Kho-kho catches on

By Ravi Nagahawatte

The latest inclusion into Lanka's sports line-up is an endurance game named Kho-kho.

The name Kho-kho would create in our minds ideas as to what these two perplexing words could mean. It would be surprising if someone who knows nothing about the sport comes right with his first guess as to what its all about. To many Kho-kho could mean a deadly martial art or quite the contrary. Some who expressed their views to "The Sunday Times"opined that it was a harmless game played with cards!

In reality Kho -kho is a game which involves runners and catchers. This sport could also be a welcome change to the bored kids who think that the old cops and robbers game is a bit outdated. However the key aspect in this game is the need to have overall physical fitness and somewhat lean body. Without the two it would be like surviving in quicksand!.

The game is played between two teams, each comprising twelve players. But according to the rules only nine can play leaving out the other three to play the roles of reserves.The playing area consisting of a width of 29 metres and a breadth of 16 metres is divided into eight strips with a diagonal line marked across the ground. Most of the action happens here and this line is used to commence the game with the 'raiders' using this area to position themselves for the kill.A team comprises nine players and only eight can sit -in a kneeling position- on this line while the other stands on guard close to one of the two 120 centimetres tall posts which are put up at either end of the diagonal line. The team which has to protect themselves from being caught come into the playing area in groups of three. Only one raider can chase at any given moment and usually they pick on the person who is the slowest. A dashing run in hot pursuit and a tap on the body followed by the loud shout -kho- usually sees a player being ruled out.

This game which originated in India has a history of over 70 years.It is only played in the Asian region but is fast becoming popular in whatever country which takes to this sport.Here too its gaining popularity even though being in existence for just over an year.And the country showed its progress in the sport by bagging a bronze medal at the recently concluded Nataji Gold Cup in India.The team comprised 14 players from Minuwangoda Nalanda Maha Vidyalaya and one from Marapola Maha Vidyalaya.

The game is not a totally new recreational activity in Sri Lanka as it had been practised in some form in the 60's. But the opportunity to really learn the game came when our Kabadi coach , Athula Wijenayake , was in India with the national team. He had seen the game -Kho-kho- being practised there and had acted quickly to learn the rules and come back 'home' with a new sporting knowledge which he is currently spreading throughout the country.

Kho means 'go' in this sport where this word is used by a raider to give the authority to a team mate to commence chasing. When a raider who is on the 'prowl' says kho and taps a fellow member , who is seated , the person receiving authority to chase can get up and begin his chase. But what is important is that he cannot change the direction from where he began and if the person who needs to protect himself takes a 180 degree turn the raider is left helpless and usually returns to the diagonal line to give authority to a fellow team mate to begin the chase again.The person who needs to protect himself however can move to any side of the diagonal line and can also change direction at any time. A game consists of four innings and an innings lasts nine minutes . The raiding team gains points whenever an opposite player is ruled out . Athula Wijenayake who went as coach for the recent tour of India , said in an interview with "The Sunday Times" that this sport offers it's players the benefit of obtaining overall physical fitness. " Hardly any equipment is needed and what a player requires is only a short and a banian".

When we visited one of the Kho-kho training centres in Sri Lanka ,Marapola Maha Vidyalaya , the lads , mostly national players , were getting ready for a hectic practice session . They were more than willing to display their skills and at times did some dare-devillish moves and acrobatic stunts to add colour to the practice session.

The team's captain , Susantha Amal Wanigasinghe expressing his views on the sport said that he is progressing well since he had done athletics earlier on.

" I changed from athletics to Kho-kho mainly to, promote this sport. I think a sponsor who comes forward to aid this sport will not be taxed too much since the funds needed for this sport is minimal".

'The Best Player' in the recently concluded Nataji Gold Cup in India , Nalin Nishantha Perera , is also an athlete who took to Kho-kho .

He however thinks that his interest is now more in his new found sport. Discipline is high in this sport and there has been no problems in the tournaments which have been held here.

However, despite it's growing popularity, what's saddening is the step-motherly treatment meted out by the Sports Ministry who seem to ignore the existence of the sport.

"There is no support from the Ministry" said Wijenayake .

A great step forward for horse racing

The Poonawalla Estates Stud & Agri Farms of Pune,have sponsored the racing on April 14

The thrills of horse racing and the glamour of high fashion will be high on the agenda of the April season in Nuwara Eliya. An unprecedented increase in thoroughbreds, 22 with very impressive lineages will be taking the field. This is indeed a great step forward in the development of racing as compared to last year with only four thoroughbreds vying with one another to reign supreme.

A number of these thoroughbreds are descendants of Derby winners and other Classics. These have been obtained from India where the Industry is carried out in a very sophisticated manner and enjoy the benefits of superb blood lines imported from the most fashionable racing capitals in the world.

To boost the progress of our racing, the famous Poonawalla Estates Stud & Agri Farms of Pune, India have very generously sponsored a day's April 14 racing, when the best of the horses here will be displaying speed, worthy of their illustrious ancestors. The Poonawalla's have bred winners of 200 Indian Classics and also had success in Hong Kong and the United States. The government of India extends all support to this thriving industry as it provides a lot of employment on the course and large stud farms of which the Poonawalla's are undoubtedly the leading breeders of racehorses in India. We will be lucky to have Mr. Zavareh Poonawalla of the Poonawalla Estates Stud & Agri Farms here to give his expertise during the season.

Some of the many other sponsors are: Nestles, Elephant House, Pepsi, Grand Hotel, Mrs. P. Dayananda, Mr. Suranjith Premadasa, Kandos, Sporting Star, Mr. E.J. De Soysa, the De Mel family, Sporting Times, Union Assurance, Brown & Company and Capital Radio.

The racing calendar on April l0, 12 and 14 also gives an opportunity to the sleek and sporty two-legged fillys, colts, and the more mature stallions and mares to avail themselves of the titles - The most 'Elegant Lady', the most 'Dapper Gent', the 'Snazziest Colt', the 'Trendiest Filly' and the most 'Innovative Hat'. So when the focus is off the turf, in between events, remember to walk tall!

U.K. umpires asked not to call Muralitharan

By P. Subramanyam

LONDON - England's umpires will be asked to put the doubts about the action of Sri Lanka's off-spinner, Muthiah Muralitharan in writing to Lord's rather than call him for throwing this summer.

The Sri Lankan off-spinner will join Lancashire County this summer after his country's participation in the World Cup tournament.

However, Muralitharan, despite reservations about the legality of his controversial action held by some English umpires, may escape censure this summer as Umpires' Association chairman, Mr. Barrie Leadbeater hopes to avoid on-field controversy over the spinner when he plays for Lancashire this summer.

Muralitharan's prodigious off-breaks have already brought him an impressive tally of 203 wickets in 42 Tests and, also, caused two major incidents when two Australian umpires, namely, Darrell Hair and Ross Emmerson, called him for throwing. Moreover, according to reports, at least half a dozen of England's 26 first-class umpires are not convinced that his action is totally legitimate.

Mr. Barrie Leadbeater, chairman of the first-class umpires, admitted that there could be difficulties with interpretations of the law and, therefore, "I shall ask the lads at our meeting next month, that if they are not happy with a delivery or a spell, not to call him but, instead fill out the appropriate part of their report and let the authorities sort it out... as I don't want him to be called for "throwing" because I don't think it will do either the game or the umpires any good," he concluded.

- Courtesy The Hindu

Ranatunga and Muralitharan in Wisden honours list

Arjuna Ranatunga and Muttiah Murlitharan have been picked by Wisden Cricket Almanac among their Five cricketers of the year. Sidath Wettimuny, Aravinda de Silva and Sanath Jayasuriya have been the only other Sri Lankans to have received this honour in the past.

Alongside Ranatunga and Muralitharan, South Africa's Jonty Rhodes, Yorkshire's Darren Gough and Lancashire all rounder Ian Austin have been picked by the Wisden Editor Matthew Engel to receive this year's honours in the world's most acclaimed cricket publication which came out on sale on April 1.

In his editorial Engel has called on Jagmohan Dalmiya, chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), to resign over his failure to remove the cancer of corruption from the game.

Engel, writing in the 136th edition of the cricketers' annual almanack, accuses the ICC leader of dithering over the issues of match-fixing and gambling which have plagued cricket in the past year.

"Dalmiya almost split world cricket trying to take charge of he ICC. Having succeeded, he has given the game no leadership whatever. He should resign and be replaced by someone capable of providing that leadership," Engel wrote.

Last December the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) admitted that Mark Waugh and Shane Warne had accepted money from an Indian bookmaker in February 1995 for providing information in advance of a match.

That admission focused the attention of both the cricketing public and its administrators on a problem which had always been acknowledged but never openly addressed.

Engel argued that subsequent promises by both the ACB and the ICC to hold investigations into the issue have so far amounted to very little.

"To clean up, the game required strong moral leadership at the time and constant vigilance thereafter. (But) cricket's response so far has been pathetic, almost frivolous.

"This crisis is not merely the worst in 20 years. It is doing more damage than anything since Bodyline because it is eating away at cricket's most vital asset: its reputation for fair play," Engel said.

"The Waugh-Warne case is just a small but rocky outcrop of the mountain range of corruption that almost certainly still lies shrouded in the mists elsewhere."

Also among his views expressed in the latest edition of the Wisden Almanac, Engel claims that racism is damaging the quality of English cricket by robbing the game of its potential stars,

A system of "cricketing apartheid" was rife in English county cricket, editor Engel said in the introduction to the 1999 edition of the cricketer's bible.

And he warned that the situation was turning talented English-born teenagers of West Indian or Asian descent away from the sport.

"In an informal, unspoken, very English way, cricketing apartheid has become accepted practice," Engel said. "It has become normal for ethnic-minority players to gravitate towards their own clubs and there is now clear-cut evidence of segregation operating informally in Yorkshire and Essex."

Can Sri Lanka regroup?

By Saif Izzadeen

At the present juncture it will not be a surprise if the defending World Cup champions Sri Lanka are unable to make it to the knock-out round.

There is exactly 41 days to the World Cup in England and whether Sri Lanka will be able to repeat their performance in Lahore in 1996 is left to be seen.

Cricket fans here say that they don't like talk about the team. This is their latest attitude. This was not the situation three years back.

Any cricket team in the world goes through a bad patch. That is natural. Winning and losing is part and parcel of the game. However the way Sri Lanka is performing, it is an absolute disgrace.

The Sri Lanka team which played together and as a unit to win the World Cup in 1996 are now grouped into several units which may be the reason for their poor performance.

When you look at Sri Lanka's record after the successful England tour in August 1998 they have lost 15 out of the 20 one day games.

Sri Lanka completed a successful England tour in August 1998 where they were able to win the first Test against England on English soil and also win their first ever one-day tournament in England.

However after this tour everything seemed to go wrong for Sri Lanka.

They played in Bangladesh in the Mini World Cup where they won the match against New Zealand but lost to South Africa.

Then in Sharjah they played four games and in all the games they ended up on the losing side. They lost two each to India and Zimbabwe. From the four games the world champions lost, two of the games should have been pocketed easily. It seemed that Sri Lanka threw these games.

After this they made an arduous tour of Australia where they were only able to win three games from the ten games they played. Even in Australia they should have won more than three games.

It is true that the Muttiah Muralitharan chucking issue played a major part in this tour but being the World Champions Sri Lanka should have been able to face all the brickbats thrown at them.

It is useless speaking about spilt milk but to see to the remedies to the decline Sri Lanka are going through. But will Sri Lanka have enough time to regroup and win back the World Cup which was won with emotions skyrocketing to happiness in 1996?.

While the Sri Lanka cricket team was going through the bad patch the power struggle to become president of the institute of the most prestigious sport in Sri Lanka has nose dived to lower depths..

After all the hullabaloo in the presidential election of the cricket Board Thilanga Sumathpala swept into the top amidst allegations and counter allegations

Are these people really going to improve Sri Lanka cricket or are they creeping in for their own benefits. It really doesn't matter whether it is Mr. Sumathipala or Mr. Ratwatte as president as long as they serve Sri Lanka cricket well.

Sri Lanka's one day record after the three nation one day tournament in England on August 1998.

                              P                          W                               L                           %

Dhaka                    2                          1                                  1                           50

(Won against New Zealand lost against South Africa)

Sharjah                  4                          -                                  4                            -

(lost two games each to India and Zimbabwe)

Australia              10                           2                                 8                           30

(Won one against Australia and England),

India                     4                           1                                  3                           10

(Won one against Pakistan, lost two to India and one to Pakistan)

Total                   20                           5                                 15                           25

(Tabulated under played, won, lost, winning percentage)

Little old ladies show why small is big in cricket

If you're wondering why the most successful batsmen, like Brian Lara, are relatively short, the answer may lie with the reason that old ladies carry their handbags in the crook of their elbow.

Because it is probably not coincidental that some of the world's best batsmen, past and present, are relatively short.

In the light of Lara's latest feat in turning a certain loss in the third Test against Australia to a heroic victory, Dr Tim Olds, an Adelaide specialist in the evolution of sportsmen and women, yesterday turned his mind to the phenomenon of the great batsmen who are vertically challenged when compared to most other members of the team. Alongside Don Bradman and Lara there are many: Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Allan Border, Lindsay Hassett, Aravinda de Silva, Gundappa Viswanath, Syd Gregory, Alec Bannerman.

Australian research into the physiology of cricketers has concentrated on the ever-increasing height and reach of successful fast bowlers. The shorter exponents of the willow have not warranted the same attention.

Dr. Olds, who studies anthropometry at the University of South Australia, yesterday told The Australian he believed the secret of The Don and his successors rests not in their hand-eye coordination or fine-motor control, but in their acceleration and this phenomenon of reduced effort which he likens to an old lady with her handbag.

"Firstly, shorter men tend to be faster, have greater acceleration," Dr Olds said. "If you look at the fastest men in the world over 60 metres and 100 metres they tend to be short.

"Hence short men can get between the wickets faster." - Courtesy The Australian

Briefly...

U-19 World Cup in 2000

The cover of the brochure of the winning proposal submitted to the International Cricket Conference (ICC) by the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka to make Sri Lanka the host nation for the Under 19 World Cup in 2000, is reproduced above. It is the first time that Sri Lanka will host an international cricket tournament of such magnitude. Twenty teams are scheduled to take part in this competition. The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka headed by Thilanga Sumathipala has appealed to all Sri Lankans to make this an event to remember.

Walter J is no more

The flame of Sri Lanka hockey has been extinguished, though expected at the ripe age of 84, all lovers of hockey in Sri Lanka and abroad, especially India will receive the news with sadness. An Old Wesleyte Walter Jayasooriya was a colossus among giants and his comuterparts in India and Pakistan respected him with awe for his wealth of knowledge of the game and its rules and administration. When India dominated the hockey world for five decades, he was affectionately known as "Mr. Walter - the mighty atom of Sri Lanka hockey," and deservingly so. He was officially connected with Ceylon/Sri Lankan hockey since 1938 and one time member and office bearer of the then Ceylon Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association. Numerous times he was the senior vice-president of the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation, Chairman of both the selection and umpires' committees, and Ceylon's first international Hockey Umpire. In 1963 he went as general team manager for the 1st Ganefo Djakarta Games, hockey manager to Ceylon/Sri Lanka team in 1953, 1957, 1959, 1966 and 1969 and manager at the 5th Asian Games to Bangkok in 1966. Perhaps his greatest achievement and contribution to Sri Lankan hockey was when he and the late Mr. T.M.N. Mahamooth went to India in 1955 to witness and study the organization of the Indian Hockey Nationals. His dream dawned in August 1956, when the 1st Hockey Nationals was inaugurated, the very first in any sport in Sri Lanka. Walter was a walking encyclopaedia on all matters relating to hockey and possessed up-to-date authentic records - indeed a labour of love. He spotted me as a schoolboy at St. Benedict's College in 1954 and it was a privilege to have known and associated with Walter ever since, who virtually gave all of his time and knowledge for the game he loved so much. The Father of Sri Lankan Hockey has gone to his eternal rest! - Dennis De Rosayro.

New concept by Manilal

Come what may, Sri Lanka is embarking on a new trend to see that standards of the poor man's game, football is brought back to its due place in the Asian region in the millennium on a new concept adapted by its President Manilal Fernando who was given a third term. The new president at a press briefing announced the appointment of Anton Jeganathan as the Executive Secretary from April 1, also spelled out the Technical Programme for juniors and seniors with Subbani Hassimdeen as its Director. He said that a director will be also appointed to the Competition Committee. The President also said that a new headquarters will be built on a 62 perch land given to the Federation at Reid Avenue with FIFA contributing in 250,000 US Dollars and AFC 50,000 US Dollars. Rs. 20 million is needed to complete the headquarters and a novel feature in this project will be the sale of each brick to past and present soccerites at Rs 15/- each. A football coach from Malaysia will take charge of the Sri Lanka team with the AFC donating 3,000 US Dollars for his expenses here with the Federation looking after his board and lodging and internal transport. Sri Lanka will participate in the SAFF Gold Cup in Goa in April followed by the pre-Olympic qualifying round in Korea, the SAF Games in Nepal in September where the Lankans will field a under 23 team. The Singapore National team is expected to play two matches, one at Bogambara and the other at Colombo in June. The Pakistan under 16 team together with their under 19 team will arrive in Sri Lanka to play four matches followed by the four regional camps in Galle, Anuradhapura, Badulla and Colombo. Gampola League was chosen as the best league and received Rs. 50,000/- in cash while Samantha Prabath was chosen as the best youth player and was awarded Rs 25,000/-.

Preparation of wickets, Tony Ware tells how

By Bernie Wijesekera

Investigative reporting on and off the field could help the game in a big way, for its further development. This scribe took time off after the triangular series to make a trek to the picturesque MCG grounds on March 12 to study the preparation of pitches, with its head groundsman Tony Ware.

Ware, who earlier prepared for a degree in business management, later took up to be a curator and has done yeoman service for the game and for the Victorian Cricket Club. Firstly, he had a stint at the Melbourne CC and played district cricket.

The MCG a venue with a historic background has the capacity to hold 130,000 fans. It happened in 1959, when American evangelist Billy Graham, attracted this crowd, which spilled on to the arena. The Melbourne Olympics in 1956 drew 1,153,000 - a 15-day aggregate an Olympic record.

According to Ware, cricket, too has drawn big crowds, with the extension of the Southern Stand. In 1961, Australia-West Indies, had a record daily crowd of 90,000. In the World Cup final between England and Pakistan in 1989, 87,182. Pakistan led by mercurial allrounder Imran Khan, won the match.

Rugby football and football, too has a place in this venue during the off season and milling crowds throng the venue.

This meaningful interview, with Ware in the preparation of pitches should give much food for thought for some of our local pundits, who make regular trek to other countries, at Cricket Board expense, but apparently has hardly made an impact in the preparation of pitches which could last for an exciting five-day Test match.

Q- How long do you take to prepare a wicket for a Test match?

A- Two weeks. Start by a big roll of wicket with a two tonner (no need to buy) for one hour. Here there are plenty in the CMC junkyard. Roll twice per day for about 40 minutes each day.

Watering is the most important part. Heavy water two weeks before match to wet the whole soil depth (This make two days) Water daily in the afternoon to keep the moisture in the wicket. At no stage allow the wicket to get dry. Do one wet roll (roll after a water) - three to four days before the game to get a smooth flat surface.

Stop watering the pitch one day before the match to harden it. Cover the wicket if it gets, too hot - to stop drying. How many of our curators, here do this when the conditions are, too humid.

Q-Any other aspects in the preparation?

A- Yes, the most important for a goodish pitch. Even grass cover the soil. The pitch should be level and flat. Soil should not be crumbly, but tough and solid when dry.

Further groundsmen need to be skilled and trained to make good wickets. The right amount of water must be in the wicket at all times. Put a hessien (blotting paper) under the cover to stop moisture wetting the wicket.

Q- What is necessary for a good wicket?

A-Even bounce and pace. Dry grass on the wicket - stops the wicket crumbling. Hard surface. The 'keeper taking the ball at waist high from the fast bowlers. Bounce of the ball to top of stump height for the spin bowlers. The wicket must not crumble or keep low at any time of the match.

Finally the wicket should not crack too much over the five days. Well, Ware took me to the middle during the tea break to inspect the pitch during the W. Australia - Victoria Sheffield Shield Match put aside writing it gave me a good knowledge of wicket preparation. Had I stayed a few days with his staff and pushed around it may have helped me to become a useful groundsman.

Q-What should be the format in humid conditions like that found in Sri Lanka ?

A-Then the pitch must be watered and allowed to dry. When you are thirsty you must drink otherwise you are bound to get dehydrated.

Shane Warne's home ground is the MCG. Are you preparing wickets to suit his bowling? No way. He has taken most of his wickets away from home - especially in England and at Sydney. Pace bowlers have been very successful at the MCG.

Bowlers like Glen McGrath, Curtley Ambrose etc. Alec Stewart got a 100 here despite McGrath taking five scalps in this year's Ashes Series. This itself shows that the pitch is evenly bounced - good for batting and bowling.

Q-Any good batting performances you've seen at the MCG?

A- Viv Richards 150 against Australia in a one-dayer. Your batsman Asanka Gurusinghe's 147 against Australia (under pressure) in the Test, despite McGrath taking five wickets.

Q- Anything memorable in your career?

A- I joined the staff in 1987 and the first Test pitch I prepared was the one against Australia and New Zealand. It lasted for five days. Both teams had some outstanding players - Richard Hadlee, Martin Crowe, Chris Cairns (then a young bloke). While Australia had Allan Border, David Boon, Jeff Lawson etc. Plenty of runs were scored. Lots of wickets taken. The match ended in an exciting draw. It proved a fantastic baptism for me.

Now I have served the Melbourne C.C. for 12 years. I have a staff of 12 in attendance with four seniors under me. Among them is Marnie King, a dedicated girl. She is an asset to the team. Sri Lanka, too had Marie Amma, who served the Tamil Union the Oval, in the past.

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