapura, Polonnaruwa, Nuwara Eliya and Chilaw/ Puttalam.
Lanka Cavaliers are led by Warnapura.
Like another great boxer of a later date, Jack Dempsey, Sam Langford knew the 'hobo road' well. He was well travelled all around the country by the time he was fifteen years old, on frieght trains, of course without tickets.
Sam was born in Weymouth Nova Scotia on March 4, 1886.
Being a young Negro youth of fifteen years and slimly built at that, Sam had a much tougher time in hobo land than his white brothers.
Husky white tramps considered slim Negro youths as legitimate punching bags. But with Sam Langford, they soon changed their minds. Sam was naturally strong and was jolly good in a rough-and-tumble scrap. He could knock down a man twice his size with a right to jaw.
Sam Langford really started his boxing career in the world's toughest fighting school: Hoboland.
In the days goneby, when boxing enthusiasts discussed the fistic game they would say that Jack Johnson was clever, but could not hit; that John L Sullivan was throughly overated as a puncher; that Jack Dempsey was lucky because his opponents were all pushovers.
But no one, I repeat no one, ever said that Sam Langford was a false alarm. But Sam, great as he was, never had the good fortune to win a championship title in his own country. He could have claimed the English heavy weight crown. He had walloped all the best heavy weights in England. He had knocked out Mexico's heavy weight champ, but he treated it as a joke.
Fighting as a welter weight in the United States, Sam beat Joe Gaus in fifteen rounds and later drew with welter champion Joe Walcott also over fifteen rounds.
Sam Langford could whip any man in the feather, Light or welter weight, but he just could not cop a title.
He started looking around the big fellows. He did not worry about the biggies because his fighting talent was of first rate quality.
As a middle weight, not even Stanley Ketchel who was one of the deadliest hitters that ever sent an opponent to dreamland, could do anything to Sam. Langford took Ketchel to a six round no desision. It was, however, noticed by the spectators that Sam was not cutting loose. If he had done so, then it would have been too bad for Stanley. Really Langford was working under wraps.
Quite often, Sam Langford has had to fight 'to order'. At those times he would hold himself in check and not let himself open out.
When Sam Langford showed how powerful he was, other fighters avoided him, and it was very difficult for him get fights. "No fight, no money, no eat"
So when Sam Langford fought, he had to promise to carry his opponent a schduled limit. Sam kept his word. He was fighting for his bread and butter and so he had to "do business".
Sam Langford's first contact with boxing gloves and the Marquis of Queensberry rules was when he walked into Joe Woodman's drug store in Boston on a bitterly cold day in November1901. He was cold, tired and hungry. With a wide toothy smile, Sam told Woodman what he wanted.
"I'll do any kind of work you want me to do," said Sam ."All I want is a good meal".
Joe dug out 25 cents and gave it to Sam and went to the Lennox Athletic Club where he staged a few boxing bouts as a sideline .
In those days, 25 cents bought a great deal. So Sam bought a bundle of sandwiches and bolted them down happily. While eating he cleaned up the store. When Joe came back from the club, he was quite pleased to see what Sam had done. He told Sam that he could sleep in the club and have his meals there. This was like heaven for Sam.
Sam fitted well into work at the gymnasium. He learnt how to rub down athletes and when some boxer needed sparring partner, Sam was always ready to offer his services.
Sam Langford took to gloves quite naturally. And he soon learned to cut out the rough stuff he had picked up in the Hoboland jungles and kept strictly to the Marquis of Queensberry rules of boxing.
One night a boxer billed at the Lennox Club failed to come and a substitute was needed. Sam asked Joe if he could fill the vacancy. Joe was reluctant, but he left his protege have a go. Sam won by a knock-out.
Joe become very interested in Sam. He watched Sam going through many fights and was quite impressed. Of course all those fights were in the amateur class.
Sam Langford fought his first professional bout in January 12 in 1902. He stopped Jack Mc Vickar in the second round at the Lennox Club. In his second fight he beat Bill Mc Donald in two rounds and his third fight was again with Mc Vickar whom he kayoed in the sixth round.
As time went on, Sam become quite a hit in the light weight division. He fought Joe the champion of the lightweight in 1903.
The fight was over in 15 rounds and Joe Gans was carried out unconscious. But unfortunately for Sam Langford this was not a title fight.
Sam Langford's weight fluctuated at this time; from Light weight to middle weight and back.
Two weeks after fighting Joe Gans, Sam fought one of the leading welters, Jack Blackburn who in later years was the chief second and adviser to a later heavy weight champion Joe Louis.
Sam's fight with Blackburn ended in a draw. Blackburn was reckoned as the most scientific boxer of that time in any weight. Sam fought Blackburn four times but always a draw.
Sam Langford's weight fluctuation problem made him go in for the big men. Joe Jeannette, one of the most brilliant heavies who had threatened the great Jack Johnson was the first.
In their first round, Jeannette opened up with long, quick lefts and had advantage. Sam Langford remained on the defensive during the first few rounds, but soon turned aggressive by staggering the bigger man with a short right to the jaw and receiving the referee's verdict. Sam met Joe Jeannette seventeen times after that, but Sam always had the edge over Joe.
Sam Langford then met Jack Johnson at the Lincoln Athletic Club of Chelsea. Johnson was heavier than Sam by about thirty pounds (15 kilogrammes). Jack won the bout but said to himself, that he would not care for a return match with this hard hitting scapper.
In 1907 had an argument with his manager Joe Woodman and went to see Sam Austin, the famous New York sports editor. Austin fixed a fight for Sam in England.
"I'd go anywhere and fight anyone", said Sam. He was matched up with Tiger Smith on a twenty round bout from which he was to receive $1500. The fight was over in the fourh round. Sam just flattened the Briton to the great surprise of the islanders. Other fighters in Britain who wanted to fight Sam, after they had seen what happened, promply withdrew. Sam went back home.
Sam's next visit to England was in May 24, 1909 to fight the heavy weight champion of Britian, Ian (Iron) Hague, who would hit like a sledge hammer.
Hague was 196 pounds in weight and stood five ten in socks. He had knocked out six of the best talent that the British Empire could provide.
Hague outweighed Langford by thirty eight pounds and was much taller. He however, was slow moving and slow thinking. Sam on the other hard, was quick thinking and moved like lightning and amazingly hard hitting.
In the first three minutes of the fight Hague was the aggressor and the Britons were happy. In the second round Hague had Sam on the deck with a right swing. Langford was not hurt. He said "I'll take this big fellow anythime I want to".
In the third round Hague rushed at Sam who smashed straight left into Hague's face rocking him back on his heels. This was followed by a right to the body and a left hook to the head.
In the fourth round, the Briton was barraged with lightning blows and was reeling on the ropes. Sam drove three left jabs to Hague's face and one on the body. The big man's guard fell. Then Sam planted a right flush on Hague's jaw. And Britain's heavy weight champion was knocked clean out. Langford had surprised the Britons again.
Sam Langford went back to America, but he never won a title at home. Most of the champions were not happy to meet him. Sam could fight Lightweight, Middle weight, Welter or Heavy.
By 1923, Sam Langford had fought for nearly twenty five years. Soon his fistic skills and reflexes were declining. His eyes were beginning to fade. This was the end of one of the greatest fighting machines in the history of the fighting game.
Sam underwent eye operations which were not very successful. In 1937, the then Mayor of New York, Fiorello La Guardia found work for the blind gladiator. Sometimes Sam would listen to stories of the new heavy weight champion of the world, Joe Louis.
Sanath Jayasuriya with Rakesh Seth, the new Pepsi Country Manager in Sri Lanka after signing the contract. Pic by Lakshman Gunatilleke.
Dashing Sanath Jayasuriya signed a three year contract with Pepsi International at the Colombo Hilton this week.
This is the first time a Sri Lankan cricketer entered the big league signing up with a multinational. The amount which will be paid to Sanath will be more than the staggering $ 2.5 million paid to Indian Skipper Sachin Tendulkar two years ago, confirmed the outgoing Pepsi Country Manager Niel Chatterjee. Sanath signed himself due to his positive attitude, youthful energy and his ability to demolish any opposition in the world, said Rakesh Seth, the new Pepsi man here. According to Sanath the Pepsi money willnot change his life and he will always be the simple Matara lad.
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