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Muralitharan chucking issue
Executive Committee to meet today

The Sri Lankan cricket authorities have summoned an emergency meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) for this morning to review the Muttiah Muralitheran chucking issue, according to its President Thilanga Sumathipala. This is a sequel to the Sri Lankan team management in Australia informing the BCCSL yesterday that it was considering pulling out of the current one-day triangular after Muralitheran was called for chucking by umpire Ross Emerson during the Sri Lanka-England match at Adelaide.

Sumathipala told the ‘Sunday Island’ last night that no decision had been taken to recall the team. "We will be having a telephone discussion on the issue with the Lankan team management in Australia tonight and will convene an emergency meeting of the Ex-Co on Sunday morning as to what course of action should be taken". At the time of going to press the BCCSL had still not got in touch with the team management in Australia.

Meanwhile, a press release issued by the Chief Executive of the BCCSL Dammika Ranatunga states:

"This press release is made consequent to Sri Lanka Off-Spinner Muttiah Muralitharan being called by Umpire Ross Emerson today in Adelaide, Australia.

The BCCSL is both angered and saddened by what happened and is at this moment considering what course of action should be adopted. The BCCSL Officials will hold a telephone conference with the Team Management in Australia soon after today’s match. Advice will also be sought from the ICC Management and the Executive Board of the ICC.

I shall keep you informed of any further developments."

REFLECTIONS
Sri Lanka brive all odds

by Srian Obeyesekera
It was all on a knife edge.

Frayed tempers.From a chucking controversy to the bat versus ball action in the middle. The heat of batsmen and fielders shouldering each other.

It was all on a knife edge.When ironically Muttiah Muralitheran turned from bowler to batsman in making the winning hit over England, Sri Lanka had cruised to one of the most thrilling victories one-day cricket has ever witnessed. In one of the most absorbing day's cricket,Sri Lanka put behind all the controversy behind them in evoking the spiurit of true cricket as they gallopped to what had looked like a highly improbable victory chasing a target of 303 runs.It was truely a victory for Sri Lankan cricket more than anything.On a day that our cricketers had to brave many odds.

A victory that brought accolades from the likes of veteran cricketer turned commentator Ian Chappell,Richie Benaud and Bill Lawry."It is one of the best matches I have ever seen at Adeliade",said Chappell.

The day had started on an ugly note.The no balling of Muralitheran by umpire Ross Emerson for chucking when England were batting had rekindled old wounds.Had not Muralitheran been cleared by the International Cricket Council's (ICC) panel that studied the Lankan off spinner's arm action?Tempers had flared as the Sri Lankan Skipper,Arjuna Ranatunga led his players off the field in protest.It was sometime before the game resumed. That was only after the Lankan team management had contacted officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka(BCCSL).At that juncture-Engalnd 97 for the loss of 1 wicket off 18 overs and Muralitheran having just been called by Emerson in his second over.

The chucking controversy gave way to England's batsmen,put into bat by Ranatunga,adding to the Sri Lankan's woes as they reached their biggest one-day score.A total of 303 for only 3 wickets off 50 overs did not make good reading at all to the Lankan batsmen.

But the Lankan batsmen fittingly showed the world why they are the kings of one-day cricket as they took up the challenge.If an electrifying 36- ball half century from Sanath Jayasuriya set the tone, young batsman Mahela Jayawardena rose in the time of crisis as Sri Lanka seemed to lose its way with some of the frontline batsmen having fallen cheaply.

And Jayawardena had walked in at a time his career had yet not fully bloomed.And the former Nalandian and SSC batsman could not have found a better time to signal his arrival on the scene of international cricket with a courageous 120 runs.More so in instant cricket.

But in that victory both Upul Chandana and Roshan Mahanama cannot be forgotten.While Chandana steadied the sinking ship with the score reading 235 for 6,Roshan Mahanama could not have looked for a more tension filled moment to once and for all show the selectors why is is worth so much with the bat like with his fielding hands.Requiring 15 runs in an equal number of balls he held the batting together flicking past wicket-keeper,Alec Stewart to deliveries to the fance which brought down the run rate for Sri Lanka.His unfortunate run out at 298 made the match a nail-biter with 5 runs needed off 9 balls.But fittingly Muralitheran stayed together with Pramodya Wickremasinghe to take Sri Lanka home.The winning hit coming off his bat as it must have turned the early dejection to a sure sense of elation to the Sri Lankan camp.

Sri Lanka had chased a 300-plus total for the second time and won.The other being against Zimbabwe in the 1983 world cup.The frayed tempers where England Captain Alec Stewart bumped into Mahanama following an alteration between the Lankan batsman and Darren Gough while setting off for a single should have given match referee, Peter Van Der Merwe some work.

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Campaign against Muralitheran - a conspiracy?

by Mahinda Wijesinghe
This is disgusting, to say the least. The treatment meted out to Muttiah Muralitharan by certain sections of the Australian crowds is 'not cricket'. The shouting of 'no-ball', mostly by beer-bellied bellicose bozos is a disgrace to cricket and their country. Is it a conspiracy to unsettle Sri Lanka's trump card, especially at the World Cup? These uncouth characters are not probably aware that it was their own countrymen, Meckiff, Rorke, Tretheway, Burke & Co. who were outstanding 'chuckers' a few decades ago, and were finally hounded out. Muralitharan, just as the former Indian leg-spinner Chandrasekhar has a congenital defect. He has passed the stringent of tests not only medically but by the committee of experts appointed by the I.C.C. What more is necessary?

INVITED BY LANCASHIRE NEXT SUMMER
True, the crowd gave similar treatment to their own players, Waugh and Warne. But, that was for totally different reasons. Muralitharan cannot help being born the way he is, on the other hand, perhaps nor can Waugh and Warne! Only, Muralitharan cannot be accused of any deliberate act which would have brought his team, his country nor himself any disrepute. He has been an adornment to the team and country. In fact, he has been invited by an English county - Lancashire - to play for them next summer. In the light of all this, why the fuss? We always reckoned Aussies to be fair and a sporting lot, perhaps times have changed.

SERVING HALF-TRUTHS AND CONCOCTIONS
The modern Australian press has not been noted for constructive cricket reporting. The days of the Ray Robinsons are things of the past. Serving up half-truths and concoctions, especially, about the personal lives of players is in bad taste. How a player on tour washes his clothes or uses the toilet is a personal matter. It also appears that the story of the Match Referee reporting Muralitharan's bowling action to the I.C.C. has been the figment of the imagination of a reporter. One does not know whom to believe when there is a web of deceit. The Sri Lankans came to Australia to play cricket, not to wash dirty linen in public either metaphorically or literally. Despite assertions from our camp that Muralitharan is a tough cookie and so on, the two 'sitters' he grassed at Hobart said another story - and nobody is blaming the off-spinner. He has had more than his fill. All Sri Lankans will wish him well.

MAHANAMA MUST HAVE FELT JUST AS MILTON DID
Coming back to the cricket. At last, Sri Lanka chalked up her first win in the tournament when they beat Australia at Hobart. But they made hard work out of it. At least, it was a change after eight straight losses. Ranatunga made a wise decision inviting the Aussies to bat, though batting first against England in the previous game may not have been the correct choice. Watching skipper Ranatunga bat in the successive games against England and Australia, one need not have to look far if you want someone to bat for your life! His experience of having played in over 250 One-day games is in his favour, but still the clever placements, pushes and prods are a treat to watch. True, the absence of Aravinda de Silva must be telling on the side. But, some of the actions of the tour selectors are unbelievable. For instance, at the toss in Hobart, skipper Arjuna Ranatunga told Ian Chappell that Sri Lanka has brought in an additional batsman into the side in Roshan Mahanama. Very fine. (In fact, it was strange cricket strategy in the previous game to have dropped batsman Mahanama and included bowler Nuwan Zoysa instead). Then, why was this batsman, sent in at No. 8? And, guess who were sent before him as in the previous game? Young Mahela Jayawardena and Upul Chandana. Who is the cricket selector who expects a specialist batsman to perform at No. 8 in One-day cricket? As the blind poet Milton asked plaintively: "Doth God expect day labour, light denied?"

FIRST FIFTY AND AN IMMEDIATE EXIT
Upul Chandana, scored his first One-day half century - against England - after having played in over 40 One-day games and whose highest score previously was 27*. In fact, when he went in to bat on the occasion he scored the half century, there were over 25 overs left with skipper Ranatunga batting at the other end (and chief wrecker Darren Gough was rested at that time). And, sadly, the moment Chandana reached his individual half-century, though Sri Lanka was certainly not out of the woods, he holed out and was caught at deep mid-off. Not for a moment am I trying to take anything off Chandana. He is doing his best. But, surely are the selectors doing the same? Sending Mahanama, a specialist batsman - who has aggregated almost 5000 One-day International runs with 4 centuries and 34 fifties - at No. 8 with a few overs left to play will ensure that the player will continue to struggle where his batting is concerned. Only, Mahanama's fielding is still from the top drawer, the catch off the bowling of Wickremasinghe to dismiss Blewett was a blinder. He is, by far, the most accomplished fielder in the side. Anyway, to cut a long story short it is apparent that Mahanama is not the most popular player among the Sri Lankan selectors. So, we will continue to cut our nose to spite our face.

THE FITNESS OF NUWAN ZOYSA
Next comes the perennial question about the fitness of Nuwan Zoysa. In recent times, he broke down in South Africa in the middle of a Test match, then it was in Sharjah, and now in Australia. Surely, is our medical back-up team that ignorant? We are very good at singing hosannahs and putting garlands at the airport (or ignoring them totally!) when our national teams return, but nobody seems accountable when a faux pas is committed, in this case, repeatedly. Obviously, Zoysa is a bowler of promise. But, one must pluck a fruit only when it is ripe for picking. The way things are going, Zoysa will be rotten before he is ripe. Give Zoysa a chance to build himself before putting him to the rigours of international cricket. Also, what is happening about Aravinda de Silva? It is normal practice in international cricket when a player is injured a replacement is sent for - in this case, it was Mahela Jayawardena - and the former sent home. Unless of course, the injured player is receiving medical treatment in that country. In the absence of any official information, what can the public believe?

SELECTORS CONTINUE TO BLUNDER
By the time you read this, Sri Lanka would have played England yesterday, and even if we do beat them, it will still be a tough ride to reach the final. So, let us not worry too much about this tournament. We are after bigger game. It is the World Cup just around the corner that we are most keen. With the situation as it is, only the deeply optimistic or the sycophantic lap-dogs who will stake their faith in Sri Lanka to retain our title. At the same time drastic changes too cannot be made at the eleventh hour. Due to the continued blunders of our selectors, Sri Lanka is presently on the horns of a dilemma. The older players have, naturally, slowed down or are frayed at the edges.

But, not having the vision to pick players with the potential to succeed at the top level, the Sri Lankan team is presently struggling. Currently, in addition to inconsistent batting at the top, Sri Lanka is in immediate need of an effective right-arm leg-spinner, a penetrative medium-fast bowler and a wicket- keeper-in-waiting.

Our selectors somehow have faith in certain players who perform as rarely as the appearance of the Borealis, while some others have to perform against oppressive odds to stay in contention. That is also not cricket.

Royal-Thomian the draw at rowing nationals

The Royal College Rowing Team in the 1997/98 season had an exceptional year in which they won the all important Royal-Thomian Regatta comprehensively outdoing the Thomians by 30 points to 10 to win the boat race, A-Pair, A-Scull, and the B-Pair trophies.

The college team also performed extremely well in the club reggattas and also excelled at the 15th Rowing Nationals organised by the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka winning the Nalin Mendis Challenge Trophy for the Overall Junior Category. They were also victorious in the Intermediate Pair events and were runners-up in the Intermediate sculls event.

The team toured India in January to participate in the International Invitation Schools Regatta 1998 where they emerged winners in the B-pair Trophy. The team also toured Hong Kong in November '98 to participate in the 20th Hong Kong Rowing Championship where they entered the final and were placed fourth overall.

The Royal College team this season is led by Kushal Abhayaratne. The vice captain is Mohamed Aslam. Going into the 16th Amateur Rowing Nationals, Royal face stiff competition from St. Thomas' College and the Colombo Rowing Club, which have many experienced oarsmen.

As another very important rowing event takes place in the rowing calender the 16th Amateur Rowing Nationals the Royal College Rowing team assures everyone present at this regatta an evening of keen competition and fine sportsmanship. The team also takes this opportunity in wishing all the participating teams the very best of luck.

On February 20 the Beira Lake will come alive with an electric atmosphere when the Thomian rowing crew battles again for supremacy at the National Championship Regatta confronting their arch-rivals Royal College. They will also contend for the trophies with St. Joseph's, University of Colombo, University of Moratawa and the Colombo Rowing Club. After a disappointing defeat at the 26th Annual Royal-Thomian Regatta the Thomian crew rebounded into action and defeated their school boy adversaries in Hong Kong to come third behind China and Hong Kong . The STC A-four crew won the bronze medal and the Thomians intend to maintain their winning streak throughout the year of 1999. This year the Thomian crew have ten experienced coloursmen to send forward along with several senior oarsmen and very promising recruits.

S. Thomas' College will compete for the Junior (Under 16) Intermediate (Under 18) and Senior (Over 18) Trophies in sculls pairs and coaxed-fours. The STC Juniors are fresh and adamant to win and start the year well with victory. The Intermediate oarsmen are veterans who have tasted both victory and defeat in the past year. The Thomian seniors who are four in number due to the age limits of both the school and the club have in their past years have performed exceptionally well and have been instrumental in winning this regatta for the past three years.

The overall opposition is high. Royal College has continued to keep the standards up and are formidable adversaries. St. Joseph's has so far been a young and fresh crew but with spark and potential of a good rival and a future challenger. The CRC, Colombo and Moratawa Universities have and still continue to put up a good fight and keep the STC seniors on their toes. The Thomian crew has kept up a high standard of decline and self-sacrifice for their unmoving determination to rise up above the others and to prove themselves to be the best surpasses all.

Remis Insurgite !

Inter-Plantation Six-a-Side Cricket Tourney

By Hafiz Marikar Our Kandy Sports Corr.
Entertaining cricket is on the cards with some fifteen teams taking part in the second Inter-Plantation Six-a-Side Cricket Tournament at the Radella grounds from January 30 to 31. The tournament is sponsored by Richard Pieris and Company. According to the President of Dimbulla A & CC, Trevor Nugawela who is one of the organisers, the tournament had received a big boost from the Managing Director of Richard Peries and former Sri Lanka cricketer, P. I. Peries, and the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL), and former ruggerite and cricketer, Jayatissa Ratwatte of John Keells.

The winners will receive the Arpico Trophy.

The Chief Guest will be Ralston Tissera.

Bogambara Stadium's shortcomings

By Hafiz Marikar
Football players have breathed a sigh of relief.The Bogambara Stadium has at last been made available to them.

However, there are shortcomings. The goal post is damaged and the supporting post is missing.

It is high time the soccer authorities took action to see to these shortcomings

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Asking for 'runner'-''honest cheating within the law?"

BY MAHINDA WIJESINGHE
There were quite a few replies for the query raised in this column - on 13th December - whether a runner should be allowed to a batsman incapacitated by injury. This question was originally posed due to a request made by a reader who wishes to be referred only as ' Sportswatch'. Firstly, I owe him an apology. I had inadvertently stated that one of his proposals was that a batsman be allowed to 'retire on injury and return with a runner after (say) 2 wickets have fallen'. Sorry. What 'Sportswatch' actually stated was that a batsman can return but NOT with a runner.

NOEL de COSTA- A FORTHRIGHT VIEW
Mr. C. S. A. Fernando from Moratuwa insists that it isn't fair to permit a runner since running is also a part of batting, and if the batsman is unable to run, he will have to restrict his scoring to boundaries and sixes. Quite a valid point. While Mr. Noel de Costa, a cricket buff before most of us were even born(!), is being forthright and clinical as his profession of an accountant has trained him to be: "My answer to that question is emphatically "NO" especially in these days of limited-over matches which are won and lost by very narrow margins (Come to think of it Noel, wasn't even the 4th Ashes Test, concluded recently, at Melbourne also decided by the slender margin of 12 runs? MW). Without a runner the result may have been reversed. If a batsman for whatever reason pleads he has a cramp or a heat stroke or a fleabite or whatever, his duty is to return to the dressing room and not call for a runner. He may bat again when he feels better but the next batsman should take his place". Mr. de Costa whilst insisting that the law should be changed, feels that it is the megabucks that is causing all the trouble and refers to the current practice - he refers particularly to the acts of Pakistani Saeed Anwar and a local player, he feels, has benefited unfairly - of asking for a runner as 'honest cheating within the law'. Well put, no doubt.

'Sportswatch' in addition to his earlier comments, in another communique, points out, inter alia, that

* The (injured) batsman is kept fitter by not having to run. A fitter batsman is likely to score more runs and less likely to get out than a tired (injured) batsman.

* Runs are scored - normally - with the bat or by a combination of bat, and legs of a batsman (that is, the running aspect of batting). Illogical for a batsman to score by a combination of his bat and another's legs!

* There isn't a similar facility extended to a bowler. Unfit bowler is debarred from bowling for the period he leaves the field.

'Sportswatch', whilst reiterating the views of most readers - no runners please - also makes the following alternative suggestion if a runner is to be allowed.

* No runner be allowed to an injured batsman. He must retire and return - if fit - after, at least 2 wickets have fallen.

* Allow a runner for a limited period only, (say) for 15 minutes or 5 overs. Or, allow only boundaries and sixes scored by injured batsman. Or, whilst allowing boundaries and sixes, permit only 1 run when a stroke by the injured batsman is run by runner. And, no leg-byes or byes to be allowed.

* Sportswatch also suggests that a commensurate facility be framed for an injured bowler.

THE ANSWER IS 'NO' TO A RUNNER
The consensus of opinion weighs heavily in NOT permitting a runner. The readers, some of whose views have been published above, have extended valid reasons for this course of action. And, most of them are for the exclusion of the runner because of the current mercenary atmosphere in the world of cricket what with illegal betting, bookies and crooked deals.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FIT AND A TIRED BATSMAN
A runner keeps an injured batsman fit, and as Sportswatch quite correctly points out, a fit batsman is less likely to play a tired stroke and get out. Further, when a runner is on the field, the injured batsman collects runs with the aid of the legs of somebody else! Allowing only a run only - to be run by a runner - or no runs but only boundaries and sixes, can cause the slowing down of the game. There will be an artificial atmosphere to the game. Just picture a situation when the injured batsman hits a ball to (say) long-on and limps a single, or depending on the existing laws - has to wait for the ball to be returned to the bowler whilst just standing and watching while the fielder - knowing there are no runs the batsman can take for the stroke - simply ambles to the ball. Yes, the flow of the game will be severely hindered.

SHOULD BE MADE LAW FOR INTERNATIONAL CRICKET
As mentioned in my story on the 13th of December, this problem of a runner did not surface earlier because: " In the days of yore when the game was played for the sheer joy of the sport, batsmen, in general, would not try to take mean advantage of having the services of a runner, unless it was essential. Today, in the mercenary world of cricket, a dollar-hungry batsman will try every trick he knows to earn the extra buck..... so legislation - for international cricket - to prevent ungentlemanly conduct much in the lines of a 'financial regulation' - sad, but that is where the game has descended - should be in the statute." In other words, not permitting the services of a runner should be mandatory only at the international level.

DON'T SPOIL THE FUN FOR MILLIONS
Yes, my vote is also to dispense with the services of a runner, but, ONLY in international cricket (Test and One-day Internationals) and in first-class domestic cricket. Just as in the case of the use of a Third Umpire. Because, there are still millions of youngsters and old stagers playing this glorious summer game, which was originally meant only to be a meadow sport played by gentlemen, for the sheer joy it gives them. That is how the Hambledon forefathers hoped this game should be played. So, let not the 250-year Laws of Cricket be changed and spoil the fun for (say) an elderly uncle who sprains his ankle and requests his son/ nephew to run for him on the meadow green.

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