Big Challenges Ahead for Interim Chiefs
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Monday 5th June, 2006 11 Poor selection and impatience has been team's downfall he game's wide open and way the series has gone; 2-0 athlete he was, but he still packs then and we're playing catch up. in the nets and not much has Sri Lanka has every would be a travesty, 1-1 would a hell of a punch. One-day crick- Paul Collingwood exemplifies changed. He is going to cause Tchance of levelling the reflect how finely balanced this et suits him better now but this someone who maximises every anyone problems. The first few series. Finally, on the Trent series has been. Test is just about one more day ounce of ability,whereas we're so deliveries from Malinga, I found Bridge wicket in comparison to Sri Lanka can do it. Not just with the bat. He's always been the wasteful. it hard to pick up his length the stodge of Lord's and through Murali – Sanath kind of player who feeds on con- We'll always throw up eye- because all the instincts you rely Edgbaston, the bowling strate- Jayasuriya has been picked to fidence and a good run with the catching talents - Murali and on for reading a bowler in his gies of Sri Lanka are starting to play at 7 in the order, not just to ball is going to do wonders for Malinga, Sanath and Kapugedera delivery stride have to be dis- work. take on the second new ball but him in the second innings. but we've got to have a lot more carded. Malinga started on the Kevin Pietersen's not been for his left-arm spin. He's win- Poor shot selection and impa- behind our eyes if we are to keep beach down south in Sri Lanka, gifted runs and forewarned of kled out close to a 100 Test wick- tience have been the downfall of moving ahead. Even with our where there's no point in trying his aggression, and his big shots ets at a better average and strike the Sri Lankan batsmen this handicaps in this series, I've been for bounce and perfected a zippy have not been deflating to the Sri rate than the sometimes unfairly series, as has been the inability impressed with our fighting spir- yorker from the start. No one Lankan spirit. All of Sri Lanka's maligned Ashley Giles. England to exploit the conditions by our it. Chaminda Vaas hasn't given ever told him he was wrong. bowlers are in the hunt, but it haven't played someone like seam-bowlers. It should not be up, Malinga doesn't know how to Which was right. Still young, he's does depend on the batsmen giv- Sanath in a long time and he'll overlooked that England's side is be anything else than a trier and a couple of variations short of by Aravinda de Silva ing them something to work definitely continue to cause prob- as callow as Sri Lanka's in many Murali of course reckons he being a match-winner, but I with. lems. ways and it's been the grown-ups anymore. Imitation's the sincer- could take all the necessary wick- expect him to have an excellent A lot depends on Sanath's become the old man – Flintoff, Hoggard and Pietersen est form of flattery, yes, but I ets by himself. At Trent Bridge, career. Muralitharan of course and if in the dressing-room now, (a feel- who've made the difference as wish we in turn had learnt more Vaas has found reverse swing in With so many wickets falling Sri Lanka lead by anything over ing I knew well) and in have Mahela, Murali and of the bloody-mindedness that England for the first time since over the first two days, if our 200 with England batting last on demeanour and movement he's Sangakkara for us. Graham Thorpe and Nasser the 1999 World Cup and Malinga batsmen just show enough grit to a wicket that's going to turn more become a lot like how Sonny Our boys used to have so many Hussain used to beat us in that has found his groove too. stay in, the runs to seriously and more, then England are real- Liston was with a young more shots than England. You come-from-behind epic series in I faced a raw Malinga a few threaten England will come. I ly going to struggle. 1-0 down is Muhammad Ali buzzing around look at Alistair Cook and even Sri Lanka five years ago. England years ago when word was that think it will happen. perhaps a fair reflection of the him. He's not the blithe-spirited that advantage is not apparent have moved on even further since there was an absolute tearaway (The Observer, London) Celebrating 20 years of HNDE Big challenges ahead for at Campbell Park interim chiefs ell now, Yahaluweni, you that left many bleary eyed from aim for the presidency. And if the really would not believe it switching from the Tests in England number of clubs who have asked for Wunless you were checking to the limited overs games in the the interim committee to make them- the second day's play of the third beautiful West Indies islands. selves available are transparent Test at Trent Bridge. Apart from an The point here is that unless any- enough in this belief, then there is a administrators delight of posting one is certain of their facts as well as chance for some members to con- house full signs (something you'll not having firsthand knowledge, do not tribute for at least another year for see in Colombo) there were indica- make assumptions. It can leave the welfare of the game in the coun- tions of the real reason for the team those who are caught short, embar- try. management's decision to play rassed. Ghosts of the metaphorical And this, Yahaluweni, is where it Sanath Jayasuriya. slip of the tongue often have the is all too important. To have total It is because of his bowling. He habit of haunting those who make transparency is important locally as it put as many ineffectual runs on the them. is internationally and from comments The Sport Fiesta organized by the tournament was played between the board as has sadly out of touch Tilan Just what sort of squad De Mel among some countries, there were Sports Committee, HNDE Students' teams from Colombo University and Samaraweera in the first two Tests, and his selection panel are going to serious doubts expressed by some Association, saw the participation of University of Moratuwa. After four but his bowling made the difference. cook up for the NatWest limited overs boards about the honesty of those universities and higher educational exciting rounds, University of Two wickets for 19 runs in 11 overs is series will be of immense interest. As running SLC. institutions, islandwide. It was the first Moratuwa eventually won the final 3-1. of a series of events organized to com- The netball final was between a lot more than even chairman of it is, consultation with the touring Sri Lanka is about the only Test memorate the 20th anniversary of the University of Sri Jayewardanepura and selectors Ashantha de Mel had team management has, hopefully country where politics plays a direct HNDE programme in Sri Lanka. HNDE. University of Sri hoped for. been made over who should and who by Trevor Chesterfield or indirect role in the running of the The following universities and high- Jayewardanepura won. Unless of course the worthy for- should not be considered for the game and as the country's one sport pressed with what is on offer in Sri er educational institutions participated The chief guest at the Sports Fiesta mer Test opening bowler will decide slogs. But unlike selection panels that is genuinely wealthy, the political Lanka. in the Sports Fiesta: was former Sri Lanka cricketer to also claim that is the genuine rea- from most other countries, Sri Lanka tag is a serious harbinger that not all This is one area where the com- University of Moratuwa, University Tillekeratne. son for sending him to England – that seem to be reluctant to have a selec- is well and meddling can be carried mittee planning the CWC011 event of Colombo, University of Ruhuna, Director General, Sri Lanka Institute is to boost the spin department. Well, tor on tour and this is where there out to suit those who are jealous of need to look seriously at those University of Sabaragamuwa, Institute of Advanced Technological Education nothing really surprises in the land of are added problems as well as those running the administration. offered abroad. A comfortable, well- of Indigenous Medicine, University of (SLIATE), Kamal Padmasiri, Director of serendipity does it? understanding the conditions. Part of the administration plans is planned media center gives the visi- Buddhism and Pali, ATI Labuduwa, HNDE, P. D. S. Udakara, were the other Now he will try and place his On another track, it wasn't too to have a provincial series next sea- tor a better view of the country. Dehiwala and Naiwala. special invites. thumbprint on the selection policy of surprising, after last week's column, son, along with reducing the number Those that are available at present, Campbell Park, Borella, was crowded Among the guests at the opening cer- the side for the limited overs series. when the South African friend sent an of premier league clubs to a man- including the cramped facilities at with students from universities and emony of the Sports Fiesta were the Just what he has in mind will be email with the dates for the South ageable 14.