D Day for Cricket

Who will be President of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka. Clifford or Thilanga?

Attention will be focused on the Annual General Meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka to be held today at the SSC Board Room behind closed doors.

The Sunday Times spoke to the two main contenders for the post of President: Clifford Ratwate and Thilanga Sumathipala and posed them the same questions. We reproduce them below:

Clifford Ratwatte answers

Question. At this stage, with the national team having to prepare to defend its World Cup title in May, don't you think that a contest of this nature to capture the Cricket Board presidency could be sensitive to the players?

Answer. Not necessarily. They have to play the game no matter who is in charge of the Cricket Board. The Board will always be behind the players and will look after their interests to ensure Sri Lanka's success at all levels of competitions.

Q. How confident are you of winning?

A. I am very confident of winning.

Q. Well, the Sri Lankan team has now hit the dumps. What or who do you think is responsible for this?

A. I cannot comment from outside. We will look into this aspect in depth in order to remedy the situation.

Q. It is publicly spoken in private circles that weakness on the part of administrators have made some national players too big for their boots. Some players have become a law unto themselves? They even abuse the media. What plans have you got to bring about a proper code-of-conduct for players?

A. I am personally not aware. If anything has to be done it can be done by negotiation. So far as national players are concerned, the ICC code of conduct is already applicable during International matches.

Q. On the other hand players say they are scared to talk to the press. They say they are being held to ransom and that they even cannot speak about their cricket. Don't you think they are right and that this should change and players be made comfortable to face the media like in other countries?

A. Suffice to say that the players are the prime lot in the game.

Q. After the election is over what will you say could be the changes for the new term ?

A. Every effort will be made to uplift the standard of the game islandwide.

Q.What about outstation cricket. Cricketers and administrators in the provinces say they are a neglected lot or that their clubs come in handy only when election time is near. They complain they get raw deals once the election is over after they have given their vote to a particular individual?

A. Outstation Cricket has to be given a push up as mentioned by me at the press briefing a few days ago. Appropriate short-term action will be taken towards this with a long-term plan to be initiated early.

Q. Will you work against the interests of a particular club that goes against you at the time of election?

A. Certainly not.

Q. The Cricket Board today is a highly politicized institution. Can it be turned into a body that can live upto the sport it is supposed to foster?

A. Yes, and of course.

Q. Critics say that administrators seek office in the Cricket Board for self gain. People will now charge that you are also in this same category. Can you prove your credentials?

A. My past performance in various bodies and institutions have kept my record unblemished.

Q. You are confident of winning. But what will you do if you lose?

Answer - That will not arise.

Thilanga answers

Q. At this stage, with the national team having to prepare to defend its World Cup title in May, don't you think that a contest of this nature to capture the Cricket Board presidency could be sensitive to the players?

Answer. Unfortunately we are left with little choice, my committee has always striven to keep cricket administration away from players, but the AGM is traditionally held from Jan.-March. However, to protect the players we appointed a long term captain and vice captain till after the World Cup.

Q. How confident are you of winning?

A. I will be there.

Q. Well, the Sri Lankan team has now hit the dumps. What or who do you think is responsible for this?

A. In spite of the recent performances of our team, I have every reason to believe that Sri Lanka will come good for the World Cup and bring glory to our country once again. Media and public support is vital towards preparing player mentality and for them to have confidence in themselves in order to perform well.

Q. It is publicly spoken in private circles that weakness on the part of administrators have made some national players too big for their boots. Some players have become a law unto themselves.

They even abuse the media. What plans have you got to bring about a proper code-of-conduct for players?

A. I do not think that the blame for Sri Lanka's performance in the recent past can be attributed to any one individual or to any particular reason. The reasons for their poor performances cannot be dealt with in a short discussion of this nature. It is a subject that needs to be discussed extensively, with several people who are knowledgeable on the subject. As far as administrators are concerned, there are instances when the job of the Administrator and the player are inextricably interwoven, and of course on such instances, we work closely with the players.

Q. On the other hand players say they are scared to talk to the press. They say they are being held to ransom and that they even cannot speak about their cricket. Don't you think they are right and that this should change and players be made comfortable to face the media like in other countries?

A. The BCCSL does not prevent any player from speaking to the media. This is a misconception that most media agencies have. In terms of the contract players have with the Board, they are only prevented from commenting on certain matters that are of a confidential nature pertaining to strategies adopted while on tour, etc. This is in the interest of the game, and not with a view of restricting the players' freedom of expression. Clauses of this nature exist in Player Contracts in other countries as well.

Q. After the election is over what will you say could be the changes for the new term ?

A. Other than continuing with the work we have been doing from March 1990 onwards, I don't envisage any drastic changes to happen after elections. The period I am allowed to hold office by law is short and prevents a person from doing anything very drastic during a short period of time. In spite of this, my committee has undertaken and successfully completed many projects that one would consider revolutionary in cricket administration. The successful restructuring of the domestic Cricket Tournament is one such instance, as is the introduction of the National Development Plan and the construction of140 practice wickets. The preparations for defending the World Cup would as always be of primary importance, and most of our resources would be concentrated in that direction.

Q. What about outstation cricket. Cricketers and administrators in the provinces say they are a neglected lot or that their clubs come in handy only when election time is near. They complain they get raw deals once the election is over after they have given their vote to a particular individual?

A. This is not true. The last thing a person can complain about my administration is to say that the outstation cricket clubs have been neglected. It is under my administration that the people of the south got an international Test venue. Dambulla Cricket Stadium will come up in the near future. That will be a huge boost for cricket/clubs in that region. A larger proportion of the practice wickets constructed was also in the outstations. Establishment of Regional Boards and strengthening their administration has further contributed towards bringing the Board closer to the outstation clubs coming under these Regions. The Board has also, without any discrimination, given financial assistance to all clubs and the outstation clubs have benefited by this enormously.

Q. Will you work against the interests of a particular club that goes against you at the time of election?

A. No, I'll never do that. I have always been fair to the few clubs that oppose me and have always strived to win their support in the interest of cricket. I have a vision for cricket and don't intend wasting the limited time I have on a pointless witch-hunt. There were clubs that opposed me last year, but they will agree with me when I say that they too have benefited equally from my administration along with the other clubs.

Q. The Cricket Board today is a highly politicized institution. Can it be turned into a body that can live upto the sport it is supposed to foster?

A. I seriously thought that this will happen from last year after I came into office with a group of persons selected for their cricketing background rather than for any political affiliation. Yet it seems that certain persons want the BCCSL to be a satellite in the orbit of politics, rather than a body run by cricketers for cricketers. I genuinely thought that I had won a major victory for cricket when I wrested the Cricket Board Administration from politicians and the likes, for and on behalf of the cricketers. It is only a very few people who have obviously not realized what is best for the game, who opt to politicise the Cricket Board for political gain.

Q. Critics say that administrators seek office in the Cricket Board for self gain. People will now charge that you are also in this same category. Can you prove your credentials?

A. I can only say that this is not true of me. I became involved in the Cricket Board many years ago at the request of many clubs and individuals who thought that I could serve the purpose of cricket. Since that time I have been involved in the activities of the Board, and finally became its President in 1998. I sought the office of President for the reason that I had a clear plan of action for cricket. This is to effect comprehensive and far reaching changes within the Board to better enable us to meet the needs of cricket in the new millennium. Absolutely none can say that I have gained personally from being on the Cricket Board.

Q. You are confident of winning. But what will you do if you lose?

A. I have given of my very best this year, so I am confident of winning. Even if the improbable happens, I shall continue to work in the interest of cricket to the best of my ability. Nothing will dampen my love for the game.

From Russia with love

Valeri and Olga are here to coach our young athletes

By Ravi Nagahawatte

Russian coaches Valeri Nazarov and Olga Nazarova were the centre of attraction when they conducted a routine practice session with our athletes at the Torrington Grounds last Tuesday.

Passersby simply had no clue to who they were. The Western features of the duo made the curiosity grow. Olga, aged 37, did most of the talking. Valeri, her coach is not that fluent in English. The two, however, did not seem to have a major problem communicating to the athletes who seemed more than willing to heed their commands.

The way they work together and from how they communicate with each other, leaves enough room for anyone to think that there is some special bond between them. It does not come as a surprise if one learns that the two are married.

Valeri, a senior coach in Russia, had begun coaching his wife way back in 1979. The hard work put in by Olga is eminent from the little muscle tone in her body which adds a welcome sharpness to her appearance. And looking at her one cannot help but think that she is still in active training. But today she is more inclined towards following in her husband's footsteps after a back injury put a halt to her athletics career.

Valeri is more a fatherly figure and moves around with the athletes in a caring manner. Each time his wife has to translate a question thrown at him by us makes Valeri a little frustrated. "Next time when I come I will know my English," says Valeri.

The duo are here to coach our juniors and the opportunity for them to visit Sri Lanka came through the efforts of the International Olympic Commitee. Valeri will be here for two years and will focus his attention on junior athletes while his services will also be used at consultation level. For the three short weeks he has been here , Valeri sees a lot of potential in our junior athletes who mainly consist of runners who have exelled at school level.

"They are not lazy and do things exactly as we say. Apart from the small hindrance caused by the language problem there is no difficulty in coaching them" said Valeri while speaking to "The Sunday Times".

Valeri was also full of praise for our local coaches and said that they had enough experience. "We only want to update the athletes on some new techniques . That is our mission."

Olga seems to be quite close to our athletes and the friendship cultivated with shows whenever she greets an athlete irrespective of his or her seniority.

Hurdler Sriani Kulawansa was the first to send her greetings with a big 'HI' as she entered the ground with a bunch of runners. There were a few others who approached her with a casual wave or the traditional greeting and Olga together with Valeri were more than happy to greet them back saying ayubowan.

"Apart from us training these athletes they teach us Sinhalese. And as time permits we teach them some Russian," said Olga. "These two are not like our people.What ever Sinhalese we teach them is learned quickly. They even come back the next day and repeat these lessons," said one ministry official.

When asked whether they had spoken to our top athletes such as Sugath Tillakeratne and Damayanthi Dharsha, the duo answered in the positive and also said that they had had many discussions.

Valeri was in favour of the sport being a profession but showed disapproval of drugs being involved at international level competitions. "It is a big problem. But most athletes are now aware of the harm that these performance enhancing drugs can cause to the body" said Olga while giving her view on the usage of drugs ."Most of them are discontinuing the use of it".

Answering a question as to whether a natural athlete has a chance of winning a medal today, the experienced Valeri answered the question with a positive yes. " If one works very hard, use modern techniques and get in propper rest, why not," said Valeri.

Despite being here for just a short period, Valeri and Olga have begun to take a liking to our spicy food. But the big problem confronted by them when consuming our food is tackling the extra chillie in our traditional menus. " You simply have to gulp down a lot of water to ease the burning sensation on the tongue," opined both in chorus.

The invincibles

By Marcus Joseph

Bradman's side remains the only Australian team to complete a tour of England unbeaten. They won all four Tests to be finished, were victorious in half of their 34 matches with an innings in hand, and seven of their number passed 1,000 runs for the tour. Tour profits exceeded £75,000 more than twice the previous best, and everywhere they went, from Southern Scarborough, Headingley to Hastings, they enchanted a public still scrambling desperately out of the post-war doldrums.

Fifty years after those Herculean deeds, all the surviving invincibles have been cavalcaded around Australia in a blaze of celebration, honoured and adored at one function after another. Last year they held a gala dinner at the Gabba. They had done it in Sydney and Adelaide and did it again in December at the gripping Ashes Test in Melbourne. There were extensive and exhausting media interviews and also the release of an ABC documentary.

It was all quite a party for a bunch of fellows nearing the end of their lives but Sam Loxton, their dashing Victorian all rounder from that tour, didn't mind at all. 'We've been seeing each other this season almost as much as we saw each other in 1948. We lost Ian Johnson some month ago but we've been galivanting,' he said at his Gold Coast home in Queensland, the sunny retreat to where he retired from the Mornington Peninsular, Victoria. 'The ranks are getting thinner. We're down to 10. Don Bradman and Keith Miller are not actively involved anymore but we saw the great man at Government House where we were in Adelaide and that was a wonderful thing.

At the functions and banquets, these cricketing immortals mingled and chatted with many of the current Australian side, which has been compared of late with their invincibles. Loxton chuckles and splutters, mildly irked, it appears at comparisons.

'Bradman never played a Test match on a pitch that was covered so it's very hard to make these comparisons. But this Australian side today is a pretty wonderful side and why wouldn't they be? They're professionals, 'he gasps. 'We had to earn a quid before we got down to cricket practice. We were never allowed to practice on wet pitches because when we got down to practice after rain the curator would have the nets folded back, a rope around the area and a sign on it saying "keep off!", so the only time we saw a wet wicket was when we had to play on one.

Loxton lived a little in the shadow of greater men on the 1948 Ashes tour. He had not expected to play at all during the series and only squeezed into the team for the Third Tests at old Trafford because of doubts over Keith Miller's fitness. He had stood on the balcony of the Trent Bridge pavilion in the first Test and said to Neil Harvey, then still only 19, 'Harve, you and I are only here to make up the numbers.'

However, Loxton did enough at Old Trafford to keep his place and played his best innings of the tour at Headingley in the next match - 93 including five sixes in two and a quarter hours - paving the path for Australia to win the Test by scoring 404 on the final day. What's more, it was Harvey, in his first Test, who hit the winning run.

Like his captain, Loxton was an unfailing advocate of attacking cricket. Against Surrey the tourists had needed 122 to win the match before they could take up an invitation to watch fellow Australian John Bromwich play Bob Falkenburg from the USA in the Wimbledon final. Loxton and Harvey got them in under an hour.

'I had a great game at Leeds. I liked to get on with it and this was the kind of cricket that attracted the great man to a lot of young players of that time. He was an attacker himself so he liked everyone else get on with it,' Loxton said.

That improbable victory at Headingley secured the series but the Australians won at the Oval, as an eloquent encore, by an innings and 149 runs, having bowled out England for 52 and 188. The greatness of the side in the summer lay, Loxton reckons, not only in exceptional individual talent but in a strength and unity of spirit that stemmed from the fact that all but two of their party had served in the War. Laxton himself had served as a crew commander in a tank unit in Queensland. Those fellows were desperate to play cricket because they'd had so much war and it was more or less, I think, a release of some kind. There was a desire, not to win at all costs, but to be a winning side,' he said. But we cheated, obviously - we had two batsmen in Bradman and two bowlers in Bill Johnston. He could pummel down the new nut and then he'd come on and bowl Underwoods. When you've got that combination it's making life pretty tough.'

Loxton toured South Africa in 1949/50 but otherwise he spent his winters playing in Victorian (Australian rules) Football League for St. Kilda with Keith Miller. He served as an Australian team manager and selector and for 24 years as an MP in the Victorian Parliament.' I knew nothing about politics but it did not take me long to learn that the thing that most people look for a politican is some assistance' he observed. 'I found the work of simply helping people a marvellous thing. I suppose that's what made me hold a seat which the moment I left it, Labour comfortably won.' (Through the courtesy "The Cricketer International - March 1999")

He swings terror

Wasim Akram has given a new dimension to the art of swing and seam bowling. Remarkably accurate and penetrative, he has managed to keep himself focused so long at the highest level of the game, and it is a marvel.

For a cricketer of his stature, widely respected and hailed as one of the all-time greats, Akram has not been treated well by his nation's cricket administration and a few years ago he faced a revolt by people in the team he regarded as close mates. But his warmth continues for the same people, in the interest of team spirit.

Cricket has been a very educating experience for Akram, a gritty and articulate person with a fierce ambition to become the best. "I was always trained to give of my best on the field and that is why I never give up in any situation", he says.

In modern cricket, no bowler has evoked the kind of awe Akram has. He can bring about frightening innovations. He can bowl from just six steps and leave the batsman dazed and embarrassed. With every match, he appears to become wilier, making a mockery of some of the best batting line-ups in the world.

Akram is on a mission now. With a total of 378 wickets, he aims to become the greatest wicket-taker in Test history. He holds the record for the highest number of wickets in limited overs cricket with 363 victims. Two hat-tricks in Test cricket. Two hat-tricks in limited overs cricket. He is simply an amazing bowler, achieving the Test hat-tricks against Sri Lanka in just 10 days at Lahore and Dhaka.

There have been very few bowlers as versatile as is Akram. He can seam the ball as comfortably as he can swing it. When in the mood, he lets himself go flat out. In his unique way he is a deadly combination of skill and power.

Very few bowlers could boast of such domination over batsmen. Akram can do wonders with the ball like no one can. He does not care for the reputation of the opponent or the condition of the pitch. If he has to perform, he will and it is on such occasions that this crafty Pakistani becomes a lethal customer to deal with.

Over the years, he has developed as a bowler by his own efforts. No one can really claim to have been his guru. He shares his secret: "I must have spoken to hundreds of bowlers" in trying to imbibe the tricks of the trade.

Never short of inspiration and determination, Akram believes he was born to tease and conquer the best of the batsmen. Countless times he has dismissed batsmen well set; countless times he has changed the course of the match on his own; and countless times he has carried the team on his shoulders. If one were to pick a bowler who commanded respect from every quarter, Akram would be the first choice.

One vividly remembers a match at Sharjah. Playing under the captaincy of Moin Khan, he just could not bear any longer one batsman frustrating the bowlers. From his position on the boundary, he just walked up at the end of the over, asked for the ball and got rid of the batsman. That's the stuff bowlers just dream of. But then Akram has always been different from the rest.

For long, he bowled in the shadows of Imran Khan even though Akram had an identity of his own. He was quite early acknowledged as a bowler with exceptional skills and was expected to perform relentlessly. Which he did with astounding consistency.

Take a look at his record and you would notice that Akram has rarely let his team down. He is a positive cricketer and often provides the breakthrough in difficult situations. Openers spend sleepless nights at the prospect of their having to face him the next morning. Akram has not been clobbered in any grade of cricket.

Those who think he is just a bowler may please note that his best as a batsman in Test cricket is 257 not out.

This immensely gifted player has played a very significant part in the development of Pakistan cricket since his international debut 15 years ago. The fact that he has lasted so long and held his place should give an indication of the respect he commands in international cricket.

Of late, hounded by betting and matchfixing scandals, Akram has gone through most painful times. Shattered by the wild allegations linking him with bookies for matchfixing, Akram announced his retirement last year and when compelled to rethink, he vowed never to lead Pakistan but returned to serve the team with great loyalty. "My country and team needed me" was how he explained the change of heart. The team has rallied round him and that is Akram's greatest achievement as captain.

His leadership qualities are simply superb. He does not tolerate complacency and indiscipline. What puts him on a good wicket is the reality that he leads from the front so that none can fault him when he becomes tough with his boys.

Akram, in the prime of his career as he leads Pakistan in what will be his fourth World Cup, believes he has been a victim of petty politics and jealousies. Pakistan cricket regularly gets rocked by scandals and in Akram's case it has been a torrid experience of his being nailed without a proper trial.

The Pakistani left-arm ace is only 32 and will give himself a good two or three years more in international cricket. Kapil Dev's record sure stands the threat of being scaled by either Akram or Courtney Walsh, just past the 400-wicket mark. Let us enjoy the Akram-Walsh race to reach the pinnacle. If Walsh reaches first, Akram, with all his passion and guiles, will not be far behind.

- Vijay Lokapally in New Delhi

Wasim Akram's hat-trick

By M. lsmeth

When Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram took the back to back hat-trick he was the third cricketer in history to do so and it had taken 87 years for one to achieve it.

The first bowler to achieve two test hat-tricks was Australia's H. Trumble against England in Melbourne in 1901-1902 and 1903 -1904.

The second also happened to be an Australian T.J. Mathews against South Africa in 1912 and Mathew's performance came from the same match.

During the period 1912 upto the time Akram achieved the great feat, there had been some superb fast bowlers who were seen in action playing for Australia, West Indies, England, South Africa, India and Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand.

Though the world had seen class fast bowlers like Harold Larwood, Jardine, Keith Miller, Ray Lindwall, Alan Davidson, Fazal Mahmood and in the recent past Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, Ian Botham, Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Slyvester Clarke, Joel Garner, Malcom Marshal, Waqar Yunis, Richard Hadley, Courtney Walsh and others the cricketing world had to wait for 87 long years to see the third one.

Though Akram's achievement was against Sri Lanka, it does not matter as long as it was one from the region who had achieved it.

What Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan should strive to do is to hold the cricket supremacy within the region without letting it slip out of our hands and end elsewhere.

We had seen that the supremacy in hockey that was held by both India and Pakistan at all international tournaments be it the Olympic Games, the Champions trophy etc., at one time has now gone into the hands of the European countries and Australia.

The hockey wizardry, the artistic stickwork, etc., had all gone to the other side of the globe.

Its in this context I say that the cricketing supremacy should be held by this region at least for the next decade.

Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan have all won the World Cup once and its upto them to try and get the championship this time around as well.

Another heartburning issue is that of the bribery allegations levelled against the Pakistani players and the furore created by the Aussies in 1996 against our own Murali.

The whole question is why on earth are the boards of cricket in the region giving into all types of allegations levelled by the Australians or any others.

Let's examine the allegations against the Pakistani players, that they should throw away the match and or give a report on the condition of the pitch, and the weather condition.

Now why should a bookmaker ask a cricketer to tell him about the weather condition, about the pitch and the team that would play on that particular day.

Let the bookmaker give those thousands of dollars to an ordinary man on the street or to any spectator at the stadium before the start of a match he would tell the bookmaker what the weather condition would be like and the condition of the pitch.

Now I give below two instances of the weather report and condition of the ground before the start of play for example:

"It's cloudy with overcast skies, the pitch is wet, the outfield soggy after last night's heavy rain, there's going to be delay in the start of the today's play."

"Today the first day of the match, bright sunshine and the outfield is fast, with a little of grass the pitch would help the seamers in the first two hours and towards the evening it would help the spinners."

"The batsmen too would be able to make the runs as the ball would come onto the bat."

Now these are some of the famous reports given before the start of a day's play, be it a test or one dayer.

Is it for this report that bookmakers would want to pay thousands of dollars to a cricketer. Give it to us and we will give them the exact report (in lighter vein).

Are the top officials in the Pakistani Board gullible enough to believe this from the Australian players and take their players to task?

The Aussies in 1996 tried to demoralise Murali when the Sri Lankans were there before the 96 World Cup. They tried everything up their sleeves to upset the Lankan side but that did not work, and finally we beat them hollow in Lahore in 1996.

This time the Aussies went to Pakistan with one intention to beat the Paks in their home grounds in 1998-99 series and they did beat them in a series after 39 years.

How did they do it, they started the alllegations against the top Pakistani players and the Pak Board swallowed the bait and from the day the Aussies landed in Pakistan soil there were problems within the Pakistan team and they lost not only the test but also one dayers.

Now this is the type of thing that we should avoid. Thank God Sri Lankans are not that stupid to believe the Aussies or any other's allegations against our players until they are proved beyond any reasonable doubt. The three nations in the region should stand together against any ploy by anyone who would try to demoralise our cricket. The abundance of cricketing talent in the region is enough to beat any side in the world and let's maintain it that way.

Arjuna should quit, says former paceman Opatha

'The national captain should not even be considered for coaching the side for sometime'

By Channaka de Silva

Former Sri Lanka fast bowler Tony Opatha said Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga should quit immediately if Sri Lanka cricket is to improve any further. In an interview with "Sunday Times" last week, Opatha made several other observations as well and also suggested remedies for the dilemma the national team is facing at present.

"Sri Lankan cricketers have gone down dramatically. Everyone is asking why. The answer is simple. The whole set up has to be changed from Arjuna Ranatunga. I think its time that Arjuna retired. Arjuna did an excellent job for the country. He was a great cricketer, a great leader. But the time has come for a change. There should be change in captaincy. I think Arjuna Ranatunga should be respected for all what he did. He was an excellent ambassador, a great captain, a great cricketer but its time that Arjuna should bow out and hand it over to the next capable person who is ready to take over." said Opatha.

Not stopping there, Opatha observed that Ranatunga should not be given the post of national coach in case he decides to retire. He reasoned thus "If Arjuna stops playing he shouldn't be given anything to do with the team for three or four years. You need a break from the game after playing for so long. He should be given a break for a few years. Then you must bring him into the side as the coach because he knows the game. He is a good captain. They should bring him into the game, but not immediately. He needs a rest and the team needs a rest from him. They've seen enough of him and he has seen enough of the team. So, therefore after such a long period of leadership, what you need from both sides is a break of three to four years. He should have nothing to do with the team for sometime."

He also said that the maximum coaching period for a coach should be limited to four years because after that there is likely to be a decline. He said Arjuna was handling the team so much that the players are fed up now. Arjuna Ranatunga has performed. He has done his bit. We need basically a new coach."

An epitome of a fit player during his career, Opatha who still looks very much to be in shape, was highly critical of the level of fitness of our players and put down age as one factor which is affecting their fitness. He said "You can see that the seniors are not physically fit. You can see how frequent Aravinda is having injuries. There comes a time, there comes an age when you have to say Thank you very much, I did my bit and leave honourably, so that everybody will respect you for what you have done. I stopped playing for Sri Lanka at the age of 30. I moved out to give Asantha de Mel, Rumesh Ratnayake, Ravi Ratnayake a chance to come in. I thought that was enough. Anura Tennekoon and I retired together. We made it a plan. We retired on the same day just to give the young guys a chance. Anura was 31 and I was 30. The following year we got Test status. Still we did not regret. We did our job for the country. We played eleven years together for the country. I had never been dropped for a single match. We worked very hard. I worked like a horse. We had a tremendous team. We did not have any differences in the team."

Opatha said the postponement of ushering in new blood was a major setback. "They should start introducing more young players into the side. All the senior players in the side are showing signs that they are maturing for their age. Some of them are in the mid 30's which is time for an honourable retirement before being asked to leave. They have served the country. They had been excellent ambassadors. They had performed when they had to perform. We won the World Cup. I think once you hit the age of 32, 33, you must understand that you should give a young guy a chance to play. We have been playing the older boys a little too long. And by that you can see the number of injuries they are carrying." he said.

However he said the changes in the ranks should materialise immediately. "These changes have to come after the World Cup. It's a little bit too late now. But I am sure it has to be changed immediately for the sake of future Sri Lanka cricket, and in future to avoid Sri Lanka cricket becoming the laughing stock in world cricket. Because at the moment Sri Lanka cricket has become exactly that."

Today being one of the national coaches of Netherlands, Opatha who has also coached teams in Ireland, Bangladesh and South Africa, was not happy at all about the way the national team is coached. "We have three coaches-Roy Dias, Rumesh Ratnayake, D.S. de Silva, three different people doing the same job-coaching cricket. I heard they are going to get another coach from Australia to coach fielding. I think its a big joke." he said.

Stunned by the way the Board is appointing coaches, he said "If you can't do it alone, you are not a coach. If you are the national coach, you must be able to handle the full team. You should have authority and you should have discipline. If you can't do it, don't do it."

He also observed "We should get one coach, not three coaches or four. One coach who was an all rounder. one manager. not two managers. Expert advisers and fielding coaches are highly unnecessary. It is a waste of money. If we are going to have three people to do one man's job and if they also can't get things done, I think it is ridiculous."

Opatha paid a glowing tribute to Dav Whatmore for helping the country to win the World Cup. "By the performances of the current Sri Lanka team we can see that there is no unity. We can see that the team spirit is lacking somewhere. During the World Cup with Dav Whatmore we had that. Well, I've heard from many of the senior players that he was not a great coach. But he motivated the team. He guided the team. We worked very hard on fielding. We were one of best fielding sides in the World Cup and that was one reason why we won the World Cup." he said.

He said that when some of the Sri Lankan players told him that Whatmore was average, he had responded. "I told them that he motivated them, guided them, disciplined them, he brought some spirit into the team and he brought the team together. That's what we are lacking today.

He was in favour of a foreign coach, "I think the players will listen to a foreigner than to a local. Players might think that a foreigner might have better ideas of what they don't see. There are no club politics involved. He doesn't have to depend on the money here. He is totally free."

However he pointed out that the services of a class coach were needed somewhere else. He said that when players come to the national level, they don't need a coach to teach them the basic techniques. But he explained that they need somebody to guide them. He pointed out that the juniors need a good coach as it was where the world's best coaches are needed.

Opatha who played for the national team for eleven years uninterrupted, without being dropped once since 1971 to 1981 was upset at the way the team selections were made. "If the selection committee selections are not being honoured, why does the selection committee stay on ? I know Hashan Tillekeratne was not in the original selection for the World Cup. Now I have been made to understand that he is in the selection. How come ? Was it done by the selection committee or was it done by the ex-co. If so, is the selection committee valid anymore ?

Opatha who played with distinction for St. Peter's SSC, CCC and then Air Force said they never poked their finger into the administration part while being players. "We were given to play, we played. The officials were officials. We never mixed around with officials because it was not our job. That was one reason why we performed. Players can earn millions but they have no say. Nobody in the world does that. No cricketer in the world can tell the Board what to do. If it's happening, it's only here. From the performances of our players we can see that there is some conflict." he said.

Having visited the Board premises during his recent visits to the country from Netherlands where his permanent abode now is, Opatha did not like the things at the headquarters. "What I can say about the Board environment is that I was not pleased. Let's leave that there diplomatically. I was basically not pleased with what I saw." he said.

Opatha who said he is finding it hard to go anywhere in Sri Lanka as people start asking him what has gone wrong with Sri Lanka cricket summed up the current problems finally "There is no co-ordination, there is no communication, there is no understanding. There is no team effort from the Board, from the players, from the officials. All are working separately. If you have so much money, use it properly. don't waste it for nothing."

Opatha was in the country for a short visit and also was helping out the Dutch women's national team currently touring the country.

Hamish makes his mark as a genuine pacie

By Bernie Wijesekera

Sri Lankan-born, Hamish Solomons, is going great guns for St. George District CC as an accurate medium pace bowler.

This is Sydney's premier cricket competition. This tournament is on par with Grade 1 in Victorian District cricket. H. Lanky Hamish gave a superb performance in the second grade to pick a match bag of 10 wickets and plays in the tough St. George First Grade side, for his consistency. Already, has held his place in seven games. St George, the famous district club where the legendary Sir Don Bradman, Arthur Morris, and Ray Lindwall, (members of the invicible 1948 team) Bill O'Reilly, Norman O'Neill, Brian Booth, Kerry O'Keefe, Murray Bennett, etc., excelled. Later on they did proud for Aussie cricket. Some of the current N.S.W. Shield players had a stint at St. George. Hamish, son of Harry Solomons, who excelled at cricket, rugby and soccer. He played rugby for K.V. under Ken Balendra. Ken an outstanding product from Royal is a key figure in the Duncan White Sports Foundation.

Hamish today is the only Sri Lankan-born playing first-grade cricket in Sydney. Hamish had taken 15 wickets todate at an average of 12 runs apiece. This scribe, was fortunate to go to St. George grounds, which is well equipped and maintained than some of our international venues in the outstations. Facts are stubborn. The clubs participating are more competitive than some of the clubs taking part in Sri Lanka's major tournament - the "Sara trophy".

Kandy SC triumph

Kandy S.C., a leading Lankan club playing 'A' grade cricket in Victoria emerged champions when they defeated Colombo S.C in the final played at Mulgrave, early this month. This tournament is conducted by the Young Christian Workers' Association, has generated tremendous enthusiasm among the Lankan community now living in Victoria. Y.C.W.C.A., which was started way back in 1941, is affiliated to the Victorian Cricket Association. They were the first to start limited over cricket, according to the president of the Kandy S.C., Bertie Ekanaike.

Ekanaike, told The Sunday Times, that six Lankan teams are taking part in the tournaments organised by the YCWCA, Kandy S.C. was inaugurated in 1982 and Ekanaike was its first president. Berite, an oldboy of St. John's, Nugegoda, played cricket under Daya Wickremeratne for the school. He is also a trustee of the Sri Lanka Crikcet Foundation of Victoria.

Incidentally, St. Sylvesters' schoolboy, Chanaka Wijeyesinghe, a talented young cricketer is being sponsored jointly by Bertie Ekanaike and David Cruse, for four years - with a package of Rs. 50,000/- per a year. Eddie Gray, handed over the cheque to the Principal of St. Sylvesters', Kandy when he attended the Duncan White Sports Foundation, award ceremony for 1999.

After a keen contest, Kandy S.C. emerged 'A' champions for 1998 - '99, which team included former Sri Lankan wicket-keeper-batsman Chamara Dunusinghe.

The Kandy SC team consisted of: David D'Altra (umpire), Senaka Dissanayake, Ajith Chandrasinghe, Craig O'Brien, T.L. Fernando, Cory Analzack, Brandon Smith, M. Perera, Neville Liyanage, Adrian Crawley (umpire), Saman Kandage, Sean Nugera, Bertie Ekanaike (president KSC), Frank Ekanaike (president Y.C.W.C.A.), Jayantha Silva, (capt.) Chamara Dunusinghe (V.Capt.), and Nilantha Bopage.

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