.

SLRFU bans foreign players this season

The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) at a Council meeting held on Friday ratified a Tournament Committee decision to ban foreigners from representing clubs this season.

The Council was divided on this but SLRFU President Dr. Maiya Gunasekera who personally endorsed it felt that more attention should be focused on how to improve the skills of local players.

"Size-wise we are somewhat similar to Taiwan but we need to improve our skill levels, especially among the three quarters," observed the rugby boss who was Chef-de-Mission of the Sri Lanka contingent at the Asian Games in Bangkok last year.

He observed that the need of the hour was to get down foreign expertise in the form of coaches. "Whether we have foreign players or not, it doesn't make much of a difference. The clubs should get down foreign coaches," he said.

Asked whether the absence of foreigners would affect the 'gate' of clubs, he argued that people ask value for money. "If clubs play good rugby it won't get affected. Furthermore, the vast amount spent on foreign players could be saved and channelled for the development of the game," he commented.

"We have tried to improve the game with foreigners. Why not give it a chance for this season without foreigners," he said.

9th Asian Junior Squash C'ships
Sri Lanka boys beat Pakistan, but lose other events

Sri Lanka beat Japan 2-1 in their tie in the boys event at the 9th Asian Junior Squash Championships held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Hirantha Gunasena beat Jun Masumoto 9-1, 9-1, 9-1 while Navin Samarasinghe beat Goh Kobayashi 9-2, 9-1, 9-4. However, Kavinda

Cooray lost to Yasunore Ishiwata 10-8, 9-6, 2-9, 10-9.

Sri Lanka, who is in contention for fifth place, will now have to beat both Singapore and Thailand.

In the girls event, Sri Lanka lost to Malaysia 3-0 as expected. The Malaysian lasses are tipped to win the championship. Sri Lanka's Kushani Daluwatte lost to Malaysia's Cheryl David 9-1, 9-0, 9-1 and Darshika Kempitiya lost to T. Chua 9-0, 9-1, 9-1 while the other loss was Rasansi Lankage to Daphne Iung 9-0, 9-2, 9-0.

Both the Lankan boys and girls lost to Pakistan and India 3-0, 3-0, respectively. In the boys event Goonasena was beaten by Mansoor Zaman 9-0, 9-3, 9-1 while Navin Samarasinghe lost 9-2, 9-3, 9-0 to Zhaid Zaman and Eranga Amunugama was beaten by Mohd Ilyas 9-3, 9-3, 9-0.

The Lankan girls event: Buddhika Perera lost to Rhea Bhandare 9-0, 9-3, 9-5, Kushani Daluwatte lost to Pio Abraham 10-9, 9-1, 0-9, 10-9.(D.R.)

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Did Arjuna fall for a well - baited trap?

by Mahinda Wijesinghe
Was skipper Arjuna Ranatunga made the fall-guy of the entire Muralitharan affair? After all, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board, we are told, began the tour of Australia by hiring both, an Australian firm of lawyers and another dealing in public relations to protect the team from any legal problems arising out of the possible no-balling of Muralitharan and improve the image of the team, respectively. Although colossal sums must have been spent on such exercises, subsequent events have proved that both these organisations have failed in the duties expected of them. Firstly, despite the lawyers, Ranatunga was found guilty of misconduct for a gross violation of the ICC's Code of Conduct and secondly, judging from reports, the popularity nor the image of the Sri Lankan team seem to have improved despite the professional PR firm hired by the Cricket Board. The latter exercise should have begun, if at all, before the Sri Lankans began the tour not AFTER. In any event, a cricket team can achieve such an image by their performance and conduct both on and off the field rather than by the fanciful - and expensive - doings of a PR firm.

ALL THIS COSTS A LOT OF MONEY
Also, what about the additional expenditure incurred by the Cricket Board by not sending injured players back home, for instance? Many Board officials are presently in Australia, who foots their bills? Aravinda was injured, Mahela Jayawardena was sent as replacement, now both continue. Nuwan Zoysa was - as expected - injured but he remains on tour. Would it have not been a more sensible move to have sent this youngster to Australia for medical treatment rather than as a member of the team? This is, I believe, the third successive tour he broke down. Isn't anyone responsible or accountable?

WAS IT A GAME-PLAN GONE AWRY?
That there was more than a possibility of Muralitharan being no-balled, even a 10-year-old schoolboy from the Wanni would have known. So, presumably there must have been a game-plan to counter the problem if and when the problem arose. What with a firm of Australian lawyers, and there were more than a brace of our cricket officials on the spot - to advise? - was Arjuna's conduct part of the game-plan when Murali was no-balled? Or was it a game-plan gone awry? No, there is no room in the game of cricket for a player to argue with an umpire. That is totally unacceptable in cricket however heroic Arjuna's act of defending his beleaguered colleague appeared to be. What impressions would have been made in the minds of millions of young captains watching this game the world over? Remember Law 42.1 requires that "The Captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the spirit of the game as well as within the Laws." No other organised sport has the word 'spirit' enshrined in their laws. Maybe, in a soccer match if the captain of a team comes to the defence of one his mates whom the captain feels has been hard done by the referee, that is possibly being heroic on the part of the skipper. Not in cricket, such acts contravene the written Laws as well.

CROWDS SHOUTING 'CHUCKER', 'CHUCKER'
Did Arjuna lose the cool he is known for, or was he acting according to the game-plan hatched out by the advisors both from the Cricket Board - quite a few including the President and a Vice-President were present on the spot, some with cellular phones at the ready - and the Australian lawyers? If the former happened it is understandable. After all, the skipper even with all his experience, must have had enough. The cup simply overflowed. Why does this happen only in Australia? The constant harassment from the media, ugly bleatings from the crowds at matches shouting 'chucker' when Murali comes on to bowl, the injuries to Aravinda de Silva and - the expected - breakdown of Nuwan Zoysa, must have all taken its toll on the captain. On the other hand, if the behaviour of Arjuna was part of the game-plan, then whoever was responsible for such a course of action should be taken to task.

DID THE AUSSIE ADMINISTRATORS TURN A BLIND EYE?
It is just a thought, but, I wonder if Arjuna refused to continue playing until the crowd stopped the calculated chanting of 'chucker' or 'no-ball' - which was obviously affecting the players' concentration - when Muralitharan came up to bowl? Here again, the actions or, in this instance, the inaction of the Australian administrators smack of what appears to be mala fide. In every major ground, or in any case wherever the Carlton & United games were played, there is a Public Address system. The official announcers give constant information over the PA system when a wicket falls or when a milestone is reached and so on. Surely, surely, why couldn't an appeal have been made for the spectators to refrain from such rowdy behaviour? The deafening silence in this regard by the Australian administrators, was it a part of THEIR game-plan? In any event, judging from the reports of the mind-set of the current Sri Lankan players, I will not be called a Cassandra if I guess that it will take a long time and a lot of fence-mending for the two countries to exchange any tours in the future. A great pity. Just when India and Pakistan resumed relations after a decade, Sri Lanka and Australia seem to be drifting apart. And, unlike in the case of India and Pakistan, the reasons are not political.

A CONTINUING THREAD IN THIS EPISODE'
Coming back to the Muralitharan affair. There seems to be a continuing thread in the whole episode commencing from the 1995-96 tour of Australia when Sri Lanka was given a torrid time with specious charges of ball-tampering and the first no-balling of Muralitharan. During that series, the Channel 9 commentary team constantly played and re-played the errors committed by Darrel Hair and Steve Randall. Some of those bloomers were pathetic. Yet, the Australian Cricket Board appointed them as their nominees for the International Panel soon after. Surely, aren't there other umpires in Australia? What are the considerations the Australian Cricket Board takes into reckoning when appointing umpires to the International Panel? Steve Randall, one of the nominees, is presently facing a barrage of charges for having sexually abused children. Randall's cobber, Darrel Hair, removed himself from the panel down to officiate in the Carlton & United series, after having very 'diabolically'(!) timed the publication of his controversial autobiography. Ross Emerson has taken leave from his workplace suffering from 'stress' but has the temerity to umpire in an international cricket match AND no-ball a bowler. Wasn't the Australian Cricket Board and/or Emerson's employers aware of the fact that Emerson was in no mental state to discharge such an arduous duty? Just as they did with Warne and Waugh, was Emerson's weak mental state too being manipulated and then covered up? All such actions have contributed to a breakdown of relations between the two nations not unlike the events that caused a similar situation during the 1932-33 Bodyline series between England and Australia.

RAPPED ON THE KNUCKLES BY RICHARDS
What about the actions of the ICC and the referee Van der Merwe? Van der Merwe allegedly spoke out of turn - subsequently denied - and he was, denial or otherwise, rapped on the knuckles by David Richards, the Executive Director of the ICC. In any event, I wonder whether there is provision in the ICC rules to punish an errant Match Referee! What a comic situation the game has now descended to. So, the first brick was apparently dropped by the one who has been appointed to judge others. Then, what about the shoulder-charging act of England captain Alec Stewart? Why was Stewart summoned only as a witness? He should have been in the dock as well. Yes, come to think of it, nor was Mahanama entirely innocent either. But, not only must justice be served it must appear to be served, and evenly.

Most Sri Lankans however are emotional by nature and tend to feel hard done by where Ranatunga is concerned. Considering the circumstances, that Arjuna was provoked is true, that he may not have got the proper advice is also possible, but one cannot get away from the fact that a captain cannot argue a decision given by an umpire whether it be with a Hair, Randall, Maquillan or an Emerson. That principle goes into the very fabric of the game. Break it and you pay for it.

REFLECTIONS
Bowled by bouncer

by Srian Obeyesekera
The once beleagured English seem to have shed their rag tag image in their quest to master one-day cricket.When Alec Stewart's team started their ashes tour of Australia in December,the side was regarded matchless to the strong Australians.And as it turned out,Alec Stewart's charges started disastrously,but then rallied to give the seasoned Mark Taylor's Aussies a fright winning the third and the fifth test matches.But England's ascension as an allround team at both the long and short version of the game began with the one-day triangular,also starring Sri Lanka and hosts Australia.

Five wins from six matches show England's strength,the solitary loss to Sri Lanka also lost in which both sides totalled 300-plus totals.

But above all what has suddenly seen England transformed in the halo of instant cricket is more than its improved batting department,its bowling which has grown in leaps and bounds.Moreover,the English bowlers in Darren Gough and Allan Mullally have begun to bear fruit.To a point of reducing the world champion Sri Lankan batting to almost threadbare.Friday's match in which the Lankans folded up for a meagre 99 runs signifies how strong the English bowling attack isas of now.

Today,an English team that came in for one of the worst batterings at the hands of Arjuna Ranatunga's men not so long agoon home soil when they lost badly to the Sri Lankans, has undergone complete transformed.Into a well knit winning combination. With left hander, Neil Fairbrother looking so soild and Greame Hick beginning at long last to justify the faith the England selectors had been looking for ,the batting has taken on a new dimension.That ascension ofcourse has not come without taking a bit of a leaf from Sri Lanka's game.The Nick Knight-Alec Stewart opening pair giving the side a flourishing start with Knight as the pinch hitter.

If infusion of youth has seen a remarkable change in the fielding, England's strong point is its bowling.It has evolved a strategy of bouncing dangerously high at the Lankan batsmen.A strategy,also followed by Australia's Glen McGrath, which has shackled the world champion Lankan batting side.A batting department which taught the cricketing world what one-day batting is all about.As it is the Sanath Jayasuriya-Romesh Kaluvitharana opening pair which ushered the new dimension in hitting over the circle in the first 15 overs,have now been bamboozled by the bouncy stuff on the fast Australian batting tracks.As Jayasuriya commented soon after Sri Lanka's poor showing at the mini world cup,bowlers have worked on his weaknesses and he needed to change his strokeplay.

The onging Carlton and United series as of today when Sri Lanka meet Australia will be all-deciding for Ranatunga's charges.Left with only three more matches which Sri Lanka badly needs to win to make it to the finals,the momentum gathers with star batsman Aravinda de Silva back in the fold.The champion batsman failed miserably in the last game against England the other day in his comeback after injury.But with little practice,de Silva could not have come to his best form due to overweight as well and needing a good stay at the wicket.Sri Lanka's chances will largely depend on de Silva, who if gets into his stride,can dictate terms to any bowler.

The ICC's double standards
Meanwhile,the raging cricket row centering on controversial Lankan off spinner,Muttiah Muralitheran,has culminated with Skipper,Arjuna Ranatunga being the bad man with a heavy stricture on him by ICC Match Referee,Peter Van der Merwe.But dismayingly,the ICC has failed to discipline England Alec Stewart whose behaviour was as the Captain of the side,was as unbecoming as the ICC charge sheeted at Ranatunga.

Why these double standards by the ICC?

Ananda force the pace, but Royal settle for a draw

An elegant knock of 89 by Royal vice-captain Ruchira Jayasuriya enabled Royal to make a second innings score of 215 for 9 wickets as their inter-school encounter against Ananda fizzled out into a tame draw at Reid Avenue yesterday. Royal, trailing by 23 runs on the first innings, settled for a draw from the outset of their second innings with Jayasuriya giving an exhibition of power-hitting before being dismissed in the twentieth mandatory over.

His knock, which came off 141 balls, comprised 11 crisply struck boundaries as well as one towering six clouted off the bowling off Thilina Kandambi which fell onto the adjoining main road. Besides, Jayasuriya, opener Ravi Peries also contributed a hard hit 36 with 8 fours while the rest, including star bat Jehan Mubarak flopped in what turned out to be a ideal batting surface at Royal College grounds.

Earlier, Ananda, continuing from their overnight score of 122 for 2, added a staggering 135 runs, shade under two hours of batting before making the declaration at 257 for 6 wickets. Their overnight pair of skipper Jithendra Perera and star left hander Thilina Kandambi extended the unbroken third wicket stand to 124 before Perera was dismissed for a fluent 50 made off 104 balls with 8 fours. Kandambi eventually top scored for the Anandians with a swashbuckling 85 which came off as many deliveries and inclusive of 15 power-packed boundaries. With the departure of Perera and Kandambi Ananda's middle order once more responded in positive fashion with Muthumudalige Pushpakumara (47) and Eshan Abeysinghe (53 n.o.) associating themselves in an aggressive 80 run stand for the sixth wicket which paved the way for them to reach the ultimate score.

* Scores - Royal College 234 and 215 / 9 wkts at close (Ravi Peries 36, Tushan Amarasuriya 11, Jehan Mubarak 13, Ruchira Jayasuriya 89, Andrew Perera 16, Amila Kariyakarawana 12, Danushka Perera 10, Kasun Fernando 2/50, Thilina Kandambi 2/34).

Ananda College 122/2 wkts contd. 257/6 decl. (Jithendra Perera 50, Thilina Kandambi 85, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara 47, Eshan Abeysinghe 53 n.o. Jehan Mubarak 2/48) (J.K)

Inter-Club Premier League Cricket C'ships
Priyankara 8/47 in Bloomfield win

by Althaf Nawaz
Two timely half centuries from Russel Arnold (52) and Naveed Nawaz (52) enabled NCC to gain first inning points over Colts in their Premier League Cricket Championship match at Maitland Place yesterday.

After restricting Colts for 215, NCC went on to conclude day two at 248 for eight wickets. NCC Skipper Russel Arnold and Naveed Nawaz played a key role in taking their side to a decent score.

Arnold struck seven fours while Navaz had nine hits to the ropes. Opener Pradeep Hewage contributed with a brisk 43.

Sajith Fernando had best figures with four for 43 runs.

BRC skittled out
BRC were skittled out for just 94 runs by Tamil Union who collected first innings points at Sara Stadium yesterday.

After scoring 199 runs in the first essay, Tamil Union bowlers Niroshan Bandaratilake (3/22) and S. Weerakoon (3/15), ran through the BRC batting to bundle them out for 84.

Tamil Union, in their second innings, were 215 for five wickets at stumps on day two. Sagara Kumara hit a quick-fire 58 while N. Weeraman was unbeaten on 58.

Moors, in reply, had a solid start with openers Heshan Tillekeratne (42) and Primial Salgado (34) putting on 77 for the first wicket. After their departure the middle order collapsed dramatically due to poor shot selection. Skipper Chandika Haturusinghe was unbeaten on 19.

First innings points for Police
Police collected first inning points over Antonians at Police Park yesterday. After posting a formidable total of 285, Police restricted Antonians for 258 runs. P. Siriwardena and T. Kodikara scored 72 and 77 respectively.

N. Ranaweera and P. K. Serasinghe captured four wickets each.

SSC notched up first innings win over CCC at Maitland Place yesterday.

Resuming from the overnight score of 39 for one wicket, SSC went on to pile up 240 runs. Upeka Fernando top scored with 48 H. Boteju and N. Rupasinghe captured four wickets each.

CCC in their second innings were 77 for four wickets at close of play.

* At Maitland Place.
Colts 215 all out in 96.1 overs.

(R. Kalpage 5/47)

NCC 248 for 8 wkts in 87 overs. (R. Arnold 52, P. Hewage 43, N. Nawaz 52, K. Sangakkara 28, C. Jayasinghe 15, A. Pathirana 14 n.o., I. Amarasinghe 2/38, Sajith Fernando 4/43)

* At Sara Stadium.
Tamil Union 199 and 215 for 5 wkts at close. (Sagara Kumara 58, Indika Galagoda 38, N. Weeraman 58 n.o.)

BRC 94 all out

(M. Hettiarachchi 22, N. Bandaratilake 3/22, S. Weerakoon 3/15, N. Weeraman 2/14)

* At Reid Avenue.
Bloomfield 202 for 6 (overnight), 236 all out

(K. Dharmasena 111 n.o., C. Jayasinghe 4/41, C. Haturusinghe 2/48, R. Herath 2/27, P. Salgado 2/22) and 4 for no loss.

Moors 148 all out

(H. Tillekeratne 42, P. Salgado 34, C. Haturursinghe 19 n.o., P. Wickremasinghe 8/47).

At Police Park

Police 285 all out and 23 for one wkts at close. Antonians 258 all out.

(P. Siriwardena 72, P. Ekanayake 36, T. Kodikara 77, U. Hettiarachchi 22, V. Ranaweera 4/55, P. K. Serasinghe 4/71)

* At Maitland Place

SSC 39 for one overnight, 240 all out.

(S. Kalavitigoda 24, M. Perera 38, U. Fernando 48, I Gallage 2/58, H. Botegu 4/63, N. Rupasinghe 4/65).

CCC 204 and 77 for four wkts at close.

(D. Hunukumbura 27 n.o., Y. Tillekeratne 19 n.o., C. Gamage 2/24).

A listless draw

The inter-school cricket encounter between S. Thomas' and Wesley ended in a listless draw at Mount Lavinia yesterday.

Resuming from an overnight score of 75 for three wickets the Thomians declared at 158 for seven wickets.

Wesley, in their second essay declared their innings at 129 for six wickets.

Set a victory target of 174 runs in 23 overs the Thomians were 88 for three at stumps.

SCORES:

Wesley 202 for 6 dec. and 129 for 6 wkts.

Decl. (M. Madagedara 43, D. Jayakody 21, M. de Silva 18, R. Gunawardena 3/22)

STC 75 for 3 overnight, 158 for seven wkts. decl (M. Peiris 31, G. A. Fernando 31, H. S. S. Peiris 22, D. Jayakody 2/16, H. Ziad 2/30) and 88 for 3 wkts at close (D. Gunawardena 27 n.o., M. Peiris 34 n.o.) (AN)

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Why was a legal expert's free assistance ignored?

by Mahinda Wijesinghe
So, possibly the worst cricketing controversy since the acrimonious Bodyline series of 1932 - 33, which also took place in Australia, was enacted in Adelaide the other day during the Sri Lanka versus England One-day game. It was on this ground that the Bodyline controversy reached its crest 66 years ago, almost to the day, during the Third Test when the Australian skipper Bill Woodfull was hit over the heart and wicket-keeper Oldfield suffered from a fractured skull. It was as a direct result of the incidents during this Test match that Australia and England exchanged terse cables and which nearly resulted in the near-breakdown of the diplomatic relations between the two countries. In fact, for Sri Lanka and Australia to continue cricketing relations there will have to be many fences to mend in the future.

It is always easy to be wise after an event. As I write these lines, an inquiry into Arjuna's conduct is awaited. However, was Arjuna's outburst on the field justified? Was it a part of the game-plan of the Sri Lankans? That Murali bowled leg-breaks to complete the over and stopped bowling from that end did seem as if that was part of a game-plan. After all, we were aware that the bubble would burst at some stage, and when both umpires appointed for this game had previously no-balled Muralitharan, shouldn't our tour party been forewarned? Because, arguing with an umpire on the field and having heated words - at least, that is what it looked like on the television - with the Match Referee is not sensible strategy. Though, at the same time, the Match Referee's conduct too has not been above board! With this outburst Arjuna has laid himself open to censure and possibly made the scapegoat of the issue.

Wouldn't it have been better, if the Sri Lankans gritted their teeth, accepted the umpire's verdict and finished the game, and then refused to participate in the tournament THEREAFTER even at the risk of our players losing a lot of money? There would have been a lot of public sympathy to the Sri Lankans, and the paying public who have bought their tickets in advance - would have practically lynched the organisers- and that they could not have afforded. There cannot be much of a tournament if one team out of three pulls out.

It is also an accepted principle that prevention is better than cure. Previously, I mentioned that a leading expatriate Sri Lankan lawyer suggested a game-plan BEFORE the tour to counter any problems regarding the Muralitharan affair. True, Tony Greig - a born-again Sri Lankan! - displaying the off-spinner's peculiar bowling-arm was helpful, but by that time the damage was already done. The man who suggested the plan to our representative in Australia is L. J. Mark Cooray LLB (Cey), PhD (Cambridge), Phd (Colombo). He is a former editor and contributor for 7 years to a journal which monitored bias and unfairness in the Australian media. He has written 12 books, and written over 60 articles in technical journals and over 1,000 articles in popular magazines. He has lectured, and his books and articles have been published in every continent. It appears that our administrators preferred to pay an Australian firm of lawyers rather than getting legal advice free from our man. No wonder, anything free is scorned at! Here's what he has to say of his experience when he wanted to help our Cricket Board:

"What follows is not written to rake up the past. The main reason is to ensure that the lessons from the past are learnt. These lessons are necessary to face up to the problems which will inevitably arise in the near future, when the Sri Lankan cricket tour of Australia commences.

A Sri Lankan batsman was called a "black monkey" by an Australian bowler on the previous tour. The matter was hushed up by the Australian Cricket Board, with the consent of the Sri Lankans. If the matter had been made public, there would have been a reaction from all sections of the Australian community. Much sympathy would have been generated towards the Sri Lankans.

If this comment had been made about a Pakistani or West Indian cricketer there would have been an uproar. The Australian media and politicians to their credit always takes a stand against racist comments.

Arjuna Ranatunga and the Sri Lankan cricketers have earned a bad name in Australia for refusing to shake hands with the Australian cricketers after a one day match. The media has been very critical. The whole picture would have been different if the Australian media and public had known the truth about the "black monkey" type abuse and the psychological warfare and standover tactics adopted by the Australian cricketers.

Public knowledge by media and public at the time about the black monkey incident would have by itself been sufficient to turn the tide of public opinion against the Australians and in favour of the Sri Lankan cricketers.

Why were the black monkey and other incidents hushed up? The Australian Cricket Board exerted pressure, and the Sri Lankan authorities meekly bowed their knees. My understanding is that the decision to bow down to the ACB was made by the Sri Lanka Cricket Board in consultation with the Minister who was advised by Sri Lankan diplomats. This understanding is based on discussion with a high ranking member of the Sri Lankan diplomatic corps (now retired)

The ACB does not make decisions in consultation with the Australian Foreign Office. The ACB acts in consultation with the players and in their interests. The players have a trade union and a full time employee (Tim May) to represent then.

By comparison the interests and reputation of the players and also the name of Sri Lanka was tarnished by diplomatic considerations. It was a situation in which diplomatic considerations were irrelevant.

For Australians today cricket involves psychological warfare on the playing field and also off it. This has to be met. I do not suggest that Sri Lankans stoop to the same levels as the Australians. But they need to publicise the facts of what is happening. The ACB must not be allowed to pressurise and suppress unpleasant truths. The truth about the black monkey allegation is one which many fair minded Australians would want to know. The Pakistanis or the Windies would never have agreed to such a blatant cover up.

The finding by the Match Referee and the umpires that a Sri Lankan cricketer was guilty of ball tampering on the previous tour was rejected by the ICC. But the vindication was not widely publicised. Here again the ACB managed to hush the matter up. The motive was to protect the reputation of the umpires who made a wrong decision. The Sri Lankan authorities meekly consented. The reputation of the Sri Lankan cricketers was tarnished as a consequence.

Most Australians think the Sri Lankans were guity of ball tampering. There should have been a statement issued by the Sri Lankan authorities publicising the innocence of the cricketers. A detailed statement of facts should have been issued.

Sir Donald Bradman in a TV interview with Ray Martin made shortly after the last Sri Lankan tour made clear his views about sledging and verbal abuse. He is a very quiet and gentle man who makes no direct criticisms. He stated unequivocally that sledging was in no circumstances acceptable. His words carried a very strong disapproval of the tactics of Australian cricketers.

Darrell Hair's book has received wide publicity in the Australian media. The ICC has been castigated for its principled position about Muralitharan's action. The ICC is treated as a bully interfering with an umpire following a principled course of action.

The question which arises is why the various reports with technical and scientific facts and conclusions which cleared Murali's action are not freely accessible and available. If they are available on a web site, on the internet, radio and TV commentators and all journalists of newspapers may be challenged to refer the facts.

As things stand journalists who have not had access to the full facts in various reports make false and defamatory statements.

If the criticism continues when the Sri Lankan cricketers are playing in Australia, it will be a factor which will adversely affect the whole team. It will affect the peace of mind of all the players before and during matches.

A course of action is available which will effectively dry up all comment and criticism about Murali's action. 1 vainly tried to contact and present this proposal to the representative of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board in Australia. He has declined to answer telephone messages and a written communication. The response given to a third party was: "We know what we are doing. We do not want anyone else doing anything".

The proposal is that a web site on the internet be opened which contains all the reports with facts, technical and scientific information and conclusions which cleared Murali's action. This should be followed by a letter written by Murali's solicitor to the radio and TV stations and the sports editors of newspapers pointing out that information and facts are available on the internet about the fairness and validity of Murali's bowling action. This letter should contain a clear warning that a defamation action may be lodged against anyone who disregards the facts and information in the reports.

A similar letter should be sent to the Letters Editors of each of the major newspapers addressed to readers asking them to read the information on the web site. They should be warned that a defamation action will be instituted against those who ignore the facts.

The Sri Lanka Cricket Board has made representations to the ICC and the ACB. But it is foolish to stop there. The Australian media must be fed with the facts and lobbied. The Sri Lanka Cricket Board must not ignore the media and the fair minded Australian community. They must go beyond diplomatic action and officialdom. They failed to do this on the previous tour. They must not make the same mistake again."

The Man Australians love to hate

BY ROBERT CRADDOCK
Chief Cricket Writer

He's been called the toughest and most influential player in the world and prides himself on being the first player to bark back at an Australian cricket side.

The Australians don't like him one bit, probably because he plays the game a little like they do.

Just the mention of his name - Arjuna Ranatunga - makes Australian eyes look skywards and expletives flow.

Mark Taylor says Ranatunga has the same antagonistic ways as Brian Lara but beneath it all they grudgingly respect him because you have to.

He is a master of gamesmanship, makes no apologies for ruffling feathers and is so self-assured he quite enjoys tossing a verbal grenade in the opposition dressing room.

In 1996 when Australia were preparing to play Sri Lanka in the World Cup final, Ranatunga branded Shane Warne "over-rated and a product of too much hype from Australia's media".

He figured Australia might get worked up and play the man instead of the ball in the final and that their emotions might just run away with them.

He was probably right because Sri Lanka won the match.

"They became panicked about it," Ranatunga said in Sydney yesterday. "I never said Warne was an ordinary bowler. I said he was a good bowler but highly over-rated.

"I never had a problem with him. I rated Adbul Qadir the best spinner I faced in my career."

Call him what you like but this steel-hearted warrior changed the face of Sri Lankan cricket, then world cricket as a result of it.

He made a cheery-faced team of perpetual losers shed their inferiority complex.

A team who were "just happy to be here" became a harder-edged side who blasted the rest of the world off the planet in the last World Cup.

Ranatunga is the longest-serving Test cricketer in the world, starting his career as an 18-year-old against England 17 years ago when he took a return two-hour train ride (third class) to Colombo each day of the one-off Test.

He showed immediate promise, taking 54 off an attack which included Bob Willis and Ian Botham.

Ranatunga says it was those rugged early days of being with a team that won just one of their first 20 series convinced him things had to change.

"When we started we copped a lot from every country. We knew if we accepted it we would go through the same things and just be a side who went to a country, had one good match on tour, and went home.

"Someone had to make a stand. We had to change our whole approach. We used to give everything and just keep our mouths shut but now it is totally different."

Like most strong-willed men, the harder you push Ranatunga the less chance you have of shifting him.

When ACB chief Graham Halbish implored Ranatunga to make a statement saying the Australian team were welcome in Sri Lanka for the last World Cup, Ranatunga said: "I will not dance to the tune of Mr. Halbish."

There are times when he acts contrarily just for the fun of it, like last summer in England where he got the world's most unusual bat sponsor- Sam's Chickens and Ribs - which caused ripples of objections from the International Cricket Council.

"Sam was an old friend of mine who owned some restaurants and he did very well out of it," said Ranatunga with a prankster's grin.

"A lot of people from London started buying his chickens. I should have charged him much more than I did."

No doubt there was some contra deal involved because Ranatunga, though he has recently lost 1Okg, was once famously quoted as saying: "There are three things I really love in life .. my cricket my kids and my food."

The cynics among us would add "not necessarily in that order".

He is no athlete and is famous for walking his singles. He boasts that he has gained more overthrows than any other batsmen due to trying to pick him off while he is wing along at his own pace.

Ranatunga is one of six brothers- four have played Tests-who grew up as the son of a politician who is now a deputy minister.

There are plenty of people who will tell you this gave him an easy ride but there were tough moments as well, like the time when his family home was burned down following a change of government.

He knows Sri Lanka does not have the talent identification set- ups of other nations so he had injected massive sums of his own money to help others.

If he sees a talented bush cricketer- such as Sanath Jayasuriya who comes from the tiny coastal port of Matara- he offers them the chance to come and stay at his house in Colombo and further their careers.

When you see him walk on to the field, his portly waddle makes him look like a star of the 70s playing in a benefit game.

He doesn't have the puff to make big scores-he has 33 Test 50s but just four centuries-but he is beautiful player with the softest wrists you'll see.

To see him clink and dab and nudge is to watch improvisation at its best.

Over the last 17 years none of big names in slow bowling - including Abdul Qadir, Shane Warne and Bruce Yardley-have worried him and in his first Test he handled Derek Underwood without major problems.

Arjuna is training as hard as he ever has to try and squeeze another year or so out of his career.

Then he will drift off into retirement and Sri Lankan cricket might never have the same fighting heart again.

(From 'The Daily Telegraph'.)

Umpires outraged at Ranatunga ruling

PERTH, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Some of Australia's most distinguished umpires have criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) over its decision not to suspend Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga.

Ranatunga was charged with misconduct after leading his players off the Adelaide Oval in protest when Australian umpire Ross Emerson called Muttiah Muralitharan for throwing during last Saturday's limited-overs match between Sri Lanka and England.

Play was halted for about 12 minutes and a visibly angry Ranatunga and Emerson could be seen pointing fingers at each other. Ranatunga also pointed his finger at match referee Peter van der Merwe.

Ranatunga was found guilty of misconduct on Thursday but escaped a ban when the ICC handed him a suspended six game suspension.

Retired Australian test umpire Max O'Connell said the ICC's decision not to ban Ranatunga was ridiculous.

"With Ranatunga it wasn't just one incident, he was telling Ross Emerson that he was in charge of the game, jabbing him in the chest, threatening to take his team off the field," O'Connell said.

"It was easily the worst behaviour I've ever seen on a cricket field."

New South Wales umpires director Dick French said the result could deter young people from becoming umpires.

"The behaviour of the Sri Lankan captain was inexcusable - to prod, point and to not accept the umpire's ruling was really disgraceful," he said.

"And to hear the punishment really leaves a sour taste in your mouth because I believe a suspended sentence doesn't mean anything."

Former test umpire Lou Rowan said the ICC and the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) should be condemned for the way they handled the situation. Emerson was stood down from this weekend's matches after the ACB discovered that he was on sick leave from his regular job.

"I feel the umpires have been abandoned at the highest level," Rowan said. "Umpires throughout the world can now expect no support at all from administrators."

"It's a very disappointing decision," former international umpire Len King said. "There's certainly been a lack of support for the umpires."

Swimming sisters for further training

by Hafiz Marikar
Two of Kandy's top swimmers are leaving the island for further studies and training in swimming, that is the two sisters Shama and Hasthi Dissnayake. These two sisters have brought immense credit and fame to their school Mahamaya Girls College, and Kandy. They represented Mahamaya in all the swimming meets, under 10 and 12 since 1996. They took to swimming mainly because of their parents, on realizing their potential they were given special training in Colombo as well, under the best coaches in the country.

The eldeer Shama took to swimming at the age of two and half years, it was in Anuradahapura, with her father, and it is said that she had not shown any sings of phobia towards water. Instead she really loved to play in water.

When the father came over to Kandy on transfer, she entered Mahamaya College. From the year 1 itself, she took to swimming. And the teacher in charge of swimming spotted her talents and gave this girl the fullest encouragement to come up in this water sport.

At the 23rd National Pentathlon Championship in 1998, she excelled her swimming performance and became first in all five events and became the champion in the under 12 age group. It was really creditable that both sisters became the champions in the 23rd National Pentathlon championship in 1998. Further they became first in all the events in the 25th Sri Lanka Schools Swimming and Diving championships and she got the highest points in the national age group swimming and diving championships. Further she holds timings of 26.06 sec. In Butterfly stroke and 25.28 sec. in the back stroke in the outstation swimming championship. Up to date she has 78 certificates out of which 10 are marked as best performances and 18 medals.

Shama's sister Hasthi was just seven years and the youngest in the team during the 1996 meets, she swam under 10, where she showed her talents especially in under ten relay competitions. In Kandy Inter School Novices swimming meet, Hasthi became the winner in under 9. In the 24th Sri Lanka Schools Swimming and Diving championships in 1997, she became first in 100m Free style. Similarly she performed very well in all the swimming competitions held in 1997 and 98. As she is good in all four strokes and with full of confidence and stamina her favourite events are the Individual Medley and Dolphin on which she is unbeatable and she holds a record timing of 3:32.99 under ten in individual medley. Further, at the 23rd National Pentathlon championship 1998, she was also placed as the champion swimmer under 10. Up to now she has 55 certificates out of which 10 are marked as Best Performance and 11 medals. So, after a good training they will be back.

Gearing for the Rowing Nationals

The Rowing National Championships will be conducted on February 20 with the event drawing a large number of entries this year.The participating teams will be highlighted every Sunday

Rowing found its way to Musaeus College through a few students who were already engaged in the sport with the Colombo Rowing Club in 1998. An invitation to the Colombo Rowing Club requesting the participation of school children at the 26th annual inter school rowing championships held in Calcutta, lndia, speared on the enthusiasm of the school to put together a team from Musaeus. This saw the first ever school girl rowing team being founded and recognised by the Colombo Rowing Club and the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka. It was indeed a very proud moment in this historic event for the Musaeites to have established an image for themselves and the lady rowing activities in Sri Lanka by winning the gold medal at this regatta in the senior girls category where 10 girl schools participated.

The team which was put together in April 1998, has gained in numbers and we are participating in our first ever national rowing championships with a squad of 11 girls, comprising of 2 fours, 2 pairs and 2 scullers. We are venturing forth to meet the challenges of the more experienced university crews of Colombo and Moratuwa campuses who have been involved in the sport for a very long time, Ladies College and .Colombo Rowing Club. We wish to take this opportunity to wish our opponents the very best in competition, and may the best team emerge victorious.

Message from the Prefect of Games, St. Joseph's College

Rowing in St, Joseph's College started in mid 1996. Though we are relatively new to this wonderful sport, through hard training we have acquired competitive skills. S.J.C. Rowing Club will be taking part in the forthcoming National Championships. This will be its third outing.

I am very proud to say that under the kind sponsorship of the Colombo International Nautical Engineering College, St. Joseph's College will soon enjoy the facilities of its own rowing club and sea scouting on the water fronts of the bordering Beira Lake. This is the latest addition to the Josephian sports complex arena. The work on the construction of two landing piers close to the auditorium is in progress, and is almost nearing completion.

Within this short two years as a team we have learned the importance of team work and individual contribution to maintain discipline within our ranks and in unity help each other out.

This year we will be participating in the under 16 and under 19 categories. It will be the first time we compete in sculls, pairs and fours events together. The S.J.C. R.C. is led by Anish de Almeida and he is assisted by Eranga Muhandiramge.

I would like to give sincere gratitude to our coaches Mr. Yohan Thurainayagam and Mr. Johann Corera both old Joes for their dedicated guidance and tireless contribution towards rowing at St, Joseph's College.

I also take this opportunity to thank our Rector Rev. Fr. Victor Silva for his enthusiasm, encouragement, help and blessings.

I would also wish to thank our dear parents for their support and encouragement.

Furthermore I would like to wish the other institutions. Participating in the forthcoming Nationals the very best of luck, let us row this regatta with good sportsmanship.

Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi
Prefect of Games.

The Rowing Crew of Mahanama College

Mahanama College began its activities at The Rowing Club in the early months of the year 1998. Since then the crew has been coached by Mr. Yohan Thurainayagam & Mr. Johann Corera being the guiding light for the boys. Taking part in their first Nationals Rowing Championship this year, they would be the rookie team at CRC.

The past twelve months at the club has been a wonderful experience for the crew. Working hard under tight schedules, never being dormant under any circumstances.

The crew would be taking part in the categories of under 19 & over 19 (junior) showering off in pairs and fours, well aware of the high standards they are competing against. The MCRC would be led by Ruchira Kulasinghe assisted by Arjuna Liyanage.

Coming in touch with this wonderful sport not long ago the management board of officials in Mahanama College have decided to focus on the future consistency of the activities taking place regarding the sport at college. Here they have mentioned that this is a well & true opportunity for the MCRC to improve their skills in this sport, competing at national level in front of keen-eyed spectators watching them closely.

CREW - Ruchira Kulasinghe (Capt.), Arjuna Liyanage (Vice), Shammi De Costa, Shakeer Habib, Nalin De Silva, Janaka Peiris and Camal Dissanayake.

They appreciate this opportunity given to schools & institutions by The Colombo Rowing Club and its officials including the organising committee of this event. They would also like to take this opportunity to wish all competing schools & institutions the BEST OF LUCK.

May The Goodwill Of Sportsmanship be The Pathway To Your Glory.

Arjuna Liyanage

Nimesh's ton gives Sebs first innings points

A blistering century by Nimesh Perera helped Sebastianites to pile up massive first innings total of 418 all out over Galle CC in their Premier League Cricket Championship match at Moratuwa yesterday.

Resuming from an overnight score of 221 for four wickets, Sebastanits batsmen went on a run spree. Nimesh Perera led the way hammering a century (111) which contained one huge six and eleven boundaries. He was associated in a 117-run partnership with Chamara Liyanage who struck a quick-fire 81. Liyanage's innings comprised of one six and five fours.

Galle CC in reply were 87 for three wickets at close.

SCORES:

Sebestianites 221 for 4 overnight 418 all out (T. M. Dilshan 40, R. Yasalal 56, S. Silva 49, M. Mendis 40, N. Perera 110, C. Liyanage 81, G. Perera 4/91, J. C. Gamage 2/95, C. Fernando 2/56) Galle CC 87 for 3 wkts at close (R. Peiris 29) (AN)

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