Country before thyself

By Bernie Wijesekera

Bob Woolmer, the former Kent and England batsman, the present South African cricket coach, has done yeoman service to uplift its image in the international scene, after being in the wilderness for 21 years due to apartheid.

With a disciplined and a concerted team effort under Hansie Cronje, the South African team are front-runners at the on-going World Cup now being held in England.

Woolmer was acclaimed for the presentation of a paper at a World Cricket Coaches Conference held in Birmingham recently.

One of the items he covered was how to recognise when decay was setting into a team. "The team gets over-confident. They discuss money, they discuss sponsored cars, they ask where are their team shirts, they're not keen on practising," Be warned. This appeared in a South African paper.

He was highly acclaimed for his meaningful press presentation, which is the cause for some of the setbacks in team sports today.

Unlike in the past this malady is one of the main causes for poor performances among teams worldwide due to too much of professionalism and money.

Sri Lanka cricket, too has suffered as a result, apparently players keep on demanding, even if they failed to perform on the field. This attributes to weak management. Players certainly deserve more if they are consistent in their performances, but they have failed since their '96 World Cup. The players overnight have become new-rich and as a result have forgotten their past. It should always do well if they put the country before self as done in other countries. Otherwise their heads will roll. This could only be done through a strong management, who will not dance to the whims and fancies of the players.

This is the main cause for the decay in the on-going Sri Lanka's disgusting performances in recent times.

If one observed the National squad at practices, in preparation for the World Cup, it was reminiscent to a schoolboy team.

Squatting around and chatting with friends on the cellular phones presented to them, was quite conspicuous at these sessions. So much for discipline!!

The blame cannot rest on the players alone. One could not help, but observe that it attributes to the team lacking national pride. Otherwise our performances could not have been so low to be ousted from the Super Six, where a team like Zimbabwe, with an unstinted team effort capably marshalled by David Houghton made it, whilst the defending champions bowed out.

Perhaps all are accountable at all levels the World Cup '99 had demonstrated beyond doubt. The team has incurred the wrath of the Gods because providence, which smiled on them so generously on the cricketers in the past, knows now that their efforts are no longer honourable.

Woolmer's presentation for the cause of the decay, at the World Coaches Conference, should give much food thought for our local administrators to take note of, if they have the game at heart for a better future.

Briefly

Tibblin joins SLARDAR

Rolf Tibblin, the multiple Motorcross World Champion has joined the membership of the Sri Lanka Association of Drivers and Riders (SLARDAR). Rolf raced Husquarna 500 cc motorcross bikes to the top of the World Championships in 1962 and 1963 and became runner-up to Jeff Smith on a BSA in 1964. In 1965, Rolf became third in the World Championships only to be beaten by Jeff Smith BSA and German Paul Friedrichs on CZ.

In 1967 Paul Friedrichs of Germany gave Rolf a stunning fight for the World Championships title and claimed the No. 1 slot for himself. Rolf Tibblin continued Motorsport and was owner/operator of the first ever Motorcross Riding School in the world located then in California. This was a stepping stone of many future champions.

Rolf's vast experience will be utilized by SLARDAR to enhance and uplift motor sports in Sri Lanka. Meanwhile SLARDAR will conduct a special flag marshall training programme to eleviate competitors discipline on race tracks.

Asian cricket play-off

The play-off matches to select the teams that could qualify for the Asian Cricket Council Trophy to be played in Sri Lanka in January next year for the Youth World Cup will be played in Singapore commencing July 5.

The countries participating and their groupings are: Group A - Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates. Group B - Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Thailand and Nepal. The tournament will be played from July 5 to 11 in four venues.

Meanwhile four Sri Lankan cricket coaches have been picked to assist in the promotion of the game in the Asian Region. Carlton Bernadus will be in Malaysia from June 4 to 18, Malcolm Perera in Malaysia from June 11 to 18, Sunil Fernando in Thailand from June 18 to 27 and Nelson Mendis in Nepal from June 20 to 30.

Rangana on top

Schoolboy Rangana Pigera of Nalanda College was adjudged the best athlete at the Junior Track and Field Nationals concluded at the Sugathadasa Stadium. Pigera was picked as he failed by just 2 centimetres to break the Sri Lanka 2.05 metres high jump record participating in the boys under-age group in the meet organised by the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA).

Ranga Wimalasena of St. Peter's College was picked as the best overall athlete for winning the boys under 20 400 metres clocking 47.82 seconds. Anoma Suriyarachchi of Visakha Vidyalaya was picked as the best female athlete for her fine showing in winning the girls under 20 100 metres crossing the finishing line in 12.57 seconds. Denver Perera of St. Joseph's and Nilmini Perera of Sujatha MV Rambukkana was picked as the best boys and girls under 16 athletes. Denver won the Shot Putt event with a heave of 13.25 metres while Nilmini won the 200 metres in 27.21 seconds.

Anushkha Perera of St. Bridget's was picked as the best athlete in the girls under 18 age group for her effort in winning the girls 200 metres in a time of 26.77 seconds. In all, 11 meet records were set up with over 900 athletes taking part. Rienze Wijetilleka, Managing Director of Hatton National Bank was the chief guest and gave away the awards.

What rhymes with Murali?

By Dr. Sanjiva Wijesinha

Can you think of an English word that rhymes with Muralitharan?

I can't - and I am sure that you can't either!

But this has not proved a problem for Melbourne doctor Buddy Reid, who has recently released a pop ballad on CD in honour of our famous cricketer.

The fact that Muralitharan was vicitimised again in Australia during this year's Carlton and United one-day cricket competition, just four months before the crucial World Cup tournament, has added interest to Dr. Reid's maiden CD, which he has called Cricket the Sri Lankan Way . He has composed and sung the songs himself - and they have proved popular among the large Sri Lankan community in Melbourne.

The Sri Lankan-born surgeon, who opened batting for Ceylon in the sixties and captained the national team on occasion, is an unashamed supporter of our bent armed bowler.

Dr. Reid qualified as a doctor from the Colombo Medical College, subsequently trained as a specialist surgeon in this country and Australia and currently practises in Melbourne. In 1995 he appeared on Australian TV to defend Murali's bowling action when he was no-balled by Umpire Darrell Hair.

"Muralitharan is one of the big heroes of Sri Lankan cricket," claims Dr. Reid, "He has really aroused national feeling because of the way he has been treated. He has the backing not only of the Sri Lankans but also of impartial cricket experts sucn as Ian Chappell, Tony Greig and Ian Botham who are themselves experienced international cricketers of repute."

When I asked him about the controversial bowling action, Dr. Reid promptly got off the chair in his consulting room and stretched his own arm to demonstrate.

Both Murali's elbows have a congenital deformity, which prevents him straightening them completely", explains Dr. Reid, "The maximum angle to which he can straighten his elbow is about 30 degrees short of the horizontal. The deformity runs in his family - others in his family have the same type of deformed elbow."

The no-balling controversy flared up again during Sri Lanka's tour of Australia in January/February this year when Australian Umpire Ross Emerson no-balled Murali.

Many here felt that there would have been a pre-tour agreement between the Cricket Boards of Sri Lanka and Australia not to "call" Murali, since his bowling action had been cleared by an expert panel of the International Cricket Conference. Unfortunately, somebody must have forgotten to tell Emerson about this gentlemen's agreement!

The sad fact was that after no-balling Muralitharan, Emerson then lost control of that game - a game that, from a cricketing point of view, was one of the finest One-Day Internationals it has been my privilege to witness. Over 600 runs scored by the two teams, two centuries including an elegant, assured innings by Mahela Jayawardena. Sri Lanka coming from behind to successfully overtake the highest score in the series, Muralitharan overcoming his initial setback by effecting a brilliant runout and (in what surely was an act of poetic justice) scoring the winning run in a nail-biting finish.

Sadly, the Australian Cricket Board had to admit a few days later that they had been unaware when they selected Emerson for the $ 1000 per day job of officiating at the match that he had been on medical leave for a "stress-related disorder" from his usual job - and were obliged to withdraw him from umpiring in any further games in the tournament.

Dr. Reid reiterated that he intended no malice in his song, which recounted the events of the 1995 December Test match when umpire Darrell Hair no-balled Murali.

'I phoned Darrell Hair in Sydney and told him that I would like him to listen to the words - and that if he felt that it was offensive to him in any way I wouldn't release the song ."

"He listened and had a hearty laugh while I played the song to him."

The CD ("with offence to none it was all sung in fun") is on sale in Melbourne, and Dr. Reid is donating the proceeds from its sale to a charity in Sri Lanka.

The brotherhood of man not as tolerant as cricket

By Bruce Maurice

Sobers' love for cricket and his desire that black and white must play together blinded him to the fact that the brotherhood of man is not as tolerant as the brotherhood of cricket. For that some of his own people tried to crucify him. Perhaps he did a foolish thing by going. But then he honestly though that by his going, he was only helping the cause of multiracial sport. He certainly did not expect to offend anybody. He emerged from the episode with more honour and dignity, which certainly cannot be said for those who became involved in it for the sake of cheap publicity. Sobers returned to Bridgetown on the 13th of September, by which time the poison had already begun to spread. In Antigua the 'Workers Voice, controlled by the Labour Party, stated that Sobers was 'a white black man'. It also stated that he had abdicated his loyalty to his own countrymen and Africans. This piece of journalism is utter rubbish to any one who knows Sobers. On 17th September a piece of unintentional humour occurred, when Conrad Hunte said, "the important thing was not whether Sobers was right or wrong, but whether he had changed Ian Smith, or, if Ian Smith had changed him. Many people tried to change Ian Smith. While Sobers will remain the same Gary Sobers until he dies.

The Editor of the Guyana Chronicle whom few knew and even fewer are likely to remember, said, "If Sobers does not know what being a leader is, then he should not be given the leadership. 'The Editor like all the others, had certainly taken leave of his senses. He forgot that Sobers had been appointed to lead a cricket team and not to lead an ideological crusade. Jamaica's Minister of State, was another who thought the time was ripe to attack Sobers. But one wonders if he would have done it if a Jamaican and not a Barbadian had gone. Because there has never been complete harmony between the islands and a chance to have a dig is never missed.

By now needless to say Barbados was utterly sick of the abuse aimed at one of her chosen sons. The Deputy Prime Minister of Barbados, Cameron Tudor said that the criticism was completely out of proportion to the offence. The censure which had started as an insignificant snowball had turned into an avalanche that threatened the existence of West Indian cricket. Jamaica's major political parties started to attack Sobers as if he was a criminal at large.

Kelani V thrash Dimbula again

Kalani Valley Sports Club recorded an easy (2 goals) to 5 (one try) win over Dimbula Sports Club for the second successive year in their Inter-Club Upcountry league rugger match played at K.V. Grounds, Taldua, recently.

This was the 1st match for K.V. for the season and they did well to keep down their rival Upcountry planters club Dimbula. Dimbula started scoring in the second minute of the match though a three quarter move and Rathukohupitiya placed a try at the left corner flag. Dimbula failed to add the extra points. Ten minutes before the breather K.V. won the ball from the scrum, and Roshan Pieris went over the line to score the first try under the post.

Ever reliable full back Priyantha Gunaratne (Tiger) made no mistake and added the extra 3 points. At half time K.V. led 7-5.

In the middle of the second half, K.V. was offered a difficult 40 metre penalty, Priyantha missed it by an inch. 10 minutes before the final whistle K.V. captain former Havelocks and Sri Lanka centre Dinal Samaranayake dummied and side stepped through several defenders and passed it to former Trinity Winger Niromal de Silva to score far left, to register the second try for K.V.

Once again full back Tiger did well with his boots to add the extra points for the home side. The veteran T.L. Jayawardena, Nalaka Madawela, Dinusha Wijesundera, Ranjith, Sarath excelled for K.V. The K.V. team is coached by veteran former Trinity and Kandy player Mohan Samarakoon this season.

Rugby conveners Yajith de Silva, Arjuna Dharmadasa have done a marvellous job to keep the K.V. rugby on a winning note.

In the absence of official referees, Duleeka Mitchel kept the game under control.

What ails the Police Force

My Police Memories

By S. Sivendran

(Retd. Snr. Supdt. of Police)

When I joined the Police in 1958 the Police Hospital was situated at Baseline Road, Borella, behind the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital, which had the appearance of a rural dispensary staffed by a doctor, apothecary and a male nurse. Thereafter it was shifted to Galle Buck near the Chaitiya along Chaitiya Road in Colombo Fort. This too was small and poorly staffed and equipped.

From here it was moved to a two-storeyed building at Kynsey Road, Borella with slight improvements and then to a large rented house at Gregory's Road in Cinnamon Gardens, which too could not cater to the needs of an expanding police force.

I was a frequent visitor to these hospitals to seek treatment to the injuries - received whilst playing rugby for the police.

Finally in the nineties an ultra-modern police hospital with all facilities was built along Nawala Road at Narahenpita adjoining the traffic courts when Ernest Perera was the Inspector General of Police. Later during the tenure of W.B. Rajaguru as I.G.P. the medical facilities were further enhanced, mainly due to the efforts of Merryl Gunaratne Senior D.I.G. - Support Services who was instrumental in the police department taking over the administration and development of the Police Hospital which was hitherto under the Health Dept. This move saw a vast improvement in the medical facilities eradicating a lot of inadequacies.

Today the police hospital can be compared to any leading private nursing home with all modern facilities.

The medical staff includes a chief medical officer, several medical officers, with an anaesthetist, two paediatricians, two physicians and one dental surgeon all on the permanent staff and many visiting consultants.

On May 31, 1999, I went to the Police Hospital for a routine check-up and was pleasantly surprised to meet the Minister of Cultural Affairs, Lakshman Jayakody, who too had come to avail himself of the medical facilities afforded. Whilst speaking to him I reminded him of a fine article written by him on "What ails the police force" which appeared in the "Lanka Guardian" of October 1988 under the caption "A Fragmented Police - a Threat to Democracy" when he was a member of Parliament in the opposition, which article is a masterpiece, a copy of which is still in my cherished collections. I also inquired from him whether I could use this article in "my police memories" column for the benefit of the readers to which he readily consented.

Lakshman Jayakody who had his education at Trinity College, Kandy, was an outstanding scholar and sportsman who had dedicated his entire life for politics in order to serve the people and was the Deputy Minister of Defence and External Affairs from 1970 to 1977 during which period the Police Department came under him and I had the privilege of meeting him with the - Inspectors Association delegation as Vice Chairman.

Memorable for Suresh

By Saif Izzadeen

It is every cricketer's dream to play against England. Suresh Perera had his ambition fulfilled when he represented Sri Lanka in a Test match at the Oval in 1998.

It also proved to be a memorable game for young Suresh as Sri Lanka went on to record a handsome and historic 10 wicket victory.

An incident fans will never forget from that match is when Suresh hammered a straight six over long on off Angus Fraser- one of the world's fastest bowlers.

The Sunday Times caught up with Suresh at the NCC pavilion for an interview where he spoke at lengh about his personal life as well as his cricketing career.

Suresh used to play softball cricket in his own backyard with his friends and began to take cricket seriously.

Suresh had a very interesting story to relate when asked who inspired him to take up cricket "My mother was working abroad and I lost my father when I was young and I was looked after by my grandparents.

"While I was living with my grandparents one fine day my grandmother came up to me and told me to take up to cricket. She was the one who inspired me.

First I attended under 13 cricket practices at Isipatana. From that stage I thought of playing cricket seriously. I was only 11 years when I played for Isipatana under 13 cricket team" he said.

Suresh also played cricket for Isipatana in the age groups of under 15, 17 and 19.

Isipatana was served well by this cricketer at all age groups. Suresh Perera captained the Isipatana first eleven cricket team in 1996.

When asked from Suresh what was his best performance he paused for a while and said, "I made 152 in 1995. However at this moment I cant remember against which school I made this score"

Suresh said he has not represented Sri Lanka at junior level and said he liked rugby. However due to my involvement in cricket I couldnt play rugby.

Also due to its body contact and toughness my grand parents didn't like and they asked me to concentrate on one sport and do well in that.

After turning up for Isipatana Suresh joined Sri Lanka's premier cricket playing club the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC). He now represents SSC.

"My best performance at club level was when I made a sparkling 73 for SSC against Tamil Union in an under-24 inter club cricket final was the response when asked what was his best performance at club level.

Suresh made his debut for Sri Lanka in a one-day international against India in the 1998 Nidahas Trophy match at the R.Premadasa international cricket stadium.

Suresh in his international cricket career so far has taken the wickets of India's Saurav Ganguly in the Nidahas trophy cricket tournament

Ganguly three weeks back made a swashbuckling 183 and was involved in a World record stand of 318 runs for the second wicket with Rahul Dravid (145) against Sri Lanka in the 1999 World Cup in Taunton.

He has also taken the wicket of New Zealand's opening batsman Nathan Astle. Sureh also toured Australia for the Carlton and United One Day series played early this year.

Suresh's favourite Sri Lanka cricketer is the left arm pace bowler Chaminda Vaas.

From the international scene he likes the new bowling sensation from Pakistan who has taken world cricket by storm, Shoaib Akthar. He also likes the present Pakistan captain and left arm pace bowler Wasim Akram.

Suresh said South Africa, Pakistan or India will win the on-going World Cup in England.

Speaking further he said from these cricket teams I think Pakistan might pull it off due to the fact that they have a good batting line-up.

Asked from Suresh what he prefers whether its bowling or batting he said "I love both and also enjoy fielding as well It must be backed up by a good pace and spin bowling combination.

Suresh is currently employed at the Access Group of Companies and drives a Mazda. Suresh prefers Chinese food and also rice and curry.

During his free time Suresh listens to Western and Sinhala music I also like to read books and visit friends.

My favourite person in life is my grandmother because of whom I am in this position. I also like to thank Saliya Ahangama who helped me at my club SSC.

"I also like to thank my grandparents, Rumesh Ratnayake and Janaka Liyanarachchi all of them who them have helped me a lot he said.

Perera's ambition is to play for Sri Lanka as long as possible and bring in victories as possible.

Presently he is practising with Sri Lanka 'A' squad who will be making a short Three Test and three One-Day international tour of England in the first week of July.

Suresh had this to say about Sri Lanka's performance in World Cup "It was very sad: Nothing went right for the reigning champions.

A step beyond school rugby

By Ravi Nagahawatte

Twenty year old former Isipatanian Duminda Pushpakumara is yet another ruggerite who has gone a step beyond school rugby.

The lad represented his school's senior team as a hooker last year and says that his performance was satisfactory.

His interest in the sport had developed when he was just six.

And after nine years of hard work on the field he was good enough to earn a regular place at Havelocks Sports Club when he joined the Park Club this year.

The rugby season never ends for Duminda . He is a person who develops an unsatisfactory feeling if he cannot make it to the ground every day.

"When I studied at Isipatana I was always in the ground after school.Even now it is the same .I either play tap rugby or train with weights"said Duminda while revealing to "The Sunday Times" what he does during the off season.

There had been two factors which influenced him to take to the sport.

One being his elder brother's involvement in the sport and the other being the location of his house which is in the vicinity of the Ceylonese Rugby and Football Club.

"I used to go and see matches which were played on this ground since I was six years old".

Duminda's club career however began last year when he joined CR and FC after his team bowed out in the semi finals of the school's knockout tournament .

He made the squad as a reserve hooker and got the opportunity to play for short sessions when Sri Lanka skipper Viraj Prashantha had to come off field due to injuries.

And when asked what formed his base in deciding to join this club , "I chose CR because it was a champion side" shot back Duminda.

The tough training sessions at Isipatana had made his debut in club rugby somewhat easy . Infact he says that it is not tough like school rugby.

The lad's real struggle however was not with the giants on the field but with an old irritating injury which took a long time to heal.

"Both my shoulders were dislocated when I was seventeen years old. And the shoulder injuries became so bad that dislocations occurred regulaly even for the slightest jerk. The thought of it never bothered me nor was I scared. But the pain was immense whenever a shoulder came out of it's socket"said Duminda who added that the injuries are now almost fully recovered.

Duminda is passing an age where most youngsters select a favourite player or emulate one.

CR's Viral Prashantha is his favourite player.

"I watch and learn from him.What I like in him is that he is always where the ball is".

This couragous lad has already set his sight in earning the prestigious white jersey.

This could take sometime .But Duminda has realised something lacking in him to achieve his dream.

"I need to put on more size" he concluded.

World Cup debacle…

Continued from last week

If Peiris is in the Control Board, his sole aim will be to promote the game for its further development rather than promoting his image apparently like some officials holding office in sport bodies.

There are many more like him, who could be drafted to the mainstream, sans politics.

It's sad to mention that politics have polluted sport in this country, put aside cricket. 'Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely' - Lord Acton.

In the 1992 World Cup in Australia and in New Zealand, Mendis, was the tour manager. This reminds me of what he said, when this scribe was there to cover the tour. It was a belated arrival at the Park Royal Hotel grounds. 'If we can't win against Zimbabwe, S. Africa and New Zealand, we might as well pack our bags and go home'. The Lankans were playing in ideal conditions in Kiwiland. Sri Lanka beat S. Africa in a cliff-hanger at the Basin River. Thanks to some brilliant fielding coming from Sanath Jayasuriya, who held two marvellous catches to dismiss Jonty Rhodes and Rashmere. The Lankans gave a repeat performance to outplay Zimbabwe. But against the Kiwis the Lankans failed to show the same aggression at Hamilton and lost the match.

World class

Had we won this match, Sri Lanaka could have headed the table. Mike Proctor, on that tour rated the Lankan fielding as world class - especially that of Jayasuriya. That class has now deteriorated may be due to age catching up or lack of fitness. The fielding one witnessed in the match against India, where many new records were created, was appalling. Even Trevor Chappell's efforts were put to shame.

This is where the tour management headed by Mendis, D.S. de Silva (cricket manager) and Roy Dias (Coach) and Trevor Chappell (fielding) must answer to the cricketing public about what went wrong with the team rather than strive to defend the players and themselves - by fighting shy of facing the media. This is nothing new among those holding office in most sport bodies here.

The Sri Lankan players are fortunate to lucky, that unlike in the sub-continent the fans here, do not take a leaf from their counterparts in the sub-continent. For poor showing of this nature - the players and the management will be taken to task not only by the media but also by their cricket crazy fans.

Brickbats

Ajith Wadekar, was the first Indian captain to have won a series in the West Indies. He was hailed as a national hero. But in the following tour, he failed to deliver the goods and was at the receiving end of brickbats and criticism aplenty. Of the 1992 World Cup some of the Sri Lankan players are still in the present tour party, - including manager Mendis. The statements made by the Aussie skipper, Allan Border when brickbats were hurled at the Aussie team for their poor showing are quite relevant.

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