Marvan Atapattu's talent as batsman was never in doubt. From the day he played his junior cricket at Mahinda and Ananda he showed that he was a future batsman for Sri Lanka. Marvan came of age when he scored his first Test double century (223) against Zimbabwe in the first Test now in progress at Asgiriya.
Marvan who was chosen as the most popular schoolboy cricketer was pushed to the wall by the selectors when they played him in the one off test against India at Chandigarh in 1991 in a shocker of a pitch. The youngster who was just out of school and not ready for big time cricket succumbed under pressure and made a pair in his debut Test.
He continued his pathetic display when he scored only 1 run in the next four innings against Australia in 1992 and India in 1993. Marvan although failing in the international scene was a heavy scorer in the domestic scene where he used to hammer the opposition bowlers out of sight and attack..Marvan's cover drives were of the highest order and he can be termed as one of the few batsmen in world cricket to be sound in his technique. Most bowlers find it hard to dislodge him because of his technique
Marvan's fortunes began to take a new turn when he was promoted to open the batting with Sanath Jayasuriya in one day matches when he began to enjoy the job as a opener and score runs at will.
He scored his first one day century against India when he made a classy 118 in the first one day internationl in the 97/98 series at the R.Premadasa Stadium.
Before his innings of 118 he made a match winning 94 against Pakistan at Sharjah in the champions trophy meeting an attack which comprised Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahamed. Marvan completed his thousand runs in one day games. When he scored eight runs against India in the third one day international in the recently concluded series in India. his tally stood at 1006.
Marvan before coming to the three test series against India which concluded recently had only scored around 100 runs in the test arena but the Indian series was a gift for Marvan as he made full use of it when he made scores of 108( Marvan's first century in Test cricket), 31, 98, 31 to become Sri Lanka 's highest aggregarte scorer (268) in the series. Marvan who is now riding high will be fully tested when he comes up against South Africa when Sri Lanka tours there in March for a two Test series.
Marvan became only the fifth batsman to score a Test double century.and the fourth highest individual scorer (223) for Sri Lanka. He is behind Sanath Jayasuriya (340), Aravinda De Silva ( 267) and Roshan Mahanama( 225) Marvan in the last three Test matches and five innings has scored 491 at an average of 98.2 runs per innings a Bradman like average
Marvan has just started to show his true class as a batsman and for the next few years we should be able hear more about this stylish right hander who will serve Sri Lanka for a long time to come.
Cricket's eldest statesman Arjuna Ranatunga, widely acclaimed as the best captain in the world, has been chosen as Sri Lanka's Man of the Year 1997 by a panel of three independent judges in a contest organised by our sister paper Midweek Mirror.
In a citation, the judges said Arjuna Ranatunga's outstanding leadership qualities, especially his courage and calm response in a crisis portrait what Sri Lanka needs most at a decisive moment in our history.
The panel of judges comprise the Ombudsman Prof. Bertram Bastiampillai, former Ombudsman and Parliament's veteran Secretary General Sam Wijesinha and educationist Jezima Ismail.
They met at the Midweek Mirror Office on Monday to evaluate voting patterns in a 12-week reader opinion poll conducted by the Midweek Mirror and to select the Man or Woman who had made the most outstanding contribution in 1997 towards building a better Sri Lanka with ethnic harmony and a just social order.
In the reader nomination, star all rounder Sanath Jayasuriya won a big majority, with sprint champion Susanthika Jayasinghe in second place, graft fighter Nelum Gamage third, President Chandrika Kumaratunga fourth, Minister Mangala Samaraweera fifth and Arjuna Ranatunga sixth. Behind him were top batsman Aravinda de Silva and Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.
While acknowledging the spectacular individual achievements of Jayasuriya, the judges felt that in the highest national interest, it was necessary to recognise and fittingly reward Ranatunga for his extraordinary leadership qualities. They also pointed out that while brilliant individual performances were important, cricket was largely a game of team work.
One of the judges Sam Wijesinha as the top official in parliament has worked closely and seen the leadership qualities of every Prime Minister from S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike in 1956 to D.B. Wijetunga in 1993.
He believes that Arjuna Ranatunga has similar leadership qualities of the highest order and the country needs such qualities in national leadership to address and overcome the grave crises facing the country.
The Man of the Year award to Arjuna Ranatunga is in the highest sense an award to the whole Sri Lanka team. Thus the whole team is being invited for the award ceremony and grand musical show to be held on Sunday February 8 in the afterglow of Sri Lanka's golden Jubilee Independence celebrations. Read the Mid week Mirror on Wednesday for more details.
The choice by the judges who was surprising to some and controversial to others who asked why reader nominations were not upheld as they were. But since the Midweek Mirror had no way of ensuring a one person one vote process as done in democratic elections, the newspaper believed that nominations needed to be studied and the final choice may by independent and eminent judges who are able to see things from high perspectives.
A leading sports body is to lose its President, who has sent in his resignation, stating that he cannot be dictated to by a leading VIP, while its Treasurer too is to resign also on grounds of interference.
Both letters of resignation are to be tabled at the crucial meeting fixed for January 15.
Rover, learns that a former senior official of a sports body, who has been issued with a show cause notice for his recent behaviour in disrupting a Board meeting by gate crashing openly and insulting the Secretary.
This official has been asked to show cause why he should not be removed as a life member of the local sports body and the vice presidency of the Asian Body.
In spite of all this he has been seen with a leading VIP shedding tears on at least three occasions asking to be made the head.
The recently held referees and judges exam, saw at least four members of one family and two of his office mates serve as supervisors which leaves room for doubt in the manner of qualified persons supervising the exams.
– By Rover
The Nationalised Services Table Tennis Association, Open and Novices Championships will be held in the third week of next month at the S. Thomas' Indoor Stadium, Mount Lavinia.
Entries will close with Mrs. Ama Suraweera, Tournament Secretary Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, Engineering Division, P.O Box 2204 Colombo.
The draw will take place on Tuesday January 20 at the National Savings Bank Sports Club Premises, Galle Road, Colombo 3 at 9 a m.
Applications have been mailed to affiliates.
Muttiah Muralitharan and Jayantha Silva, two Sri Lankan bowlers who were reported with two others to the international cricket council for suspect bowling action were cleared.
Bobby Simpson the ICC match referee reported four bowlers. The other two were Kumar Dharmasena of Sri Lanka and Rajesh Chauhan of India, who have not got the greenlight yet.According to the ICC Dharmasena who bowled nearly 100 overs in the series has a few deliveries which looked suspect.As the ICC needs to have a further look they have asked Raman Subba Row the match referee in the current Zimbabwe series to send another video on Dharmasena's bowling action.
Simpson reported the four bowlers after the Indian test series last month.
A video of each bowler's action recorded from various angles during the Indian series was submitted to the ICC who in turn sent a copy of the video to a 9 member committee who ultimately decided the fate of the bowlers.
The committee which was put together to look into suspect bowling actions comprises Bobby Simpson (Australia) Michel Holding (West Indies) Kapil Dev (India) John Reid (New Zealand) Javed Burki (Pakistan) Brian Basson (South Africa) Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka) Doug Insole and Nigel Plews (England). Madugalle however was not called to give his opinion on the three Sri Lankans.
Each member of the committee has to carefully review the bowlers action from the video tape and give his opinion of the action within 48 hours. Based on the opinion of each committee member the ICC takes the final decision. If the action is found to be suspect the bowlers will have to change their action or run the risk of being called for throwing.
According to the laws of the game the two officiating umpires have the sole authority to 'no ball' a bowler if the action is suspect. However the match referee is also empowered to initiate an investigation if he has any doubt as to the bowler's action This is exactly what Simpson did.
In this case the match referee will inform the TV producer to have a close footage of the bowlers action from different angles and produce a video.
This would be carried out secretly and without the knowledge of the bowler or any member of his team.
For the first time Sri Lankan shuttle fans will be able to see Asia's best in action at the Sri Lanka Golden Jubilee Asia Satellite Badminton Championships to be held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium from January 22 to 25.
Over sixty shuttlers from seven countries will clash in the men's singles, women's singels, men's and women's doubles and mixed doubles events which will be worked off in two sessions.
The countries participating are, Malaysia, Korea, Taipei, Hong Kong, India and Sri Lanka.
The participants from these countries are Nepal six men, Hong Kong 5 men, India 8 men, six women, Korea 8 men, 7 women, Taipei 3 men, Malaysia 4 men, 6 women, and Sri Lanka 10 men and six women.
The Sri Lanka Badminton Association will be conducting the first multi-nation sporting event sponsored by Commercial Bank to mark the golden jubilee year of independence.
Furthermore, this event would be a historic occasion, since it would be the first time that Sri Lanka would be hosting and conducting a International Open tournament on behalf of the International Badminton Federation (IBF) which is the World Body of Badminton. Also for the first time US $ 10,00,000 would be avwrded as prizes.
The concept of having a Satellite tournament is primarily to provide opportunity for players to obtain points for ranking purposes, Eraj Wijesinghe the President of the Sri Lanka Badminton Association said.
It has been proposed that in future, only the higher ranked players would be permitted to participate in the major big prize money tournaments. Therefore it is necessary to provide players with more and more experience to collect points, Wijesinghe said.
Coloured clothing will be allowed to be worn by players and coloured shuttlecocks too will be used in this tourney.
Dr. A.L. Wijesekera and Ajith Wijesinghe will be the two referees of the tournament which will be governed by the latest IBF rules which will be applicable for the first time.
The championships will be declared open by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, S.B. Dissanayake on January 22 with Punch Gunalan, Vice President of the International Badminton Federation and Secretary General of the Asian Badminton Federation as the guest of honour.
With a view to giving young promising outstation cricketers more opportunities in competitive cricket, the Access Group of Companies have decided to sponsor the Marcantile ''D' division 50 - overs tournament for1998. This was said by Group Director Brian Obeysekera, at a press briefing chaired by the President of the MCA Bertie Fernando held at Jade Gardens on Jan 7.
Obeysekera, was an outstanding cricketer from St Joseph's and later played for the CCC
Brian also said there was tremendous talent in the outstations and they must be encouraged with incentives and with better playing opportunities to improve their skills. This was the first time his firm has decided to sponsor cricket
Q: is there any other sport Access group is sponsoring?
A: Yes, we are sponsoring rugby. We joined the scrum with Kandy SC who won a triple championship last season in the 'A" Div. The sponsorship package with the Hill Capital Club will be up to year 2,000. KSC are assured of being in the forefront of the local rugby scene. Access is not going to stop there, but plans to help other sports too, in the future, Brian Obeysekera said.
The President of the MCA Bertie Fernando thanked Access Group for helping private sector cricket.
Last year's winners Pelawatte Sugar Industries is not taking part. AirLanka Catering Services were the runners-up.
The tournament will get underway on Jan 10 and the final will be on Feb 14 at the MCA grounds
The following attended the confab.- Bertie Fernando, Adel Hashim (Sec) Chris Obeysekera (Vice President) Gehan Siribaddana (Chairman Tournament Committee / Vice President)and Basil Perera (Sec. Tournament Committee). Access Group was represented by Brian Obeysekera , L. Rodrigo and Amal de Mel.
The teams taking part are Unichela Pvt. Ltd. Maritime Holdings Ltd.
Air Lanka Catering Services, Access Group, East-West Information Systems, Sampath Bank, Kelani Cables Ltd. Forbes and Walker Profreight Lanka and MJF Group ( B W).
The year 1963 and the tour to England was Worrell's swan song. When the selection committee met it should have been a mere formality because the team virtually picked itself: Worrell, Hunte, Sobers, Kanhai, Nurse, Butcher, Hall, Valentine and Gibbs. But this was not to be. In the end this meeting was one of the longest in the history of West Indies cricket.
Wes Hall and Lester King were picked and then it came to selecting the third paceman, and two were shortlisted. Chester Watson of Jamaica and Charlie Stayers of British Guiana. It was then that Worrell calmly suggested the name of Charlie Griffith. This shook the other selectors rigid. For the other selectors this was like a thunderbolt. Charlie Griffith of all people when he had already, been called in the West Indies for throwing. For a moment they thought that Worrell - of all people - had taken leave of his senses and they tried desperately to put sense into his head. But come hell or high water Worrell knew what he wanted and stuck to his guns. Finally, with no hopes of Worrell swaying and through utter exhaustion, the other selectors did a Pontius Pilate and washed their hands off saying, 'see thou to it.'
Actually there were only two instances where Griffith was called for throwing. And none of them happened to be in a Test match. The first instance was in the Barbados vs India match at the Kensington Oval in 1962. On that fateful day, Griffith bowled a bumper to India's captain Contractor. Contractor, by then a seasoned Test opener committed the cardinal sin of taking his eyes off the ball and bending backwards from the waist. The result was a thundering clout behind the right ear.
Pataudi and Jaisimha were on the balcony. And Pataudi turned to Jaisimha and said, "My God Jai that was a bad clout." In the meantime out in the middle, Contractor staggered a few yards and dropped. Blood was streaming through his ear and he was carted off immediately to hospital for surgery. The entire Indian team and even some of the West Indian players including Worrell donated blood for Contractor. Which means that Contractor now has blood relations in the West Indies.
When Griffith saw what happened, he himself was in a daze and did not want to even finish that over. But Conrad Hunte who was captaining the side insisted that he carried on and Griffith bowled a few more overs at half pace before Hunte mercifully took him off. But before that, Cortz Jordan who was standing at square leg got it into his head that he should - at least partly - compensate for Contractor's injury and called Griffith for throwing. And this when Griffith was bowling at half pace.
The second time was when he was on his second tour of England in 1966. The match was against Lancashire and again the captain was Conrad Hunte. Griffith was bowling from the City End and was called by the head umpire for going over the line.
Standing at square leg was the former Kent and England opening batsman - now turned umpire - Arthur Fagg, and he too called this very same delivery. However, other than the scorers, nobody noticed Fagg's call. Not even the Pressman.
It was only the next morning that it came to light that Fagg had also called that very delivery and when the scorebook was checked, sure enough against that delivery was a circled 'T'. And the Press had missed the bus they were waiting for. Had they noticed Fagg's 'call' they would have banged it right in and gone to town with it. So those were the only two occasions when Griffith was called for throwing.
After the team was selected, Worrell arranged for the side to be in England a month before the tour to enable the youngster to get acclimatized. While he went ahead by air saying that he was too old to be shaken in the Atlantic.
Meanwhile, Sobers and Hall were packing their bags in Australia and Lester King was packing his bags somewhere in India where he had gone on a coaching stint. The rest of the team sailed on the 'Golfito' across the unchanging Atlantic. She rolled into Avonmouth on a cold Spring night bringing another load of bananas and the 9th West Indian team to England. They shivered through Customs where George Duckworth, the former Landcashire wicket keeper took over their bags.
Waiting on the docks were a battery of photographers. They were waiting for one man - Charles Christoper Griffith. As soon as Griffith came, a cameraman cocked his camera to his eye and said, 'Hey Charlie let us see how you do it.' Griffith the poor innocent fool put his bags down to turn his arm over. Fortunately another Barbadian who had known Griffith in Barbados from his childhood shouted, 'Hey Griff don't be mad. Man, he is trying to ruin you.' Then chased after that man and smashed his camera. Needless to say that man showed the docks of Avonmouth a clean pair of heels that night. Otherwise that may have been the end of the tour for Griffith and even his entire career. Because there was no way that Griffith could have brought his arm over straight being wrapped up in all those pullovers and Winter coats. As for Worrell, he would have had to commit suicide, because the Board would have strangled him with his own bloody entrails.
When Griffith related this incident to Worrell, Worreell went livid with rage. He gave Griffith the blasting of his life and told him, that under no circumstances was he to permit anyone to take photographs of him or give any interviews on this tour without his approval.
Then after the usual tour opener at Arundel, the tour proper slipped into gear at Worcestershire beneath the shade of the cathedral. One of the umpires picked to stand in this match by the T. C. C. B. was none other than at that time - the Lord Chief Justice of English umpiring Sid Buller. Now Worrell knew only too well why Buller had been picked to stand in this match. So he decided to pay them back in their own coin. He picked Griffith for the game and told him, 'look Griff, I don't care even if you bowl off breaks in this match. Buller is standing in this match and he is here to have a look at you. I want you to have a clean sheet when you leave Worcester because when Buller has passed you nobody will dare raise a finger. Because whatever Buller says is Holy Writ'. Then Worrel lost the toss and Don Kenyon, Worcestershire's 39 year old captain took strike to Wes Hall. Griffith took over at the other end and Buller now started doing a shuttle service from square leg to point. He could see nothing wrong with Griffith's action and gave him a clean sheet. After that it was full steam ahead for Griffith and he finished the tour with 102 wickets and 36 in the Test matches.
And that was Worrell. More than a captain, a guide and father figure to the youngsters. And a brilliant tactician too as this little incident illustrates. That Summer, the Somerset opening batsman Colin Atkinson was in tremendous form and was almost certain to play at least in the first Test.
Now the last two people Worrell wanted in the England side was Tom Graveney and Colin Atkinson in that form. When the West Indies played M. C. C. at Lords, he won the toss, batted first and closed the innings. The M. C. C. opened with John Edrich and Atkinson who were both more or less on trial. The light was now deteriorating and Hall bowled a maiden to Edrich. As soon as the over was completed the batsmen approached each other. Worrell knew what the game was. They were going to appeal against the light. Now Worrell did not want to miss the last chance he had of grabbing a wicket that night, especially if it was going to be Colin Atkinson. So instead of Griffith he threw the ball to Sobers, and needless to say the umpires fell for it. The appeal was turned down quick smart. Atkinson saw the first ball well enough to glide it down the legside for 2. Then shuffled across his stumps to the very next ball and was caught plumb in front. LBW to Sobers for 2 to a ball of Griffith's pace. Barber was next in and before he even took guard the umpires came off for bad light. Poor Atkinson. He must have felt that the whole world had turned against him and that was the closest he came to a Test cap in his entire first class career.
At the end of that tour in one of his final talks to the side Worrell said, 'Gentlemen, the time has come for me to go. But there is one thing I want to tell you chaps. I want you to become tops in your profession. So that when you ask the Board for a decent salary, they cannot refuse.' Then was it any wonder that the sides he led would have followed him to the ends of this earth?
Sri Lanka will host the zone 4 Asia / Middle East / Africa International Bridge Championships involving 21 countries at the Taj Samudra from May 8 - 20.
Sri Lanka won its bid to host this championships in Cape Town South Africa when the World Bridge Federation took this decision.
The countries expected to participate in this championships are, Bangladesh, India, Botswana, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Mauritius, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa, Syria, Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Palestine.
Sri Lanka will also conduct the Golden jubilee quadrangular championships in July this year.
Bridge is to be introduced to schools with the assistance of the World Body with the teachers first being thought the basics like in China and Japan, D.P. Senaweera president of the Bridge Federation of Sri Lanka said.
Sri Lanka is also exploring the possibilities of getting down an international coach to train our bridge players the modern techniques in improving the standard of the game much further keeping in line of the European mode of play.
UNESCO is also getting involved in promoting the game further, since Bridge has been included as a demonstration sport in the Asian Games in Bangkok this year and possibly in the Olympics in 2004 or 2006.
The International Olympic Committee has recognised Bridge for a probation period of two years, from1995 which was confirmed last year.
Sri Lanka has already Victor Perera a former president of the Bridge Federation serving as the President of North South Asia Zone.
Meanwhile over 110 nations are affiliated to the World Bridge Federation which sees around 15 million involved in the game with over 1 million registered players.
Mazhar Jafri the president of the Bridge Federation of Africa, Asia and Middle East and Vice President of the World Bridge Federation was happy with Taj Samudra as the venue
Jafri who was here on the invitation of D. P Senaweera praise on an inspection tour was of high praise to the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports S .B. Dissanayake who had promised all assistance to promote the game here.
Diyatalawa Maha Vidyalaya girls stole the limelight when they gave a fine display at the Powerlifting Nationals held at the Soysapura Community Centre, Moratuwa.
According to Ronnie Abeysinghe the vice president, it turned out to be a roaring success with 29 new records being lowered with most of the participants giving a scientific display.
Abeysinghe the former Sergeant-at-Arms a past stalwart of this sport, has contributed much for the development of the game.
Ronnie in association with Siridasa Liyanage, the president of the Sri Lanka Strength Building Federation, yet antother live-wire told the 'Sunday Times' that their main aim was to develop the sport further at grassroots level, especially among the rural youth that, too at community level.
Amiable Ronnie, still looks a picture of fitness and still could demonstrate his skills to the youngsters; this attributes to his disciplined approach. He was held in high esteem as the Sergeant-at-Arms, where he was able to overcome any knotty problem with his charming ways.
According to Liyanage, the retirement of Abeysinghe was a blessing in disguise as he could now devote much time for the sport, which he loved most. He is yet another cog in the wheel and will give added muscle to the committee to achieve their objective of this sport reaching higher levels.
In the past there were some outstanding sportsmen like legendary Ronnie Steinwall, Bonnie Roberts, Jeff Schucroft, Coomaraswamy, Annesley Steinwall (now back home on a holiday from Canada) to name a few. Ronnie was among them.
Liyanage said that with the encouragement and support given by the Ministry of Sport, the governing body will be able to make further inroads to promote and develop this healthy sport. Sri Lanka will be participating in the Second World Championships to be held in India next month. The nationals served as a trial to pick the team, yet to be ratified.
There were records glore - with 29 new marks established by both men and women at the three-day championship. A.R.S.K Alahakoon, had the honour of erasing two of his own records in the squat and bench press 120 kg. and improved on the 115- mark achieved by him in 1994. Eighteen new records were created in the men's section.
D. M. U. Jayatillake (Ultra Fitness Centre), won the 110kg. with a highest total of 660.5 points. To his credit went all three sections - squat, bench and dead lift. On this superb effort, he was adjudged the 'Most Scientific Lifter'.
While A.S. Alahakoon 52kg. was awarded the best 'lifter' for his three record breaking efforts - 468 points. The Sri Lanka army athletes, too were in the forefront. In the 195 kg. - Bernard Fernandes, did proud to the soldiers with a new mark in the Dead Lift event. N.P.K. Herath (Ultra Lift Fitness Centre), lifted in the squat 210kg. in the dead lift, to create new records. R.W.M.P.G. Bandara (Peradeniya University), too created new marks - with a squat of190kg. in the 67.5kg. category.
Evergreen lifter G.R.P. Wijewardena, (Ultra Fitness Centre) in the 75kg. lifted 225kg. squat and lifted 250 in the dead lift, making a total of 562kg. It didn't stop there, when further two new records were established in the 82.5 kg. - T.A.T Ranjith Kumara, chief instructor of Power J.U. M Abeykoon (Kegalle Power- Lifting Club), had a squat of 225kg. and bench pressed 125 kg. - two new records.
The women, too are taking to this sport with sheer determination.
They showed improved skills and strength. The best woman power- lifter and the Most Scientific woman lifter - went to S.T. Nadunge (Ultra Fitness Centre) and E.Y.W.C. Bulathwatte (Power World Club, Kandy).
A consistent performer in the past nationals, for eight years - Desha Liyanage (Anchorman Barbell Club) was a notable absentee.
The finals of the first ever Chess championships for the blind were brought to an interesting conclusion at the Hotel Golden Topaz, Colpetty.
Tony Alvis became the winner of the A.S. Chatoor Challenge Shield beating R.A. Sunil in a tense final. Tony also received a replica, cash and a certificate. He convincingly defeated Vijitha Prematilake and Ajith Prasantha on his way to the championship.
Runner-up R.A. Sunil also excelled in all his earlier games and lost in a close finish. He won the handsome Rajaratnam Challenge Trophy as well as cash and a certificate.
Asela Ravichandra of the Social Services Department Vocational Training Centre at Seeduwa was the second runner-up and beat top seed E.A. Sumanapala in the quarter finals. Asela received a cash price and a certificate.
A.A. Chatoor was the Chief Guest and Squadron Leader Cyril Siriwardena (the President of the National Federation of Sports for the Disabled) was the Guest of Honour. Mr. D.C. Abeywardene very graciously allowed the use of the Hotel Golden Topaz for the occasion.
Twenty participants were involved in the first-ever Chess tournament for the blind in this country. The National Chess Association of the Visually Handicapped hopes to conduct the tournament on a wider district scale next year.
wo of Australia's greatest fast bowlers, who helped them to dominate the world cricket scene from the mid '70s and to the '80s have been friends through thick and thin and have been friends for life on and off the field.
Friendship. There is a magical meaning about the term. This bond has helped each other in their hour of need. Jeff Thomson the arrogant fast bowler from Queensland is a self made fast bowler, who turned out to be awesome to opposing batsmen, when partnering Lillee.
This is what Thomson had to say about his life long friend Lillee. "He has always helped me out. He helped me while we were playing, has helped me out since we had finished. A nice guy just straight down the line. He was always there for me. We have been friends for 20 years".
Thommo is one of natures nicest gentlemen. If he had his last dollar, he would give it to you. There are not, too many guys in the world, who would do that. He is very special, a great friend and a great bowler, 'Lillee on Thomson''
'Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if 'Thomson doesn't get you Lillee must', the Aussie used to chant, in the '70s as the two gave the batsmen a harrowing time at the crease. 'Thommo' with his amazing speed at times, more than 160 kmph (laughs). Nobody taught me to bowl fast. I just got it naturally. There are a lot of them who would not like to be there when Jeff lets off the red cherry at such speed. Lillee, is more gentle when compared to Thomson's awesome speed. But there is no getting away from his cut and swing'.
It's a common saying that fast bowlers hunt in pairs. Thomson and Lillee are right on the top of the list, followed by Lindwall - Miller, Trueman and Statham Hall-Griffith and at present Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram. They all belong to the same category.
Yet, they were different. 'Thommo' a former surf rider from Sydney was a slinger, West Aussie Lillee had a long run-up with a beautiful rhythm. Lillee was dark, and moustached, while 'Thommo' had boyish looks. Thereby the duo complemented each other beautifully. Though Jeff hampered by a shoulder injury, compelled him to cut down his speed, but still finished with 200 wickets from 51 Tests. Lillee did even better grabbing 355 wickets, in 70 Tests. The two great friends are now helping the youngsters to improve their skills be it from Australia or otherwise with their experience. The duo make regular treks to MRF Pace Foundation, in Madras to help them. Sri Lankans Pushpakumara, Promodaya Wickremasinghe and a few others have benefitted from their experience in the finer points of hostile, but accurate fast bowling.
Thomson states, a lot of them were scared. I am not bragging, but you have to go to the heart of the matter. When bowling at my best it just ain't no picnic for the batsman. When he bowled short, he wanted to 'hurt' the batsman. 'Bouncers go high, they are a waste of time. If you want to hurt them, you aim here (he points to the rib-cage). If it hits it hurts. At that speed you break arms, fingers, ribs (he laughs again)'.
As for Lillee he is more compassionate, but not too much. "As long as you did not make it to go to hospital and it is not a serious injury it didn't bother me", he adds. It sounds heartless. When a batsman drives you down the line for a four or, lofts for a six, how do you feel? The short ball is part of your weaponry. It's like a yorker. Nobody gets upset when a paceman aims intentionally at a batsman's toe and tries to hurt him. If it is a short ball you get upset. It is the same sort of thing, isn't? I think a yorker is intimidatory too', he adds.
Thomson says 'We helped each other out. If he got a wicket I, too wanted to get a wicket- we had the motivation. The quicker you got the batsman out, the less work you had for the day. If you have two good ones, it's better than one good one'. Despite their contrasting styles, they had one thing in common as 'Thommo' nicely puts it. We had the same temperament, same attitude. Both were aggressive, both hated batsmen and had common goals'.
About their varying bowling techniques, Lillee reveals 'he was fast all the time and jagged them around a bit too. Not so much of swing, but some cut and so fast that it was awful for the batsmen to play. I bowled fuller and swung the ball'.
Of course there was the occasional 'short ball'. Lillee was also capable of bowling a vicious leg-cutter, too.
Indeed, they were the unlikely combination when they were teamed before the 1974-'75 series against Mike Denness's Englishmen at home. The two were just recovering from career setbacks when they found themselves together against the Poms. The rest is history.
Over to Lillee. "The Englishmen came to Australia thinking we were no good. I had broken down with a back problem and was out for 18 months. Thomson, played a test against Pakistan with a broken toe and was obviously nowhere near his best. The Poms were practising at the Oval. In a practice game against South Australia, I bowled medium pace in my first game. I was just feeling my way. Thomson, picked wickets in a Shield game. We were selected for the First Test."
Little would the Englishmen have guessed what was in store for them. When they faced us in the First Test at the Gabba, it was quite a shock for them. 'Thommo' bowled like wind in that game and I was pretty quick myself. That set the tone for the series. That was the fastest that they have seen two bowlers operating together on wickets having a lift and bounce.
Soon there were cries in the English camp about intimidation. Lillee sets the record straight. 'Tony Greig, tried to bounce at me.' He thought I couldn't bowl quick after the back injury. When he bounced at me, I said to him "remember, who started this. I don't think he ever forgot (laughs)". Anyway John Snow has bounced in an earlier series against our batsmen. 'So what were the Poms complaining about', he added.
Thomson, too has a special liking for Greig. He remembers the yorker with which he castled the Englishman at Brisbane. 'Our captain Ian Chappell, didn't like him and we use to wait for him'. Then adds with typical arrogance 'To knock him out wasn't a big deal'.
The friendly pair, who proved awesome to the opposing batsmen when the duo took charge of the cherry from either end, then it's not going to be a picnic for the batsmen as they are bound to get bruised and battered with their hostile bowling. It all happens on the field, be it sledging or otherwise, but later all is forgotten. But Lillee adds, "Sledging has been going on since the game started".
(Some excerpts–courtesy Hindu)
The idiot box has be come the magic box. The press-a-button machine that can do no wrong. And all of us in the cricket world have become so hypnotised by its apparent power that we have forgotten that machines are, after all, made by man and have limitations like everything else. And, as people in the army and in the airlines will tell you, machines are only as good as the man who operates them.
It is a fact that has been highlighted rather starkly by the actions of few men in recent times. Because of the apparent simplicity in judging replays (aren't we all the best third umpires in the world?), it isn't always considered necessary to scrutinise the qualifications of the hand that presses the red and green lights.
The attitude in recent times has tended to be "Doing anything tomorrow? Great. How about becoming our replay umpire for the Test match?... No, you don't have to pay your way in... Yes, it's a great view and it comes with lunch, tea, unlimited soft drinks and snacks .. Yeah, you can tell your wife that we'll have a chat with the producer and he'll show you twice a day... No, I'm afraid you won't get any National Grid shirts. You'll be given two sets of stickers to put on. You slap your chest every hour to ensure they are still there and remember to take them off before you wash your shirt..."
With the increasing tendency of on-field umpires to draw rectangles in the air, and that is to be honest, not a bad trend, the importance of the man in front of the box is increasing everyday. And unlike with the man in the middle, there is no qualitative judgment to be drawn. He is under enormous pressure given the drama associated with the calling of the third umpire and with the eyes, and lenses, of the world focussed on him, he has to remain absolutely cool.
It is not easy and more officials and viewers are discovering that everyday. It was heartening therefore to read a statement attributed to Umpire Cyril Mitchely (after Umpire Piloo Reporter, the man with the flashy boundary signal) that a time will soon come when the best man will have to watch the replays.
Mitchley was in Nagpur where we saw one of he two shockers of recent times. Anil Kumble, as you might remember was almost two feet inside the crease when the safety rectangle was drawn and the look on his face when he saw the red light was a bit like a sudden discovery that he had been batting without trousers before a live audience. He wasn't the only one to feel that way because the first impression in the television room was that the third umpire had pressed the wrong button.
At Karachi, Shahid Afridi was out after Saba Karim had first fumbled slightly and then completed a stumping. Once again, the third umpire ruled differently and made a complete mockery of the very principle behind having a replay which is to ensure that individual judgment and occasional bias (which is a politically incorrect, but fairly truthful thing to say) are eliminated to the largest extent possible.
At Nagpur and at Karachi we have inexperienced umpires who got it wrong. I am not too sure about the decision at Karachi because we didn't get to hear the reasons behind the umpire's bizarre decision, but I am convinced that at Nagpur it was a complete ignorance of what televsion can, and therefore cannot, do which led to the verdict.
The key is that television produces a two dimensional picture. Unlike the eye, which can gauge length, depth and height, the picture on the screen cannot. A high camera can never give you a precise judgement on whether or not the bat is marginally in the air or grounded. A more obvious height difference is shown but tiny differences are quite impossible to tell.
That is why, as Simon Wheeler, director of the Test match telecast, was keen to tell everyone, horse racing finishes or sprint finishes are never determined by the television replay. There is a finish line photograph which is analysed and fifteen minutes later, the decision is announced. The solution, if you have to get it right everytime in cricket, is to do what South Africa have done, install four fixed ground-level cameras, one on either side of the crease at both ends. These are black and white cameras that do not add to the quality of the telecast and hence, a production company or a television network, is not interested in incurring the huge extra expenditure. It is not their responsibility to produce clinching evidence, as a lot of people increasingly believe. Remember their job is to produce an entertaining telecast for the viewer who is the only person they are really answerable to.
And so, given the constraints of commercial television, it is important for every umpire to understand the limitations of the camera. Simon Wheeler, who is one of the top directors in the business, says he would be very happy to organise a workshop for umpires to explain to them how a telecast takes place and indeed, to produce examples of where umpires can be misled. It is a fantastic idea because just as corporate managers today have to be computer literate, modern umpires have to be television literate.
It would also educate people in situations of the kind we saw at Sharjah where television evidence, apparently, was not clinching 'Navjot Sidhu's run-out drama occupied several minutes and several replays. Now, apparently umpire Mitchely ruled that Sidhu was short and only asked Umpire Cooray to check whether the stumps were broken cleanly that is with the ball in hand. That in itself was an unusual decision because the replays were not conclusive on whether Sidhu had in fact, made his ground. Now had umpire Mitchely asked for a decision on whether Sidhu was indeed run-out, and maybe he should have, it would have been very interesting. Given that the umpire would have seen what we did there was not enough evidence to rule Sidhu out. Remember, if there is even the smallest doubt, the umpire rules in favour of the batsman and it would be reasonable to assume that if an action required several replays, none of which was totally conclusive, the batsman would be ruled not out.
Similarly television could not produce evidence to show that Wasim Akram had touched the ball that ran Saba Karim out. When Umpire Steve Bucknor asked for the assistance of Umpire Cooray, all that he was asking for was to rule on whether or not Karim had made his ground. That was easy but inadvertently, it showed up once again the limitations of the "magic box."
Now, the truth is that television can produce evidence even in cases like the Sidhu episode by matching two pictures. Every replay machine in the control room is set to the same time. If one picture shows, the bails coming off, but obscures that exact position of the bat, the picture could be frozen to that time-code, as it is called. Another replay which shows the position of the bat but which obscures the view of the stumps, can then be frozen at the precise time-code of the earlier one. This provides proof that two actions seen in different photographs occurred at the same precise moment. If the batsman is short in one of them and the stumps are broken in the other, the batsman is out.
Now, while technology can provide such evidence it throws up an ethical question that the ICC must rule on. Is the job of the televsion company to produce replays for the viewers which the umpire may also use? Is their job therefore to help the umpire make a decision or is it to play umpire themselves and use video technology to show a result?
The obvious answer would be to go the distance and provide as much evidence as possible. But remember, television is, and indeed must, be guided by commercial considerations, especially over how much equipment they can possess. And while they must be objective, they cannot possess the same qualifications that an umpire must. While an umpire may go wrong at times, and it is accepted that he will, the repercussions over an error by television can be enormous given the passion with which the game is followed in our part of the world.
So, should television be merely a provider of pictures or should it be a decision-maker? The difference is very small but very crucial.
The ICC has a lot of thinking to do on this issue but it could start by insisting that qualified and experienced men do the replay job and that saving on allowances and air-fares should not become the sole criterion.
Reutrn to Sports Contents Page
| HOME PAGE | EDITORIAL/OPINION | NEWS / COMMENT | BUSINESS | PLUS
Please send your comments and suggestions on this web site to
info@suntimes.is.lk or to
webmaster@infolabs.is.lk