Natasha Kodituwakku qualifies for Asia Pacific and SAF games

By Annesley Ferreira

The completion of the 23rd Age Group Swimming and Diving Championships conducted by the National Amateur Aquatic Sports Union (NASSU) which served as the final trial to pick Sri Lanka's participants for the Asia Pacific Age Group championships concluded at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium pool.

The selection committee have picked on 20, 12 boys and 8 girls who qualified at the set timings by NAASU.

Suprisingly its noteworthy that no swimmer in the boys' section in the age groups of Under 10, 12 and 14 qualified for age group championships.

Failing to qualify to this championships, was Gheffari Dulapandan in whose absence Marlon Delano is tipped to lead the boys' swimming team being the most senior and experienced swimmer and Natasha Kodituwakku of Colombo International School or Theekshana Ratnasekera likely to lead the girls' team.

In all, twenty two are likely to represent Sri Lanka at the Asia Pacific Swimming and Diving Championships in Bangalore, India comprising twenty swimmers and two divers.

The swimmers who qualified are:

Boys - Marlon S. Delano (St. Joseph's), Gihan Ranatunga, Eranga Fernando, Duleeka Nanayakkara, Dasun Ratnasekera (S. Thomas'), Sean Lee (Asian International School), Asela Pradeep, Ruchira Perera, Jayamal Wijeratne (Ananda), Shevantha de Silva, Thilanka Samaradivakara, Pasan Muthumala (Trinity).

Girls - Natasha Kodituwakku, Radeesha Daluwatta (Colombo International School), Theekshana Ratnasekera (Musaeus), Chathuri Abeykoon, Chandi Haputanthri, Shanika Perera (Ladies College), Menaka de Silva (St. Bridget's), Ruwika Fernando (Mahamaya).

Boys Under 14 age group:

Divers - Gayan Ranatunga (S. Thomas') and Chanaka Wickremasinghe (Royal).

Two divers will also represent Sri Lanka at the Junior World Diving Championships in Czechoslavakia from August 18 to 22.

Two Age Group records were bettered at the 23rd Age Group swimming and diving championships, one by Jayamal Wijeratne in the boys' Under 19 free style clocking 51.45 seconds.

Wijeratne of Ananda College bettered the record set by Gihan Ranatunga last year 56.51 seconds.

Swimming

Age Group Champions

Under 10: Boys - Ashane Fernando (St. Joseph's), Girls - Minuruwan Samarakoon (Hillwood College Kandy).

Under 12: Boys - Kalyan Veera (SSC), Girls - Chaturi Abeykoon (Ladies College).

Under 14: Boys - Dharshaka Tennekoon (Ananda), Shanika Wimalanatha (Mahamaya Kandy).

Under 16: Boys - Chaturanga Perera (Trinity), Radeesha Daluwatta (Colombo International School).

Under 19: Boys - Gihan Ranatunga (S. Thomas'), Natasha Kodituwakku (Colombo International School).

S. Thomas' Mount Lavinia with an aggregate of 258 points won the overall championships with St. Joseph's second with 224 points, followed by Ananda 204, Trinity 118 and Royal 99.

Mahamaya with 282 points won the overall championships for girls with Ladies College second with 186 points followed by Colombo International School 131, Musaeus 90 and Asian International School 85.

The second record belonged to Natasha Kodituwakku of Colombo International School who bettered her own 400 metres individual medley record touching in at 5 minutes 51.01 seconds while her old record stood at 5 minutes 56.89 seconds.

Royal with an aggregate of 68 points won the overall boys diving champions followed by S. Thomas' 42 points and St. Joseph's third with 37 points.

Visakha Vidyalaya won the girls overall diving championships with 38 points followed by Anula Vidyalaya with 22 points and Overseas Childrens School third with 20 points.

Results.

Girls - 50 metres breast stroke: Miniruwan Samarakoon (Hillwood) 52.88, Madavi Dharmadasa (Mahamaya) 56.93, Heshani Unambuwa (Mahamaya) 57.62.

200 Individual Medley: Minuruwan Samarakoon (Hillwood) 3.38.76, Madavi Dharmadasa (Mahamaya) 4.02.28, Imra Fahim (Bishop's) 4.06.98.

50 metres back stroke: Madavi Dharmadasa (Mahamaya) 49.73, Amita Arulpragasam (CIS) 50.66, Tahani Yu (Ladies) 51.15.

50 metres butterfly: Minuruwan Samarakoon (Hillwood) 43.89, Heshani Unambuwa (Mahamaya) Madavi Dharmadasa 50.43.

50 metres Free Style: Thani Yu (Ladies) 43.33, Madavi Dharmadasa (Mahamaya) 43.73, Minuruwan Samarakoon 43.99.

Boys - 50 metres Breast Stroke: Ashane Fernando (St. Joseph's) 49.05, Chanaka Malimbada (Ananda) 49.63, Poorna Kankainge (Royal) 50.98.

200 metres Individual Medley: Poorna Kankainge (Royal) 3.28.43, Ashane Fernando (St. Joseph's) 3,29.55, Chanaka Malimbada (Ananda) 3.37.64.

50 metres Back Stroke: Aaqil Yakoob (Asian Int. School) 47.59, Poorna Kankainge (Royal) 49.61, Chanaka Malimbada (Ananda)

50 metres Butterfly: Ashan Fernando (St. Josephs) 42.16, Poorna Kankainge (Royal) 44.83, Yohan Samarajeewa (Royal) 47.04.

50 metres Free Style: D. Dissanayake (Trinity) 38.97, Ashan Fernando (St. Josephs) 39.10, Poorna Kankainge (Royal) 39.33.

Boys Under 12 - 50 metres Breast Stroke: Kalyan Veera (SSC) 44.70, M.I. Fahim (S. Thomas') 45.69, Mangith Thamanegana (S Thomas') 46.47.

100 metres Free Style: Kalyan Veera (SSC) 1.18.14, M.I. Fahim (S. Thomas') 1.19.13, Saliya Gunaratne (Royal) 1.22.46.

200 metres Individual Medley: M.I. Fahim (S. Thomas') 3.10.05, Kalyan Veera (SSC) 3.12.66, Saliya Gunaratne (Royal) 3.21.22.

50 metres Back Stroke: Nilmin Arasakularatne (St. Joseph's) 41.93, Thanuja Dayaratne (Ananda) 42.92, M.I. Fahim (S. Thomas') 42.95.

50 metres Butterfly: Kalyan Veera (SSC) 38.03, Manjith Thamanegana (S. Thomas') 39.51, Saliya Gunaratne (Royal) 40.01.

50 metres Free Style: Kalyan Veera (SSC) 34.29, Manjith Thamanegana (S. Thomas') 35.76, Yassir Issadeen (S. Thomas') 36.49.

Girls Under 12 - 50 metres Breast Stroke: Nimendra Mawalagedera (Mahamaya) 45.77, Udara Mendis (Mahamaya) 46.81, Uma Kavya Dharmadasa (Mahamaya) 49.93.

100 metres Free Style: Chaturi Abeykoon (Ladies) 1.21,00, Malsirini de Silva (Musaeus) 1.24.42, Darisha Mirando (St. Bridget's) 1.24.43.

200 metres Individual Medley: Nimendra Mawalagedera (Mahamaya) 3.11.69, Chaturi Abeykoon (Ladies) 3.28.23, Uma Kavya Dharmadasa (Mahamaya) 3.31.37.

50 metres Back Stroke: Shanika Perera (Ladies) 42.09, Chizurn Fukuda (Rainbows) 43.07, Chathuri Abeykoon (Ladies) 43.21.

50 metres Butterfly: Chathuri Abeykoon (Ladies) 35.91, Nimendra Mawalagedera (Mahamaya) 39.22, Chizurn Fukuda (Rainbows) 41.34.

50 metres Free Style: Chathuri Abeykoon (Ladies) 35.91, Nimendra Mawalagedera (Mahamaya) 36.48, D. Mirando (St. Bridget's) 36.85.

Boys Under 14 -100 metres Breast Stroke: Bishan Dabare (Ananda) 1.28.68, Miyuru Gunawardena (D.S.) 1.31.96, Ashan Perera (St. Joseph's) 1.29.15.

100 metres Free Style: Dihan Perera (St. Joseph's) 1.10.41, Dharshaka Tennekoon (Ananda) 1.11.76, Chatura Jayakody (Asian I.S.)1.12.42.

200 metres Individual Medley: Dharshaka Jayakody (Ananda) 2.50.34, Dihan Perera (St. Joseph's) 2.57.40, Minura Gunawardena (D.S.) 3.04.33.

100 metres Back Stroke: Dharshaka Tennekoon (Ananda) 1.21.57, Dihan Perera (St. Joseph's) 1.25.08, Nirmal Samarasinghe (St. Joseph's)1.28.21.

200 metres Free Style: Dihan Perera (St. Joseph's) 2.30.80, Dharshaka Tennekoon (Ananda) 2.31.66, Chatura Jayakody (Asian I.S.) 2.42.24.

100 metres Buttterfly: Dharshaka Tennekoon (Ananda) 1.20,56, D. Thamanegama (S. Thomas') 1.24.84, Minura Gunawardena (D.S.) 1.25.15.

50 metres Free Style: Minura Gunawardena (D.S.) 31.53, Dihan Perers (St. Joseph's) 31.72, Chatura Jayakody (Asian I.S.) 32.30.

Girls Under 14- 100 metres Breast Stroke: Shiyanthi Thavapalan (AAC) 1.34.83, Shanika Wimalanatha (Mahamaya) 1.36.56, Nishanthi Piyasena (Ladies) 1.42.15.

100 metres Free Style: Shanika Wimalanatha (Mahamaya) 1.19.82, Rukshan Gunaratne (Musaeus) 1.20.56, Charanthi Wijeratne (Mahamaya) 1.23.73.

200 metes Individual Medley: Shiyanthi Thavapalan (AAC) 3.16.38, Ruskshani Gunaratne (Musaeus) 3.14.32, Vidulani Yatawara (Mahamaya) 3.20.94.

100 metres Back Stroke: Deshani Perera (St. Bridget's) 1.36.66, Nishanthi Piyasena (Ladies) 1.37.38, Gayasiri Rishini (DBV)1.40.38.

200 metres Free Style: Shanika Wimalanatha (Mahamaya) 2.55.60, Charanthi Wijeratne (Mahamaya) 3.03.21, Hirushi Weerasinghe (St. Bridget's) 3.04.88.

100 metres Butterfly: Shanika Wimalanatha (Mahamaya)1.33.36, Shiyanthi Thavapalan (AAC) 1.34.55, Vidulani Yatawara (Mahamaya) 1.41.01.

50 metres Free Style: Rukshani Gunaratne (Musaeus) 34.84, Shanika Wimalanatha (Mahamaya) 35.03, Shiyanthi Thavapalan (AAC) 35.64.

Boys Under 16 - 100 metres Butterfly: Thanura Abeywardena (S. Thomas') 1.08.60, N.K.B. Kahawata (SSCK) 1.14.70, Akshaya Rajasingham (Otters) 1.15.28.

200 metres Individual Medley: Ruchira Perera (Ananda) 2.35.04, Chaturanga Perera (Trinity) 2.38.94, Thanura Abeywardena (S. Thomas') 2.40.26.

100 metres Back Stroke: A. Rajasingham (Otters) 1.14.26, Chaturanga Perera (Trinity) 1.14.66, Menaka Rajapaksa (WIS) 1.15.46.

400 metres Free Style: Pasan Muthumala (Trinity) 4.45.59, Thilanka Samaradivakara (Trinity) 4.46.56, Ruchira Perera (Ananda) 4.50.13.

100 metres Breast Stroke: Dasun Ratnasekera (S. Thomas') 1.17.39, Himal Rasanga (Ananda) 1.22.90, Ragwan Madawala (S. Thomas') 1.24.06.

100 metres Free Style: Chaturanga Perera (Trinity) 1.01.45, Ruchira Perera (Ananda) 1.01.52, N.K.B. Kahawatta (SSCK) 1.03.83.

200 metres Back Stroke: Chaturanga Perera (Trinity) 2.39.23, Akshan Rajasingham (Otters) 2.40.41, Menaka Rajapaksa (St. Peter's) 2.46.63.

200 metres Free Style: Ruchira Perera (Ananda) 2.16.01, Pasan Muthumala (Trinity) 2.16.22, Thilanka Samaradivakara (Trinity) 2.30.10.

400 metres Individual Medley: Thanura Abeywardene (S. Thomas') 5.42.63. Lahiru Mudalige (St. Joseph's) 5.43.79, Mensla Rajapaksa (St. Peter's) 5.58.26.

200 metres Butterfly: Thanura Abeywardena (S. Thomas') 2.48.98, Lahiru Mudalige (St. Joseph's) 2.50.80, Naroon Thavapalan (S. Thomas') 3.03.65

200 metres Breast Stroke: Dasun Ratnasekera (S. Thomas') 2.52.52, Ragawan Madawala (S. Thomas') 3.0243, Gayan Buddika (Ananda) 3.03.68.

50 metres Free Style: Chaturanga Perera (Trinity) 27.78, Ruchira Perera (Ananda) 28.96, N.K.B. Kahawatta (SSCK) 29.37.

Girls Under 16 -100 metres Butterfly: Radeesha Daluwatta (CIS) 1.17.40, Tahiru Edirisinghe (AIS) 1.28.50, Irishini Kaushalya (ABV) 1.31.30.

200 metres Individual Medley: Radeesha Daluwatta (CIS) 2.49.43, Ruvika Fernando (Mahamaya) 2.53.78, Chandie Haputhanthri (Ladies) 2.57.47.

100 metres Back Stroke: Melissa Boange (Bishop's), 1.19.86, Dilini Liyanage (Ladies) 1.24.76, Dilanthi Ranaweera (Mahamaya) 1.25.13.

400 metres Free Style: Radeesha Daluwatta (CIS) 5.14.50, Tahire Edirisinghe (AIS) 5.31.39, Asangi Wijesundara (VV) 5.31.56.

100 metres Breast Stroke: Chandie Haputhanthri (Ladies) 1.27.26, Asangi Wijesundara (VV) 1.29.27, Dilanthi Ranaweera (Mahamaya) 1.31.35.

100 metres Free Style: Radeesha Daluwatta (CIS) 1.07.79, Ruvika Fernando (Mahamaya) 1.10.45, Menaka de Silva (St. Bridget's) 1.11.42.

200 metres Back Stroke: Melisa Boanage (Bishop's) 2.56.20, Dilanthi Ranaweera (Mahamaya) 3.07.04, Dilini Liyanage (Ladies) 3.10.43.

200 metres Free Style: Radeesha Daluwatta (CIS) 2.27.75, Ruvika Fernando (Mahamaya) 2.35.20, Tahiri Edirisinghe (AIS) 2.37.40.

400 metres Individual Medley: Bonita Wimalasuriya (SDV) 6.53.65, Prasani Silva (Holy Family Convent) 7.33.43.

200 metres Butterfly: Bonita Wimalasuriya (SDV) 3.32.66, Niroshan Wanigasuriya (Ladies) 4.16.18, Chanithri Senawarana (Ladies) 4.22.21.

200 metres Back Stroke: Chandie Haputanthri (Ladies) 3.08.76, Praba Bandara (St. Bridget's) 3.24.53, Dilanthi Ranaweera (Musaeus) 3.31.16.

50 metres Free Style: Menaka de Silva (St. Bridget's) 30.95, Ruvika Fernando (Musaeus) 31.77, Dilini Liyanage (Ladies) 32.60.

Boys Under 19 -100 metres Butterfly: Gihan Ranatunga (S. Thomas') 1.02.37, Dulika Nanayakkara (S. Thomas') 1.04.84, Shehan Silva (St. Joseph's) 1.06.25.

200 metres Individual Medley: Gihan Ranatunga (S. Thomas') 2.29.04, Duleeka Nanayakkara (S. Thomas') 2.31.63, Shehan Silva (St. Joseph's) 2.38.47.

100 metres Back Stroke: Asela Pradeep (Ananda) 1.05.42, Aruna Karunaratne (EMS)1.08.71, Shevantha de Silva (Trinity) 1.08.73.

400 metres Free Style: Sean Lee (AIS) 4.35.10, Eranga Fernando (S. Thomas') 4.43.23, Ranmal Weerasinghe (Trinity) 4.53.64.

1500 metres Free Style: Ajith Weerakkody (DAC) 18.58.84, Sean Lee (AIS) 19.22.41, Rumedha Madigasekera (St. Joseph's) 19.27.10.

100 metres Breast Stroke: Dulika Nanayakkara (S. Thomas') 1.14.81, Aravinda Ranatunga (St. Joseph's) 1.15.83, Poorna Dharmasena (AIS) 1.18.75.

100 metres Free Style: Jayamal Wijeratne (Ananda) 56.45, Eranga Fernando (S. Thomas') 58.61, Asela Pradeep (Ananda) 58.73.

200 metres Back Stroke: Asela Pradeep (Ananda) 2.25.18, Shivantha de Silva (Trinity) 2.27.78, Aruna Karunaratne (EMS) 2.30.23.

200 metres Free Style: Eranga Fernando (S. Thomas') 2.08.92, Sean Lee (AIS) 2.10.46, Jayamal Wijeratne (Ananda) 2.14.97.

200 metres Butterfly: Gihan Ranatunga (S. Thomas') 2.27.71, Ajith Weerakkody (SDV) 2.37.46, Shehan Silva (St. Joseph's) 2.42.68.

200 metres Breast Stroke: Duleeka Nanayakkara (S. Thomas') 2.47.53, Aravinda Ranatunga (St. Joseph's) 2.48.19, Poorna Dharmasena (AIS) 2.56.28.

50 metres Free Style: Jayamal Wijeratne (Ananda) 26.10, Eranga Fernando (S. Thomas') 27.02, Sean Lee (AIS) 27.28.

400 metres Individual Medley: Ajith Weerakkody (DAC) 5.19.01, Eranga Fernando (S. Thomas') 5.29.87, Rumeda Madigasekara (St. Joseph's) 5.38.75.

Girls Under 19 - 100 metres Butterfly: Natasha Kodituwakku (CIS) 1.14.46, Rasansi Lankage (AIS) 1.20.13, Tehani Samarasekara (AIS) 1.23.28.

200 metres Individual Medley: Theekshana Ratnasekara (Mesaeus) 2.48.49, Ridani Coomarasami (Mahamaya) 2.56.31, Niluka Fernando (Mahamaya) 3.00.29.

100 metres Back Stroke: Ruchira Money (Bishop's) 1.18.77, Rasansi Lankage (AIS) 1.20.42, Ridani Coomarasami (Mahamaya) 1.21.8.

400 metres Free Style: Theekshana Ratnasekara (Mesaeus) 5.10.92, Tehani Samarasekara (AIS) 5.48.24, Muni Gunasekara (GBV) 5.52.27.

1500 metres Free Style: Muni Gunasekara (GDV) 11.55.09, Manohari Wahalathanthri (St. Bridget's) 12.25.04, Onita Ranasinghe (Bishop's) 12.48.87.

(More results next week)

Kandy starved of International cricket as Trinity takes unrelenting stand

By Carl Muller

Is obduracy one of the main reasons why Kandy's cricket-loving public is being starved of international fixtures? Spoke with Minister Lakshman Kiriella who said that he wanted Kandy to have some of the "kiri" too. "For four years, the people of Kandy have not been able to witness a Test or a one day International played here," he said. "There is much talk about taking cricket to the outstations, but it seems that it is Colombo that keeps getting the big matches all the time."

Kiriella is doing all he can to bring at least a one-dayer and a Test match to Kandy. There is the Australian tour in August, and he said that he had received many representations from the public. "I have spoken with the Board of Control for Cricket in this regard and have been assured that the Board is prepared to spend all that is necessary to bring the Asgiriya grounds to scratch. Asgiriya needs a great deal of improvement and the Board is prepared to do it all. After all, the only way international matches could be played here is to have the best facilities in place."

But there is a hitch. A big hitch actually, and the fly in the ointment seems to be Trinity College. For reasons no one can fathom, Trinity is not responding to either Kiriella or to the Board."I even invited Trinity Principal Professor Breckenridge to discuss this at my home," Kiriella said, "and I have had no favourable response."

Trinity College controls the Asgiriya grounds, and to all intents and purposes, Trinity is not co-operating. Not the school authorities, not the curator of the grounds. It looks as if the people of Kandy have to wait until the College and the Board of Control sort things out but, as Kiriella says, Trinity seems to have dug in and refuses to even consider the matter.

This is certainly a strange affair, because the Asgiriya Grounds that Trinity is hugging to itself, actually belongs to the Asgiriya Temple. Kiriella confirmed this. He said that the Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter agreed to give the grounds for development on the urgings of the late Gamini Dissanayake. This was then leased to Trinity. "Also, there is no fear of any fall-out in outstation matches," Kiriella said. "In fact, everywhere international fixtures were held in the outstations, the response has been superb."

Kiriella, who is the new President of the Umpires Association of Sri Lanka, quipped: "Seems as though I have now to be the umpire in a match between the Board and Trinity College. But this is a 1udicrous situation and I am beginning to think that there must be some mysterious reason behind Trinity's obduracy."

Kiriella wants the Kandy District to have a really international cricket venue. He has expressed his intent to give 10 to 15 acres in Pallekelle for this purpose. "But this is a long-term project and will take at least five years," certainly.

Pallekelle, with its new hotels, Victoria Golf Club and stunning landscape will be a better bet than the proposed Dambulla venue, but, as Kiriella said, the people of Kandy are not going to wait five years for things to happen. "Right now we have Asgiriya, we have the Board's readiness to spend all that is necessary. What we do not have is the co-operation of Trinity College."

Digging around, I wonder if there are a lot of things that are keeping Trinity the way it is. The General Secretary of the Umpires Association, Dickie Dunuwille gave me some interesting bits and pieces. The present Asgiriya curator had been sent to India for training and observation by the Board. One would expect the Asgiriya grounds to be in prime condition after the Board had spent on this Indian safari. "Obviously, it is not," said Dumuwille, "which is why so much needs to be done to bring it to international standard." Again, there has been some cock-up after the last World Cup match when Sri Lanka played Kenya at Asgiriya. "I must tell you that after this match, bills for the use of the ground were sent to the Kandy Municipal Council. That was fine, but strangely enough, the same bill was sent to the Central Provincial Council. . .and the same bill was also sent to the Cricket Board. Naturally, the Board refused to pay. Perhaps there are things that may surface and it looks as if Trinity College thinks the Asgiriya grounds is its own private property and does not think about the cricket-loving people of the district," Dunuwille said.

As President of the Association of Cricket Umpires of Sri Lanka, Kiriella has done much for the game and the men in their long white coats. Dunuwille tells me that for 55 years, cricket umpires had had the short end of the stick.

Annual General Meetings have come and gone, but all on low, almost apologetic key. "There never was even a group photograph taken." It was Kiriella, he said, that brought pride to the Association. "Our 55th AGM was held at the BMICH. In these ten months he has worked hard for the umpires. Even the Cricket Board never really saw eye to eye with the umpires and even tried to grab all the umpiring assignments. There has been a change of heart. At the AGM, the Board postponed all its matches to be with us and assured us that henceforth the Umpires Association could function as an independent body."

I was told that umpires are paid only Rs 375 to Rs 450 per day per match. "Carpenter's wages!" Dunuwille sniffed. "Minister Kiriella got us the sponsorship of Janashakti Life Insurance and today umpires receive an extra fee of Rs 200 per day for wearing the Janashakti logo on the back of their coats when out in the middle. Also, Janashakti have given umpires free accident insurance cover from Rs 50,000 to Rs 100,000. Minister Kiriella also got for each of us hand phones from Celltel."

Kiriella says he wants the best for Kandy. "I hope Trinity will come around and help make Kandy an international match venue," he said. "The people of Kandy are waiting."

When Hutton kept Johnson bowling

Sir Len Hutton had many critics during his playing days. Most of them his own countrymen, who did not get on too well with him. But Hutton lived and breathed cricket. After Sir Don Bradman called it a day, he was the greatest batsman in the world on any wicket.

He also had a mind of his own and come hell or high water he did it. During the third Test against the West Indies at Georgetown in 1954, Mcwatt was run out after he and Holt had added 99 for the eighth wicket. That started a riot and bottles came hurtling onto the field. West Indian officials came onto the field and told Hutton to take his side off, as they feared there might be a casualty. But Hutton was made of sterner stuff and said, "I am not going off. I want more wickets before play ends." Then came the '54-'55 tour of Australia. In the first Test England were thrashed out of sight. Tyson finishing with 1 for 160 . For the second Test he dropped Alec Bedser! The critics tore him to pieces. England one down, and now he drops the greatest medium fast bowler in the world. This was something no captian would have ever done if he had not taken leave of his senses. Drop Alec Bedser of all people!!

As Johnson and Miller were both out of action. Arthur Morris took over the captaincy. England batted first and made 228. In England's second knock, Cowdrey made 104 and England 296. This left Australia 223 to get for a win. And all they had to do was cruise along. But this was where Hutton played one of the greatest aces of his career. It happened to be the 22nd of December the last day of the Test. He got Tyson to cut his run up by almost half, and Tyson kicked the whole lot in for 184 runs. In the end Australia lost the match by 38 and Tyson finished with 6 for 85.

The next Test at Melbourne was make, or break for both sides. Again England batted first and made 191. Australia replied with 231, a lead of 40. When England batted again, Peter May top scored with 91 and England were all out for 279. At the end of the days play Australia were 75 for 2 - needing a further 154 for a victory, with Miller, Harvey, Hole and Archer still to come. But with only 2 runs added Australia lost their first wicket for the day, and 75 for 2 became 77 for 3. All hell was now let loose. Before play had lasted for an hour they were 98 for 8, 110 for 9 and all out 111. Tyson's figures -12-1-27-7 and England were now one up.

When the 4th Test started at Adelaide on January 28. England had to win this Test to make the "Ashes" safe. Because if Australia won it, they would have levelled the series and the final Test at Melbourne would have had to be the decider. Australia batted first and made 323. When England batted Davidson was bowling beautifully and had captured 2 wickets and was on the verge of running through the side. It was then that Hutton took Johnson for a good ride. He complained to Johnson that Davidson was running too close to the wicket, which would give Johnson too much assistance when he came onto bowl his off spinners. Johnson fell for it hook, line and sinker. Davidson was immediately taken off and on came Johnson himself. Hutton had now won half the battle. Now it was a case of keeping Johnson on. After almost every delivery Hutton would walk down the wicket to pat imaginary patches on the pitch. He made 80 and deliberately encouraged Johnson to keep on bowling. He would pretend to be in trouble by not scoring. At times he would fend off Johnson's bowling at the last second. This convinced Johnson that the longer he kept bowling he would get Hutton out. But it was Hutton who was master of the situation.

Usually, after the Test that is played around X'mas the Australian Board throws a dinner to which both sides are invited. When Hutton spoke at the last dinner he attended, he shook the Board rigid with a speech devoted entirely to the financial side of the game. On that final night Hutton was in cracking form. "You rich men get all the money. Why don't the players get more? Morris, Tallon, Lindwall and Miller have done so much for Australian cricket. What are you going to do for them?" But Hutton was not yet finished. We went on. "I'll put $100 right here and now for their benefits if you will give them one."

But Hutton was always a safety first captain. Unlike Bill Edrich who captained Middlesex just after the war, Hutton would play a waiting game till the gaps opened. But his cricketing brain never missed a trick. But not Edrich. He would go on the attack from the very first ball and not allow the other side any breathing space. In the first Test at Trent Bridge in 1953, he and Hasett allowed the game to meander to a listless draw as neither wanted to take any risks. Then at Leeds in the 4th Test, Hutton was responsible for the greatest time wasting episodes in Test cricket. With Australia left to chase 167 runs in 115 minutes, he packed the leg side field and got Trevor Bailey to bowl wide of the leg stump. If the ball was fielded at mid off or mid on, it would be thrown to Evans and it would have to go all the way back to Bailey. Due to this Bailey took seven minutes to bowl an over.

But socially, he got on well with the Aussies especially Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller. They had a lot of respect and regard for each other. After the second Test at Lords, the Australians were on a train to Wales and the Yorkshire team was also on the same train. Hutton and Miller were having a yarn, when he told Miller, "you know Keith, I've been playing against Lindwall for years but hardly spoken to him." Miller, then pointing to Lindwall said, "There he is Len. Go and have a yarn with him." Now Lindwall was one of cricket's finest gentlemen. But after a few beers he was apt to get bowled off. When Hutton approached him, he waved his hands and said, "Bugger off. I don't want to talk to you. I see enough of you on the field." So Hutton simply strolled back and resumed his conversation with Miller as if nothing had happened. On his last tour of Australia, during a particular match, he had just got out and was sitting by himself hot and tired. One famous Australian player went into the dressing room to have a chat with him, when one of the players told him, "for God's sake don't go near Len - he is bloody annoyed." "Why what has he said to you?" Asked the Aussie. "It is what he has not said," butted in another. Other captains would have to shoot their mouths off or wave their hands to get something done. But Hutton would do it with a glance or a stare. Hutton also had a subtle way of putting things over.

On the West Indies tour in 1954, he, May, Graveney and Laker, were having a drink. The conversation then turned to their next tour which was to be to Australia at the end of the year. After telling Peter May and Tom Graveney what techniques they would have to adopt on Australian wickets, he turned to Laker and asked him, "will you have another drink Jim." And Laker knew right then and there he would not be picked for Australia.

Finally after Hutton retired he was more than satisfied. He had captained England, got a knighthood. He had money, power, promise and security and all came to him in a decade.

Bruce Maurice

Washbrook no more

By Marcus Joseph

Death occurred on April 27, 1999, of one of the world's great opening batsman of yester-year. He is Cyril Washbrook, England and Lancashire player, died at the age of 84.

He opened batting for England for several years with another equally great batsman, Len Hutton (Sir Leonard Hutton)- The 355 of opening stand between them in 1948-49 against South Africa is still the world record for the first wicket. Earlier, against Australia in the 1946-47 series the pair established yet another record by putting up three consecutive century partnerships. For five years he did not participate in Test cricket and was subsequently selected to play against Australia in 1956. Washbrook was then 41 years old. England lost the first Test match and in the second match played at Headingly were badly placed with three wickets down for a meagre 17 runs, when he went in to join his captain Peter May.

The pair put up 187 runs, with Washbrook scoring 98 valuable runs, to set up victory and turn the series. Committing on this Peter May later said, " we were in a hopeless situation but I have never felt so glad in my life as when I saw who was coming."

Washbrook started playing for Lancashire at the age of 18 and continued for several years captaining the side on more than one occasion. He had hit up 76 centuries - six years lost due to the World War 2 which cost him the hundred hundreds.

Two titles each for Kalutara/Nugegoda

Kalutara BMV's domination on netball was halted by the Nugegoda lasses from St Joseph's who won the under 12 and 18 titles from them at the Milo nationals inter-school championships concluded at the Vincent Dias Stadium in Badulla.

Kalutara BMV had the consolation of winning the under 14 and 16 titles.

In the under 12 final St Joseph's Nugegoda beat Kalutara BMV by 11 goals to 9, while Kalutara BMV beat Maliyadeva BMV by 15 goals to 10.

Kalutara BMV won the under 16 title defeating Puwakpitiya MMV by 26 goals to 15 and St Joseph's beat Kalutara BMV by 29 goals to 18 in the under 18 final.

L.P.Ekanayake of Maliyadeva BMV was chosen as the best under 14 player while B. Anuradha of Kalutara BMV was picked as the best under 16 player.

Kindujaliya Kumari of St Joseph's Nugegoda was selected the best player in the under 18 age group.

Ananda Dissanayake the Governor of the Uva Province was the Chief Guest and gave away the awards in the nationals sponsored by Nestles and conducted by the Education Ministry.

Introducing the players

Tough kid ready for the big guns

By Ravi Nagahawatte

Take it or leave it. CH and FC's new scrum half Milinda Jayasinghe has the makings of becoming another Sudath Sampath.

Nippy , agile and cunning on the field at times Milinda could be the perfect scrum half the selectors have been looking for.

As if by coincidence the former Nalanda skipper's favourite player is also the 'unforgettable' Sampath.

The humble lad like a few other sportsmen remembers his beginnings.

He recalls the guidance he recieved from coaches Ranga Dimuth and Kamal Jayawardana of Science College fame.

But there is one lesson that still lingers in his mind as if it was taught the other day. The teacher here being Sudath Sampath himself.

"He told me to do what comes to my head at any given moment" said Jayasinghe while recalling the most valuable lesson he had learned from the national sevens captain.

"A player must create his own style of playing and not imitate others".

The third in a family of five , Milinda had his education at Nalanda College Colombo.

Going down memory lane to his childhood days Milinda does not hesitate to say that he was boisterous in school.

"I think this charactor in me helped me to survive in the rugby field".

He conquered fear at a very tender age and had even gone to the extent of ignoring doctor's advice when it came to serious injuries.

He had once been so optimistic about a fracture in his hand that he had lied to his folks at home that the injury had healed and it was alright to play. In fact the fracture had been there but Milinda had braved the pain which generated from the injury to be on the field.

Today he sees a slight bend in that arm which he thinks did not get the best of treatment .

His school rugby career holds a proud moment for him which happened in the year he led the team.

"We beat our arch-rivals Ananda for the first time in history . I scored a try and in that match and put over two penalties".

However he could not achieve something which most of the talented schoolboy ruggerites would aspire to-represent the junior national team.

Milinda says that the thought of it still makes him a sad person.

Milinda is a fighter though. He is someone who thinks that getting deppressed is not the solution to a problem.

"Generally I try my best to get what I am denied of". He says that prayers sometimes helps him in this aspect.

"I pray to Lord Buddha and I also go to the temple the day before a match. I think I have got something out of this".

Milinda is a stockbroker by profession.

He says that his ability to work hard at anything should come in handy here too as he hopes to succeed in his job too.

Asked where he would be in ten years time , Milinda had this to say.

"I like to make my mark in both my sport and job".

A day for Old Thomians....

By Bernie Wijesekera

The Old Thomian's Rugby Football Union, formed by a group of diehard ruggerites of yesteryear, with a view to help and develop the sport at their alma mater, has gone from strength to strength since its inception, in 1996.

According to one of its key members of the Union, Samarasinghe, the main objective was to bring about bonhomie among the old stalwarts of this beautiful sport, who did proud to the Mt. Lavinia school on and off the field. Samarasinghe said that the theme was to rally around the blue, black and blue flag by all Old Thomian ruggerites be they at home or abroad. Todate the response has been very good.

Samarasinghe added that the response has been good and they were able to help the school with men and material for its further development. There is an annual rugby encounter between the old boys and the present boys, which is followed by a social. A challenge shield is offered by Mrs. Martenstyne, in memory of her son Jason, who was also an outstanding ruggerite. Jason, a fine sportsman, died under tragic circumstances.

The Union, has donated a scrimmaging machine and held an indoor coaching camp for the seniors and for the under-17 pool, which proved an instant success. It didn't stop there.

To harness talent at the grassroots level they organised inter-house tournaments for under-13 and 15 prospects.

At present the seniors are being trained by that former Police SC versatile sprotsman, Nimal Leuke and the juniors by knowledgeable Anil Fernando.

The motive behind the OTRFU, is not only to help their old school, but also to harness talent for the future betterment of the sport at national level.

This year, they have made elaborate arrangements for a social after the Royal-Thomian rugby match on June 4 (Friday), at the Old Thomian's Swimming Club. The Warden and the team will be hosted for dinner. All Old Thomians are invited to join this get-together, after the "Blues" rugby match.

Sunil to blow in Pre-Olympics

Sunil Arachchilage Senaweera of Sri Lanka has been invited by the Asian Football Confederation to blow in the Mens' Olympic Preliminary Round Group 7 first round matches in Hanoi, Vietnam from May 23 to 29.

Four other referees have been invited to blow in the matches, they are, Tanaddernkao Ekachal of Thailand, Son Jong Duk of Korea, Tayeb Hasan of Bangladesh, Andrew Michael Koilparambil of India.

The Assistant Referees invited are:

Sumarsono Sofa of Indonesia, Tajuddin Aliuddin of Brueni, Phonesirignavong Thongposeuth of Laos, Khanal Madhu Sudan of Nepal and Abeer Ismail Ahamad of the Maldives.

The Organising Committee for Olympic Football tournament has appointed the following Commissioners and Referees Inspector.

Al-Badry Moayad of Iraq and Ismail Ali Ibrahim of the Maldives with Lee Yu Bong of Korea as Referees Inspector.

Senaweera has so far officiated in more than 50 internationals and blew in the 1998 World Cup qualifying round match between Pakistan and Iraq.

He has also blown in the Asian Cup, Asian Cup Winners Cup and Asian Youth Championships in Thailand, India, Pakistan, Maldives and India.

He is the present Secretary of the Gampola Football League and the President of the Gampola Referees Association.

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