Late City Edition

Friday 20th January, 2012 Aluthgamage appoints new selection committee Enter de Mel once again

BY REVATA S. SILVA Sports Minister BY REX CLEMENTINE REPORTING FROM KIMBERLEY Mahindananda Aluthgamage yes- t’s a job that he said he didn’t want three he would ‘think about it’ if the post of captaincy terday appointed a new National years ago and last year after the ICC Cricket was offered to him on the national cricket team’s cricket Selection Committee IWorld Cup in April he stepped down from the return home. under former fast team’s vice-captaincy too, but Mahela SLC’s new Chairman Upali Dharmadasa is bowler Ashantha de Mel. The Jayawardene said believed to prefer a change in the leadership role four-member Selection yesterday and Jayawardene is said to be the leading candi- Committee includes de Mel that date to take over the captaincy.However, the new (chairman), Don Anurasiri, Amal national selection panel headed by Ashantha de Silva and Hemantha Mel has not made any comments regarding the Wickramaratne. captaincy. “The Sports Minister using “I’ll think about it and I need time. It’s a big powers vested on him by the one. It’s a big question. Not the easiest one. National Sports Law appointed But I need time to think about that,” the new National cricket Jayawardene said yesterday responding Jayawardene to take over the leadership role Selection Committee this evening to a question from The Island. when he was Chairman of the Interim (yesterday evening). This was Although it’s speculated Committee, Jayawardene declined any talk tak- done with a view to stopping the that Dharmadasa had ing place between the two. “No, not with me. continuous slide in the perform- had discussions Nothing with me, No one has spoken to me,” he with said. ance of the National cricket team “I’ve seen the articles and it’s been there for and driving the game towards the last six months and I know that. But those improvement,” Harsha B. things are not in my control. I’m just here, pure- Abeykoon, Media Secretary of ly concentrating on this tour and trying to get the Sports Ministry, told The over my injuries,” Jayawardene, who will Island yesterday. turn 35 this year, added. Asked whether there is a pos- Although he seems to be the preferred sibility of complete overhaul of choice for the leadership, Jayawardene the National cricket team by himself has not helped the team’s cause which its and Coach too Ashantha de Mel during the last eight months. During the will be replaced, as it was report- whole of this tour he has not scored a ed in the media recently, handed -keeper batsman half-century and in fact he failed to make Abeykoon said such decision will for SSC, has played three One- a half-century during the Test series loss- only be taken after considering a dayers for Sri Lanka, in 1993, and es to Pakistan and England last year. In report that is to be submitted by both Silva and Anurasiri played his last 22 Test innings Jayawardene has the board chair- in both Tests and ODIs for Sri not scored a half-century away from home! man Upali Dharmadasa to the Lanka in the 1980s and 90s before Jayawardene understood the plight of Sports Minister. featuring in the National selec- Dilshan, who could become the scapegoat for “Changing the Captain and tion panel time and again. the team’s struggles at the end of the tour and the Coach could be done by the De Mels’ previous tenure as sacked despite him maintaining that he will not cricket board and the National head of selectors is best remem- step down. Selection Committee. Minister bered for the astonishing attack “You can’t blame the captain for everything. Aluthgamage is now waiting to he received from former Sri It’s very unfair,” Jayawardene said. receive the report by Mr. Lanka Captain , “I know Dilly is a good player and a good leader. He tried his best. A captain is as good as Dharmadasa on the long, middle present batting coach of the his team. I’ve always said that,” Jayawardene and short term solutions for the National team, who on Nov. 10, added probably remembering the torrid time he present crisis in our cricket,” 2007 —at the end of the third day was given as Sri Lanka’s captain when the team Abeykoon further added. of a Test against Australia struggled. Hilariously though, played at the Gabba— called the “When the team is doing well, everything Aluthgamage’s decision was then selectors ‘a set of muppets turns in your way,but at certain times, it doesn’t. announced last evening just headed by a joker.’ That time de I don’t think, we should be pointing fingers at hours after his statement that Mel was the head of the selection anybody right now. I think, as a team we should there wouldn’t be any change in panel which also included take responsibility for the way we have per- either the National Selection Anurasiri, Ranjith formed,” he further said. Committee or any other key posi- Madurasinghe and Jayantha tion in the National cricket team. Seneviratne. A Sports Ministry media The outgoing Selection release, quoting Aluthgamage Committee, which was appointed around noon yesterday, had said: in April last year after Sri “No decision has been taken so Lanka’s World Cup campaign, far to replace or to change the comprised (chair- Mahinda take disciplinary action against captain Selection Committee and the man), Anurasiri, Brendon Management of Sri Lanka Kuruppu and Madurasinghe. BY REEMUS FERNANDO A Mahinda College official said that de requested a report from umpires. Cricket or the Captaincy of the The Committee came in for a Sri Lankan Cricket Team.” lot of flack as Sri Lanka strug- Silva was removed as the captain with imme- At yesterday’s match Mahinda were 45 for De Mel played for Sri Lanka gled especially since the retire- Sohan Kariyawasam captained Mahinda diate effect and was suspended for yester- one wicket at close in reply to Sri Sumangala from 1982-87 and in 2004, was ment of Muttiah Muralitharan in College at yesterday’s tournament match day’s match following allegations of unlaw- College 220 runs. appointed chief of selectors for July 2010, winning just one Test against Sri Sumangala College, Panadura at ful rolling of the pitch on the second day the first time for a one-year peri- over the last 18 months after they Maggona after the team’s regular captain morning of their match against Scores: od under the then Sports finished World Cup runners-up. Chalana de Silva was suspended for an Dharmasoka, last Saturday. Sri Sumangala 220 all out in 74.3 overs Minister Jeewan Kumaratunga. Since then they have lost one-day alleged incident of rolling the pitch in the Following allegations made by (Tharuka Nadeesha 32, Kushan Akalanka 32, De Mel was once the Chairman of series against England, Australia, absence of match officials in their previous Dharmasoka officials the match was called Anju Tharaka 36, Chamika Angelo 66n.o; the state owned Ceylon Pakistan and now South Africa in match against Dharmasoka College. off without a ball being bowled on the second Malith de Silva 5/57, Indeera Gallage 3/47) Petroleum Corporation. a horrendous run of poor form day and the Under-19 tournament secretary Mahinda 45 for 1 at stumps 18 overs Wickramaratne (40), a left- and underperformance. Sri Lankans play for pride

REX CLEMENTINE named after a mining company - De journalists yesterday. position to experiment and are expected There is a 60% possibility of rain REPORTING FROM KIMBERLEY Beers Diamond. Off-spinner to make two changes bringing in Wayne today in Kimberley, but the locals For Sri Lanka arrived in Kimberley on Wednesday Parnell and Vernon Philander for Dale believe a shortened game is possible. De Beers Diamond Oval here in has been ruled out of the remaining and could get a game if Sri Lanka opt Steyn and possibly Morne Morkel. Sri Lanka (Probable XI) Kimberley is a familiar territory for the two games as precaution with a back to play two spinners, especially with South Africa’s coach Gary Kirsten T.M. Dilshan (Captain), Upul Sri Lankans. They were involved in the injury. His place will be taken by Kosala Kulasekara having not done said rather than concentrating on what Tharanga, first ever ODI played at this venue in Lahiru Thirimanne, the reserve bats- anything significant. the opposition was doing, the Proteas (Wicketkeeper), , 1998 and this was their base during 2003 man in the squad. Jayawardene had “He is a great prospect for us and I were contemplating on doing what’s Lahiru Thirimanne, , World Cup. The tourists, however, have struggled throughout the tour not scor- have always admired him, not because within their reach to the best of their , Kosala Kulasekara lost both games they have played here ing a single half-century in as many as he’s playing for my club, but for the atti- ability. or Sachithra Senanayake, Lasith and will be desperate to win here to nine innings. tude he has played with. Even at ‘A’ “What we tried to do, throughout the Malinga, and stop South Africa fancying their “There is an extra batsman in team levels on overseas tours he has summer was not focus too much on the . chances of a 5-0 whitewash in Lahiru Thirimanne in the squad and he done quite well. I think he’s got a good opposition. You’ve got to respect the South Africa (Probable XI) Johannesburg in the final ODI. has played one day cricket before and break now and we should give him a opposition and that’s very important. Graeme Smith, Alviro Petersen, Kimberley is a mining town and is he has got some experience. They’ve consistent run to show what he is capa- You’ve got to respect what they are Colin Ingram, J.P. Duminy, A.B. de the location for the famous Big Hole tried him in different places in the line- ble of. He is a very good fielder and about as a cricketing nation. We know Villiers (Captain and Wicketkeeper), from which the miners got over 2500kgs up and he is a very versatile player. But could bat as well. A good youngster to that every cricket side that we play Francois du Plessis, Albie Morkel, weight of diamond in a 45 year period I am not too sure where he would bat have in the unit,” Jayawardene added. against is coming with lot of pride,” Wayne Parnell, Vernon Philander, from a single mine. The ground itself is though,” Jayawardene said addressing South Africa, meanwhile are in a Kirsten said. Morne Morkel and Robin Petersen.

Friday 20th January, 2012