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Royal crush S. Thomas' by 7 wkts., to regain Mustangs Trophy

By Jatila Karawita
An excellent all round team effort from Royal College, Colombo, helped them to register a crushing seven-wicket win over S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia in their Mustangs Trophy limited overs cricket encounter at SSC grounds yesterday. Thus, Royal atoned for their four-wicket loss suffered in the 120th 'Battle of the Blues' match which was concluded a week earlier. This comprehensive win also enabled Royal to regain the coveted Mustangs Trophy from the grasp of the Thomians after a lapse of three years. Royal, chasing a paltry Thomian score of 111, made 117 for 3 wickets to romp home by seven wickets with more than thirteen overs to spare.

S. Thomas' College, who won the toss and elected to take first lease of the SSC wicket, floundered from the word go against a vastly improved Royal side to be shot out for a dismal 111 in 41.2 overs. None of their recognised batsmen troubled the scorers with big match centurion Meshad Peries top scoring with 19. Besides Meshad, Shanaka Caldera (12), Lakmal Fernando (16), Gihan Fernando (12) and Dilshan Gunawardene (10), all went beyond double figures but some superb cricket from the Royalists, where they excelled in both bowling and fielding stopped the high-riding Thomians in their tracks.

The Thomians, who were on cloud nine after recording one of the finest of 'Battle of the Blues' victory the previous week, failed to dictate terms to their opponents throughout their innings as the Reid Avenue lads led capably by Thushan Amarasuriya, delivered the knock-out punch in style to end the season on a winning note. Royal's sloppy fielding which came in for much flak in the three-day clash was rectified to a great extent yesterday as the two blinders taken by Harshana Rajakaruna and Skipper Thushan Amarasuriya off their own bowling to get rid of Thomian opener L. R. Perera and Zakir Kanaka, clearly showed that they had gone into the one-day fixture with a perfect game plan and with the perfect homework done on the opponents. Of the seven bowlers used by Skipper Amarasuriya, new ball bowler Harshana Rajakaruna returned the impressive figures of 3 for 17 off 9 very economical overs as the Royal pacie knocked the daylights out of the Thomian side by getting rid of L. R. Perera, M. Hassen and Gihan Fernando which really put them on the back foot from which they never recovered. Amarasuriya also chipped in with figures of 2 for 15 off 8 very tight overs to tighten the screws on the Thomians.

Royal, chasing 111 for victory with an asking rate of under three runs per over, were steered home by their openers Ravi Peries (25), and Malinda Thotiwilage (36), who shared a brisk stand of 63 runs for the first wicket in even time. With the dismissal of Ravi Peries, Royal stuttered somewhat losing a further two wickets in undue haste to win the game. But Amarasuriya, with an unbeaten knock of 27 which also included the winning six which was clobbered off Meshad Peries' bowling and Ruchira Jayasuriya (2 n.o.), saw to it that Royal won the match conclusively, thus compensating for their humiliation in the big'un. For S. Thomas', off spinner Harshana Jayawardene bowled a misely spell of 10 overs for 14 runs, but the rest failed to contain the strong Royal batting with big match wrecker Suranga Peries also proving to be ineffective with figures of 1 for 35.

Mustangs Trophy Awards

Mustangs Trophy - Royal College.
'Man of the Match' - Thushan Amarasuriya (Royal).
'Best Batsman' (Royal) - Malinda Thotiwilage.
'Best Batsman' (S. Thomas') - Meshad Peries.
'Best Bowler' (Royal) - Harshana Rajakaruna.
'Best Bowler' (S. Thomas') - Harshana Jayawardene.

SCOREBOARD

S. THOMAS'

L. R. PERERA c & b Harshana Rajakaruna 03
Z. KANAKA c & b T. Amarasuriya 09
M. HASSEN c Jayasuriya b Harshana Rajakaruna 01
S. CALDERA c Thotawilage b Amarasuriya 12
L. L. FERNANDO run out 16
G. FERNANDO lbw b Harshana Rajakaruna 12
M. PERIES st. Andrew Perera b Harith Rajakaruna 19
D. GUNAWARDENA run out 10
S. PERIES not out 00
N. RATWATTE c Mubarak b Jayasuriya 07
H. JAYAWARDENA b Mubarak 00
EXTRAS (nb-8, w-8, lb-6) 22

TOTAL in 42.2 overs all out 111

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-8, 2-17, 3-33, 4-36, 5-70, 6-70, 7-98, 8-111, 9-111.

BOWLING: S. Udumalagala 7-2-13-0, Harshana Rajakaruna 9-3-17-3, T. Amarasuriya 8-3-15-2, A. Kariyakarawana 4-1-12-0, J. Mubarak 6.2-1-11-1, H. Rajakaruna 5-1-17-1, R. Jayasuriya 3-1-4-1.

ROYAL

RAVI PERIES run out 25
M. THOTAWILAGE c M. Peries b S. Peries 36
T. AMARASURIYA not out 27
J. MUBARAK st. Hassen b Gunawardena 10
R. JAYASURIYA not out 04
EXTRAS (nb-4, w-5, lb-6) 15

TOTAL for 3 wkts in 36.3 overs 117

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-63, 2-79, 3-100.

BOWLING: L. L. Fernando 7-1-24-0, N. Ratwatte 3-0-8-0, H. Jayawardena 10-4-14-0, P. Gunawardena 6-2-13-1, S. Peries 10-0-35-1, M. Peries 0.3-0-6-0.

DSS hold Bens to a draw

by Dhammika Ratnaweera
Two half centuries by D. S. Senanayake College batsmen Naleen Pradeep and St. Benedict's Chintaka Perera were the highlights of their eighth annual drawn big match encounter concluded at R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday. D.S.S. had to get an impossible target of 164 runs in 11 overs for victory.

But they were 18 for no loss with openers Shashi Lafir the skipper (7) and Suranga Rajakaruna (6) remaining not out at the close of play. Earlier D.S.S. continuing from 32 for two wickets, declared the innings closed at 144 for eight wickets, 56 runs behind their opponents' first innings total.

Muditha Maduwantha and Naleen Pradeep made useful contributions as D.S.S. avoided the follow on. Maduwantha, the overnight batsman scored 37 inclusive of three boundaries off 116 balls while Pradeep made an attractive knock of 50 not out containing boundaries off 133 deliveries. Both Pradeep and Maduwantha added 80 runs for the sixth wicket.

Asiri Devabandu and Chanaka Devabandu took two wickets each for St. Benedict's. Benedictines in their second innings were given a solid start by openers Asiri Gunatilleka (27) and Chintaka Perera (50 n.o., 1 X 4) off 90 balls who added 64 runs.

St. Benedict's declared with the total on 108 for two wickets with a lead of 164 runs in the seventh mandatory over soon after Chintaka Perera completed his half century. D. S. Senanayake College will meet St. Benedict's in their limited overs game today at the same venue.

Oshada Warnapura (87) shines in drawn Moratu-Sri Sumangala big match

Reggie Goonewardene, Moratuwa Correspondent
Skipper Oshada Warnapura who was unbeaten with 39 overnight made 87 with eleven boundaries but just missing his 1,000 runs by a couple, giving Moratu Vidyalaya first innings reply of 202 all out in their annual big match versus Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya, Panadura which ended in a exciting draw at the De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa. Trying to make it a decision match Sri Sumangala in their second innings replied with a sporting declaration at 163/6 in 46 overs.

Skipper Jayanath Sandakan made 37 with Suresh Silva 38. Chasing a total of 121 to win in the 20 mandatory overs Moratu MV put in a brave stand to come up with 108/5 at close. Manoj Deshapriya 34 and H. Indrajith 30 not out.

Though known as a 'Big Match' it fizzled out to be an ordinary game without the spectators but those present in the Moratuwa old boys stand instead of giving a better impression were under the influence of high spirits and were very boisterous while the present boys who were present too joined in the fun fair.

Hope the Principal of the College take note of such instances to discipline at least the present students.

Chief Scores: Sri Sumangala 1st innings 220 all out and 2nd innings 163/6 dec. - Jayanath Sandakan 37, Suresh Silva 35, Aruna Jayatillake 19, Dilal Maduranga 19 not out, C. Dilruk 2/26. Moratu MMV 1st innings 202 all out in 48 overs - Oshada Warnapura 87, Nuwan Quintus 5/50 and 2nd innings 108/5 at close - M. Deshapriya 34, S. Perera 12, Oshada Warnapura 11, H. Indrajith 30 not out.

Election fever and selection problems take precedence

by Mahinda Wijesinghe
When a Vice-President of the Board of Control for Cricket publicly supports an outside candidate for the Presidency while the incumbent President seeks re-election for another term, clearly indicates factionalism in the administration. When there is division amongst the rulers, there is bound to be dissension amongst the ruled.

Yet again, the ugly spectre of candidates adopting every means at their disposal to gain election into the Cricket Board is rearing its head. Back-biting, mutual back-scratching, horse-trading, allegations, you name it, it is all there in the jungle of the Cricket Board hustings. So much so, that the Chief Executive Officer of the Board made a statement on TV, the other day, defending the stance of the administration. Every year this tragedy is repeated, allegations and counter-allegations. Surely, this is not Wayamba! Some of the ruses allegedly adopted by candidates, it is rumoured, may make hardened politicians in national politics look amateurs. There were newspaper reports that two senior players too were to contest - one denied it hotly - and still another report commented that the aspiring candidate for the Presidency had a head-on confrontation with one of the senior players. This too was subsequently denied, by the candidate. Skipper Ranatunga had publicly stated that he was prepared to stand down from the captaincy unless his voice was heard when team selections are being heard. We are certainly hearing things. All these shenanigans while Sri Lankan cricket has hit an all-time low on the eve of defending our World Cup title is surely reminiscent of Nero fiddling while Rome burnt.

WHAT GAMINI DISSANAYAKE SAID

All this to serve cricket in an honorary capacity of course. No wonder, the late Gamini Dissanayake it was, who stated that he found politics in cricket far more difficult to handle than national politics. Having only an inkling of it, I am not surprised. With so much of money at stake it is imperative that honourable officials are elected. Because, like bees being attracted to honey, the undesirable types will try their best to get into the gravy train.

There is a fair amount of speculation as to whether the President should have been a cricketer himself. I believe he need not have been one, provided the members of the Executive Committee have been former cricketers. Basically, the President should be a top-class administrator. If he has played the game, well, that would be a bonus. He should be able to hold the scales evenly and administer the game in a just and equitable manner. Integrity and the capacity to harness the best cricketing brains in the country should be his forte. Unfortunately, politics in Sri Lankan cricket is tainted with national politics as well. Otherwise how can one reconcile the fact that soon after Sri Lanka annexed the World Cup the sitting President of the Board was ousted! If not anything, that smacks of rank ingratitude. Well, currently, threats of inquiries and commissions, a typical Sri Lankan trait, are being bandied around. Suffice it to say that though commissions/inquiries, numbering more than the number of gray hairs on most of our old heads, have been conducted - not only those concerning cricket - but tell me, has anybody swung for their acts of misdemeanours?

It may be a lone voice in the wilderness, but let those who wish well for our country, hope that sanity prevails, and those who can wield the big stick ensure that a fair election is held - there is rather a familiar ring in that statement' - so that better men are elected.

THE ASIAN TEST CHAMPIONSHIP

Coming back to our dismal performance in the Asian Test championship. Firstly, Wasim Akram's feat of achieving two hat-tricks in successive Tests, and the second being the first three wickets to fall, is indeed unique and will be hard to beat. That the Sri Lankans contributed to it is another matter. Sending Chaminda Vaas at the fall of the first wicket with a rampaging Wasim at his best, reflected tactical immaturity. Obviously, that was the time for a technically equipped batsman - Atapattu perhaps? - to fill the breach. How can a less-skilled batsman contend with the thunderbolts of Wasim?

END OF ROAD TO MAHANAMA?

Another matter that warrants comment is the total exclusion of Roshan Mahanama. On a previous occasion, Hashan Tillekeratne had been left out of the national side, but one fruitful innings in a mercantile game which was not even a hundred, I think it was, was sufficient to earn a recall. Mahanama did score a century in a first-class game recently but that did not help. Is it finis for Sri Lanka's best fielder, and a batsman who has a far better record than most in the side? This, at a time when Sri Lanka's fielding has hit an all-time low. Naturally, there will be a price to pay for such acts.

There was also much discussion as to the performance of Test debutant, Upul Chandana, who captured 6/179 during our unceremonious defeat at Dhaka. The most productive by a Sri Lankan playing in his first Test. That is as far as the statistics go. However, let us examine this matter further. What type of pitch was it? Well, the pitch finally favoured spinners. Even Wasim, after having claimed a hat-trick, bowled only a total of just 7 overs. The three Pakistani spinners, Saqlain, Arshad and Afridi, collectively, bowled one ball more than Chandana (47.4 overs) and captured the same number of wickets (6) whilst conceding 61 runs less. Of course, the Pakistanis bowled last. But, the bottom line is, if the opposition scores almost 600 runs (594 to be exact) which included two double centuries, and your side loses by an innings and plenty (innings and 175 runs) there is not much purpose even if a bowler has captured all ten wickets. This may be a harsh judgement, but, sometimes that is the reality. Figures alone sometimes may not tell the entire story, it has be looked at in its entirety to get the full picture.

THE ROYAL-THOMIAN ENCOUNTER

Well, well, S. Thomas' registered a win against the run of play, in their traditional fixture with the Royalists. Declaring at 288/3, after the Thomian skipper inexplicably - except that he is following current fashion! - put the Royalists in, and losing the game is not something palatable. Then, how did it happen? Firstly, I believe, the Royalists should have scored at least 325-335 runs in the same number of overs. A Royal batsman scoring merely 5 runs in the whole of the first session against a wayward Thomian attack is unpardonable. Secondly, when Royal batted again and lost a couple of early wickets, they got into a shell and, practically, refused to score. Defending does not mean to stop scoring runs, unless of course (say) 150 runs have to be scored in 3 overs with the last pair in. The Royalists should have endeavoured to keep the scoreboard moving - at least in singles. If that attitude prevailed, in the first innings as well, the Royalists would have eventually had around 30-40 runs more. That would have made the winning target 150-plus for the Thomians in the fourth innings, and there would have been a right royal tussle.

Also, a measure of criticism has been levelled against Royal skipper Thushan Amerasuriya, though having top-scored for his side with a fluent 72, for having dropped what appeared an easy catch - they are always easier from the confines of the pavilion - off Meshad Pieris. Firstly, a catch may look simple from outside but it is possible that a poor background when the catch was being taken may have camouflaged the ball. Secondly, the best of fielders can and have dropped the easiest of them, and sometimes at the most crucial of times. Nobody drops a catch on purpose. Thirdly, and what is most likely applicable here, was that Amerasuriya had indeed been playing whilst suffering from a fractured thumb which had not yet completely healed. Maybe foolhardiness, but in youth when they are prepared to 'even argue in the canon's mouth' one can understand such bravado. Amerasuriya's judgement to have played is arguable but certainly not his courage.

However, the most outstanding feature of the match was the traditional camaraderie and the bonhomie that existed between the supporters of the two schools. Never was the truism, its not who won or lost but how the game was played, better displayed. Well played Royal and S. Thomas'.

COMMENT
The right blend for world champs

by Srian Obeyesekere
World champions, Sri Lanka, who owed much of that success which saw this tiny isle in the Indian Ocean dominate the one-day cricketing stage like a mighty colossus to their litheness on the field, has today sadly lost much of that magic like touch. While the world champions have seen that tag quietly wane away by defeat after defeat in a string of tournaments in the last one year or so, defeats in the recent Asian Test Championships to Pakistan and in the wake of it another defeat to their neighbouring country in the first of the Asian one-day championship last Friday, has left much to be desired in the team's ranks.

True, the selectors have apparently been experimenting with new blood in an effort to get the correct blend in view of the forthcoming World Cup which Sri Lanka will be defending shortly this year. However, many of the future hopefuls have not lived all that much to expectation with even the lithe footed young failing to hold on to easy catches which has left one wondering whether after all axing Roshan Mahanama from the World Cup pool was the done thing. What was still shocking was seeing even some of the reliable fielders dropping what were relatively easy catches in Lahore and in India in the ongoing one-day championship. It has left wigs remarking that a Roshan Mahanama taking three match winning catches and scoring 30 to 25 runs would be more useful than a batsman who scores a 50 and drops two to three catches.

Sri Lanka begins its defence of the World Cup with the curtain raiser of the championship versus hosts England on May 14, and the national selectors have very little time to select the right formula. Can the selectors risk such players like Chandika Hathurusinghe who has been a big failure in the matches so far where he has failed to make use of the opportunity afforded to him, his bowling has been as erratic as his sloppy fielding where he has dropped catch after catch.

Hathurusinghe is being tried out as a bowler who would be able to make use of the seaming conditions of English wickets. However, in Sri Lanka's tour of England last year he came in for much stick bowling ordinary very much short of a length stuff while on home soil and the Pakistani and Indian tracks his seamers have been ineffective earning scathing criticism from expert commentator Geoff Boycott. While seam bowling is all about bowling gentle stuff by no means does it mean the bowler not making use of the seam and inviting the batsman to have a go which is what Hathurusinghe does.

Friday's match against Pakistan should be an eye opener for Sri Lanka where the selectors, captain, coach and manager should above all see the need for much homework if Sri Lanka is to make a successful defence of the World Cup. Ranatunga, taking the field after a brief lay off, once again displayed the acumen of great captaincy by changing his bowlers and making the correct field adjustments to contain Pakistan from 150 for no loss to 246 all out. But his batting failed, his reflexes having slowed down understandably being out of action for some time. But importantly with some of the regular players also tending to display 'butterfingers', it looks as if the coach and manager have not being able to harness the players to peak form.

Meanwhile, the omission of Hashan Tillekeratne from the squad to the World Cup has drawn criticism from Ranatunga of the selectors. And strangely, Tillekeratne has been overlooked at a time when his batting has peaked, his last two innings both fighting unbeaten knocks against Pakistan - one a half century - has earned him the accolades of former cricketing greats like Boycott, Tony Greig and Sunil Gavaskar. Said Boycott, "there is no doubt, Tillekeratne should be in the World Cup squad for Sri Lanka".

Even at this stage, the Lankan cricketing think-tank should think in terms of the correct blend where there is no time to experiment. Where they should re-think the futility of omiting Mahanama and Tillekeratne.

Gwen Herath to stress for neutral umpires for Women's World Cup

When the President of the Women's Cricket Association of Sri Lanka, Gwen Herath attends the International Conference in Australia this year, she will push hard to obtain international umpires for the scheduled World Cup 2000 to be held in New Zealand. Herat who brought up this idea at the last International Conference in 1997, and was adopted in principle, will push harder so that it will come into effect in 2000 in time for the World Cup.

She is confident of Sri Lanka clinching the title on the strength of a statement made by the Secretary, Jeanne Malthus of the International Women's Cricket Council, saying that Sri Lanka are the team to watch out.

In the meantime, the Lanka team is muscling up to meet the Dutch Ladies team due end of the week to play six 50 limited over One-Day Internationals.

SSC banquet on March 28

The members of the Singhalese Sports Club (SSC) is to hold a Gala Banquet at the Hotel Lanka Oberoi on March 28, 1999 to commemorate the historic day of 100 years of one of the pioneering cricket clubs of Sri Lanka.

This was revealed by W. T. Ellawala at a media conference at SSC Grounds, Maitland Place last Wednesday. He said "An hour of fellowship will be enjoyed prior to members sitting down for the formal banquet. The Chairman of the Banquet Committee and Vice President of the club Ubhaya de Silva will make a welcome address and two minutes silence will be observed for all deceased members of the club". Among other activities lined up for this day are as follows:

A birthday cake is to be cut and Daya Perera P.C. President of the club will address the members and is due to propose a toast to the further well-being of the club. A toast to cricket at the club is to made by P. Ian Peries a past captain and Vice President of SSC. R. J. De Silva Chairman of the Centenary Celebrations will then make the vote of thanks. The Sri Lanka Police band is slated to be in attendance during the banquet.

The main sponsors of the SSC Banquet which is limited only to the members themselves are The United Motors Lanka Ltd., and Orient Lanka Co. Ltd. A member of the banquet committee also said that around 500 diners are expected for this banquet which will kick-off the centenary celebrations of SSC part of which is also to conduct a triangular limited overs cricket tournament involving Sri Lanka later this year. - (JK)

Sri Lanka has a lot to defend at World Cup '99

by Mahinda Wijesinghe
Today, to think that the West Indians excited, thrilled and titillated the cricket world in the nineteen fifties and sixties with those "pals of mines" Ramadhin and Valentine, and the batting genius of heroes like Weekes, Worrell, Walcott, Sobers, Kanhai and Richards (most ended up as cricketing knights, last being Richards!) seem a distant dream. That they dominated and decimated all before them with their battery of fast bowlers such as Hall, Griffith, Roberts, Holding, Garner, Marshall, Croft, Ambrose et al who seemed to come in an unending stream will also never be forgotten, not least by the batsmen of that era. So, it was little wonder that the West Indians won the World Cup for the first (1975) and the second time (1979) of asking, but missed a hat-trick of wins, in 1983, when India - bookmakers gave them long odds at 1 to 66 - snatched an unlikely win in the final.

FROM THE LOWEST TO THE HIGHEST

During this time, the Sri Lankans had a miserable time in the World Cup games. At the conclusion of the 1992 World Cup, Sri Lanka held the dubious distinction of having lost the most number of games by any one nation in 20 out of 26 games. Hardly, an auspicious portent for what was to follow in the 1996 World Cup. If a statistician does further research into the results of the 1996 World Cup, he would find that, just as the juggernauting West Indians did in 1975 & 1979, the Sri Lankans remained unbeaten when clinching the title. That was nothing new, though it must have surprised the bookmakers who gave long odds of 1 to 66, the identical figures extended to India in 1983. But, what would surprise the statistician is if he delves deeper into the figures and compare it with the performance of all previous winners of the World Cup. He would be shocked to find that the margin of the Sri Lankan victory in terms of the average runs scored per wicket and conceded during the tournament is the best in history. That is something most unusual for a side that had the worst previous run in the tournament. In other words, the Sri Lankans had carried all before them for all time.

Of course, the electrifying batting exploits of Sanath Jayasuriya, who was picked as the Most Valuable Player of the 1996 World Cup, Aravinda de Silva, Romesh Kaluwitharana and a few others cannot be forgotten. The almost prehensile fielding of the Sri Lankans led by Roshan Mahanama, the able leadership of Arjuna Ranatunga, and the whole operation master-minded by Dave Whatmore, those were the ingredients which made the dream possible.

True, though the gloss has since faded somewhat, the exploits of the Sri Lankans in the British summer of 1998, when the British Lion was bearded in its own den is a pleasant memory. But, our stocks in the One-day world has plummeted right down to the socks. So maybe the champions, with the bookmakers tipping Sri Lanka at short odds of 6-1, can go into the fray as a comparative underdog and come from behind!

WHY WAS ASHANTHA DENIED A RECORD?

The Sri Lankans also hold some records in the World Cup which are, unfortunately, not being given the due publicity. In fact one has been denied! The unfortunately player to suffer is former Test paceman and current Selector, Ashantha de Mel. In the World Cup of 1983, according to the results published in the staid and reliable Wisden Almanack (1984), de Mel returned figures of 18 wickets at a personal cost of 270 (average cost of 15 runs/wicket) including two separate five-wicket hauls. The Wisden further commented: 'Who would have ever thought that before a ball was bowled that the leading wicket-takers in the competition would be the Sri Lankans de Mel and Binny (India). Binny also captured 18 wickets in the competition but at a cost of 336 runs. Although the Wisden reported that de Mel did capture 18 wickets in the tournament, the official World Cup records, basing their figures on the actual scorecards, attribute one wicket less to De Mel. The reason being that the scorers in one game against England at Taunton - had credited Rumesh Ratnayake with the wicket of Ian Gould, caught by Arjuna Ranatunga, and not to de Mel. When the mistake was detected, the Manager of the Sri Lanka team, the late Mr.T.Murusgaser, did write to the authorities concerned in order to rectify the error. For reasons best known to them, no action was taken except that the Wisden has it right and de Mel has missed out on being the bowler with the best individual performance in a single World Cup in terms of the number of wickets and cost/wicket. What a pity.

RECORDS, RECORDS & RECORDS

Then, there is Sri Lanka's proud record of having posted the highest total in a World Cup game, of 398/5 against Kenya at Kandy, in 1995-96. To show that it was no flash in the pan, Sri Lanka also holds the record for the highest total, batting second as well. That was when Sri Lanka replied with 313/7, to beat Zimbabwe who had put together a total of 312/4 in the opening game of the 1992 World Cup, played at New Plymouth in New Zealand. Capping it all, is the fact that Sri Lanka and Kenya are credited with highest aggregate of runs in a World Cup game when the two teams posted a total of 652 runs for the loss of 12 wickets in their encounter at Kandy in 1992. Not a bad hattrick of batting records. Also, isn't Sri Lanka the only country to win the World Cup, in 1996, when batting second? That too after opting to do so. And, that victory, by 7 wickets, in the final appears the highest margin in the history of the World Cup. The previous highest being when West Indies beat England in 1979 by 92 runs.

Anura Ranasinghe, the former Nalanda College and Bloomfield all-rounder, who died last November aged 42 years, was the first schoolboy to participate in the World Cup. The 18-year old represented Sri Lanka in their first-ever game against the West Indies at Manchester - of the inaugural World Cup competition, staged in 1975 in England. S.P.Pasqual, the old Royalist, is the youngest "of course one has probably to discount the Pakistani 14 and 15-year olds!" to play in a World Cup game when he made his debut, at 17 years and 238 days, against New Zealand at Nottingham in the 1979 World Cup.

So, Sri Lanka has left an indelible mark in the history of the World Cup. In the 1999 World Cup, they have the opportunity of emulating the feat of the invincible West Indies of a bygone era - that of winning the title in successive years. Can they?

Fitness Kingdom Center to keep you fit

Although it is much talked about very few Sri Lankans are inclined towards diet control and physical exercises. Since the people of the South Asian countries are engaged in making money they find it difficult to concentrate on their health. But the situation of Europe and other developed countries is entirely different They give their heath equal importance. They consider physical exercises and diet control very important. They go to great lengths to have a good body and also a sound mind. Out of the Sri Lankan population how many are satisfied with their physique? Some worry about their pot bellies. While others worry about their robust physiques or very lean bodies still there are others who worry about the lack of equilibrium between upper body and the legs. It is not that they are not aware that the only solution to these problems is diet management and exercises. But we are very lazy to exercises.

Fitness Kingdom Centre has launched a programme to motivate the youth all over the country in doing physical exercises and also to inculcate them in a greater interest through body building contests. For the first time both young women and men with the best personalities will be on one stage. The contest will be held on Saturday the 10 of April 1997, at the National Youth Centre auditorium, Maharagama. The Hon. Minister of Sports and Youth affairs will be the chief guess at the occasion.

The events are as follows:

1. Fitness Kingdom Mr. Sri Lanka (Iron men of Sri Lanka competition.)
2. Fitness Kingdom Miss Venus (Sri Lanka Beauty Queen contest.)
3. Fitness Kingdom Man Hunt (Completion to select most handsome person).

FITNESS KINGDOM MR. SRI LANKA

It is open to all Sri Lankans with a iron body, irrespective of weight limit. Semi finals will be held on the 4th April from 9.00 a.m. at the Fitness Kingdom, No. 472 Ganegama, Galle Rd. Rawattawatte, Moratuwa. The first, second and the third places will be awarded 20,000/-,15,000/- and Rs. 10,000/- respectively along with lots of other valuable prizes. The competition will be held under the supervision of the Sri Lanka Body Builders Association.

FITNESS KINGDOM MISS VENUS.

Beautiful Sri Lankan damsels of 18-29 years of age and of height above 5'3" are eligible for this competition. An application giving full particulars along with a recently taken full length photograph should be sent to the organizers.

Semi-finals will be held on March 31st from 9 a.m. onwards.

Winners of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place will be awarded RS 15,000/- 10,000/- 5,000/- respectively along with a host of other valuable prizes.

FITNESS KINGDOM MAN HUNT

This competition is opened to all Sri Lankans between the ages of 18 and 29 years with handsome bodies and height above 5'6"

Special attention will be paid to the shape of the body, equilibrium, muscle built and personal capabilities.

An application giving full personal information along with a full body photograph in shorts should be sent. The semi-finals will be held an the 31st of March from 12.00 p.m. at the Field View Hotel, Athurugiriya.

All the competitions but the Iron Man competition will be held under the supervision of leading sportsmen; actors, actresses and other leading personalities

Some of them are Arjuna Ranatunga, Sanath Jayasooriya, Damayanthi Dharsha, Sangeetha Weeraratne, Rosy Senanayake, Ranjan Ramanayake and Kamal Addaraarachchi

You can get yourself enrolled for the competition by sending in your application along with 2 photographs to Fitness Kingdom; No. 472, Ganegama Building, Galle Road, Rawatawatte, Moratuwa, or report to the above address on the. 31st March at 9.30 a.m.

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Are the Australians still living in their past?

by Mahinda Wijesinghe
Is it something to do with their convict past? Firstly, in 1995-96, during the acrimonious Sri Lankan tour of Australia, their umpires Darrell Hair, Steve Randall, Ross Emerson, Peter Parker, and the Pakistani Khizer Hyatt, made many errors of judgement which the relentless TV cameras ruthlessly exposed. As Australian writer Trent Bouts, referring to the hot air generated during the tour, reported in the Wisden Almanack (1997): "................While his (Taylor's) players were by no means perfect - Glenn McGrath, for one, needed to calm down a little - the street-smart Ranatunga was no angel either. Still, the players had less to answer for than some officers of the game. The officials got things seriously wrong in the Perth Test referee Graham Dowling, the former New Zealand captain, gave the impression that he had made his mind up that the Sri Lankans were guilty even before the post-match hearing began. ICC overturned his verdict. When Muttiah Muralitharan was called for throwing by Australian umpire Darrel Hair on the first day of the Melbourne Test, both had a right to ask why the bowler had been able to negotiate 22 Tests, indeed his entire first-class career, in safety until then. Either Hair was wrong or some, if not all, of those who had not called Muralitharan in the past six years were. But Sri Lanka produced an array of doctors and biomechanists who declared the off-spinner in the clear. None said Muralitharan could not throw, but they argued that the elbow he had been unable to straighten completely since birth could create the "visual illusion" of a throw, a contention lost on most observers. It was certainly lost on Ross Emerson who, umpiring his first international ten days later, also no-balled Muralitharan repeatedly, even after the distraught bowler resorted to leg-spin the umpires were booed from the field........"

HOW RESPONSIBLE CRICKET BOARDS ACT

Yet, the Australian Cricket Board appointed Hair and Randall as their representatives to the International Umpires' Panel. Umpires are judges. Judges are deemed to be people endowed, inter alia, with a deep sense of integrity, independence and a sense of fair-play. Probably after the involvement of the Pakistani umpire during the alleged ball-tampering fiasco in Perth, the Pakistan Cricket Board removed Khizer Hyatt from their International panel. That is how responsible Cricket Boards should act. On the other hand, the Australian Cricket Board appointed Steve Randall and Darrell Hair. The former was removed recently only because he is currently facing a battery of charges involving sexual abuse on children. Talk of integrity. Even the Australians could not swallow that. A white-coat cannot hide immorality and give integrity a coat of paint.

HOW THE AUSTRALIAN MEDIA FANNED THE FLAMES

Secondly, after the Australian media including Richie Benaud - was it plain jingoistic writing or was there an institution or persons behind it? - either, subtly or blatantly, fanned the flames by cleverly orchestrating an anti-Muralitharan campaign before and during the 1998-99 tour, and the Australian Cricket Board appointed the self-same umpires for the Sri Lankan games. The thread of conspiracy continued. Darrel Hair added fuel to the fire by releasing his book just prior to the arrival of the Sri Lankans. We are expected to believe that Hair, an International umpire, was unaware of the fact that he was thereby violating the ICC Code of Conduct. It was just as a pace bowler, knowing he will be no-balled, bowls two bouncers to the batsman in the same over. The main idea being to 'soften the batsman up' before dealing the coup-de-grace. Similarly, Hair and whoever his cohorts may have been, wanted to throw fuel to the fire at any cost. The damage was - as planned - done, and Hair, we are told "stood down" from umpiring matches involving Sri Lanka. How gracious!

A SLAP IN THE FACE OF THE ICC

No, he was not removed. Subsequently, Hair was found guilty by Judge Gordon Lewis, the Australian Cricket Board Code of Conduct Commissioner and a Judge of the Victorian County Court, on two charges regarding the violation of the ICC Code of Conduct dealing with 'conduct detrimental to the game'. No penalty could be imposed on Hair because there was no such provision in the ICC rules to punish an errant umpire. A case of sending a felon free because there is no law in the statute to punish him. Even after Hair was found guilty by their own establishment, the Australian Cricket Board, Hair continues being the Australian representative to officiate in the upcoming World Cup. After what has transpired, isn't it fairly plain that Hair's appointment is meant to be a thorn in the flesh of the Sri Lankans when they defend their title in England? Doesn't it also seem a deliberate slap in the face of the ICC as well? Here's a man who has made his views quite clear about the basic action of a bowler - 'diabolical' is the word Hair used - who had been cleared by an ICC committee as 'fair', and this is not forgetting the other 40-odd members of his own white-coated gentry who thought similarly. That eminent surgeons and biomechanists, from his own country also held similar views cut no ice with this man with virtual halters.

HAIR CANNOT BE WITH THE HOUNDS

He is entitled to his own opinion but then, Hair cannot also be with the 'hounds', so to say. Here's a man who vehemently disagrees with the views of his employers (the ICC) and is yet being appointed to officiate in matches being conducted under their auspices! Doesn't his appointment to the World Cup panel suggest he is again the cat's-paw or is Hair just plain dumb? Then, one cannot have dumb umpires officiating in World Cup games. We saw, for instance, what happened when Ross Emerson was appointed to 'cut his teeth' in international cricket, against Sri Lanka in 1995-96? As Trent Bouts commented (see above): ".....it was lost on Ross Emerson." But, it appears that the Australians found a winner in Emerson!

What is the rationale behind such appointments? For instance, Hair's appointment, was it as reward to Hair, and isn't it in total disregard to the findings of their own Code of Conduct Commissioner? Or, is it that Australian society still accept 'convicts' or those found guilty of misdemeanours as part of their heritage and feel more comfortable with such types?

WHAT ABOUT THE WARNE/WAUGH EPISODE?

Next, it is interesting to study the sequence of events culminating in the appointment of Shane Warne as captain of the one-day team and vice-captain of the Test team. The details are too well- known to warrant repetition. Here is another instance of a person found guilty of commiting more than just a misdemeanour by the Australian Cricket Board itself, yet being appointed to a position of importance - this time to lead the country. It is also common knowledge how the Australian Cricket Board tried very hard - unsuccessfully - to hide these highly deplorable actions of Warne and Waugh from the world. Damning evidence of how much the Australian Cricket Board cares for these little matters of principles and decorum expected in the conduct of cricket. Even when the crowds were chanting 'chucker', 'chucker' in a calculated manner at Muralitharan during matches, the ground authorities did not sound a warning - over the PA systems that are installed on major grounds - to prevent such objectionable behaviour. Yet, on an occasion when Muralitharan's brilliant fielding ran a batsman out, the voice over the PA system boomed about "Muralitharan's throwing" much to the amusement of the crowd. A clear message on which side of the fence the authorities were on. The innuendo was both blinding and deafening.

TWO WRONGS DO NOT A RIGHT MAKE

Of course, all these matters have been raised not to justify the actions of the Sri Lankan skipper arguing with an umpire who was, albeit, on medical leave suffering from 'stress'. Two wrongs do not a right make. But, this is merely to point out the mitigating factors surrounding skipper Ranatunga, a street-fighter by nature, losing his cool. Or, was he acting under instructions of his Board? It was just too much. His cup simply overflowed. It would have taken more than a man of steel to have withstood, of what appeared to be, a conspiracy which the Sri Lankan team had to endure, and judging by Hair's recent appointment to the World Cup panel, a conspiracy that is continuing. Why does this particular problem surface only in Australia? Unfortunately, judging by what eventually transpired, due to what we can assume to be improper advice, it was poor Ranatunga who had to bite the bullet and pay with his head. Maybe, bringing in professional lawyers to a forum where cricket matters have to be sorted out by cricketers themselves, is also 'not cricket'. There may have been better ways to have fought this issue. This problem did not suddenly arise, unfortunately, our Cricket Board went overboard by hiring costly Australian lawyers. True, these lawyers are professionals. At the same time, why was the professional advice of a highly qualified and accomplished Sri Lankan expatriate lawyer who offered his services free to defuse the problem before the tour began, ignored out of hand by one of our Cricket Board representatives in Australia?

The moral of this sad story is that when you fight evil forces that are pitted against you, one must select the proper weapons, a suitable time and an appropriate place. Admittedly, Sri Lanka had no choice of the place, but I believe, we chose the wrong weapons and an inopportune time.

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