Late City Edition Friday 29th July, 2011 Warner in frame for Warne-Muralitharan Trophy shock Test selection BY ANDREW WU fails to cement his position in the opening berth. David Warner, the face of It is believed Warner Twenty20 cricket in received an excellent report Australia, is being seriously card from selector Greg considered as a Test bats- Chappell after a prosperous saved in last minute tour of Zimbabwe with the man after only narrowly missing out on selection for Australia A side, which in Sri Lanka this year, the de Silva the tour of Sri Lanka. included a career-best 211 – Ranatunga led Interim The Herald understands in the final match. Committee seemed to have com- Warner’s Test credentials Warner, who averages 53 pletely ignored something called were put under the micro- after nine first-class match- ‘Warne-Muralitharan Trophy’ had scope by national selectors es, has been challenged to ever existed. They had failed to earlier this week but his continue his hot form when mention to the Host Broadcaster lack of first-class experi- the Sheffield Shield season (Ten Sports) that the marketing ence dashed hopes of what starts in October. rights of the Test series will have would have been a stunning Australia play three to include certain restriction as the selection. Tests in Sri Lanka, starting series will be played for the Although Warner lost next month, before a two- ‘Warne-Muralitharan Trophy.’ out to Usman Khawaja and match series against South Neither did they request the Host the uncapped Shaun Marsh, Africa leading up to home Broadcaster that the pre-series pro- he has been earmarked as a campaigns against New motion should mention the name future Test player. And the Zealand and India this sum- of the series. odds of Warner debuting as mer. The lapses seem to be very early as this summer will (Sydney Morning strange as Nishantha Ranatunga shorten if Phillip Hughes Herald) claims himself to be a television expert but some were quick to point out the rocky relationship Ranatunga had with several senior Durham earn 100-run Sri Lankan cricketers resulting in even Muralitharan being ignored. Even the current administra- lead against Sri Lanka ‘A’ tors weren’t aware that a ‘Warne- Durham earned a valu- sive 223 runs last Saturday Muralitharan Trophy’ existed able 100-run lead on in the against Leicestershire. 1st innings on day-two until yesterday afternoon. against touring Sri Lanka Brief Scores: Sri Lanka Cricket, however, ‘A’ in their second four-day Sri Lanka ‘A’ 203 all out were saved from total embarrass- encounter, in a three-match and 178 for four wickets in ment after the title sponsors of the series, at Chester-le-Street 44 overs (Lahiru series, Abans, had no reservations yesterday, July 28. Thirimanne 42, Malinda for giving ‘Warne-Muralitharan Durham, resuming from Warnapura 35, Dimuth Trophy’ its due prominence. their overnight score of 143 Karunaratne 46 n.o., Upali Dharmadasa, the for one, made 303 all out Bhanuka Rajapaksa 36; Chairman of the Cricket Interim after the tourists made 203 Liam Plunkett 2-51) Committee yesterday said that the all out in their 1st innings Durham 303 all out in board will ensure the series will on the first day of the 79.5 overs (Scott Borthwick Turning country’s richest sport between Australia and Sri Lanka wicket-takers, Muttiah have the fanfare it requires. He match. Mid day yesterday, 101 in 156 balls (4x18, 6x1), Sri Lanka were leading by Gordon Muchall 71 n.o., body into a completely bankrupt that will get underway next month. Muralitharan and Shane Warne. also added that both Muralitharan unit seems to be not the only fault To mark the 25th anniversary of Cricket Australia agreed to the 78 runs having six wickets Mark Stoneman 56, Gareth and Warne will be invited to be intact. Breese 38; Shaminda with the D. S. de Silva and Test cricket between Sri Lanka and request and like ‘Border-Gavaskar present to give away the trophy Nishantha Ranatunga run Cricket Australia in 2007, the Jayantha Trophy’ and ‘Chappell-Hadlee The Sri Lankans lost the Eranga 4-55, Sachithra named after them for the winners first four-dayer by a mas- Senanayake 3-60) . Interim Committee. Inefficiency Dharmadasa led Cricket Interim Trophy,’ ‘Warne-Muralitharan of the series. seemed to have been at its best dur- Committee recommended to their Trophy’ was introduced for the The Australian cricket team ing the tenure of the controversial Australian counterparts to name 2007 series. will arrive in Colombo later this duo as they had completely ignored the Test series between the coun- However, when preparations month to play three Tests, five the significance of the Test series tries after the game’s two highest were made for the reciprocal tour T-20 dynamo Warner can adapt ODIs and two T-2Os. to Tests, says Mark Waugh BY TRENT HILE Australian cricket. And the quartet are Twenty20 dynamo David unlikely to be the only Warner will play for youngsters or rookies to pull Australia in the Test arena if on a Baggy Green for the Controversy surrounds bidding to he can get his head around first time this summer, with first-class cricket, Fox Sports a bumper fixture list includ- cricket commentator Mark ing a tour of South Africa Waugh says. after Sri Lanka followed by Australia’s selection of home Test series against Test rookies Shaun Marsh, New Zealand and India. Trent Copeland, James “I think the only guy lay tracks at Sugathadasa Stadium Pattinson and Nathan Lyon (who could come from the in the squad for the coming clouds) is David Warner,” BY LAL GUNESEKERA agreement with a former minister of sports der is the same foreign principal (STI-Rekortan tour of Sri Lanka has con- Waugh told and another cabinet minister that all tenders of M99) who did the track in 2002 and another re- firmed a new dawn for foxsports.com.au. There is a controversy surrounding the bid- the sports ministry must be awarded to the surfacing in 2006 even before the stipulated ding for tenders to lay tracks at the State Engineering Corporation. BT Sports, guarantee period of five years. Even after 2006, Sugathadasa Stadium. Singapore, through their local agent, Srico the problem of ‘bubbling’ occurred within a Bidding documents have been accepted from Construction, managed to get their tender very few months. They have also submitted Star Construction/Energy Management approved for the Astro Turf (Hockey) at Reid only one bid bond, whereas two are required Outstation swimming Services (EMS) where the foreign principal is Avenue which is yet in a mess. for the 200 and 400 meter tracks separately. BSW, State Development and Construction This tender for the stadium was cancelled by Out of the balance two bidders (Star Corporation (Conica – foreign principal), the present Minister of Sports, Mahindananda Construction and State Development and meet at Sapugaskanda Seltech Group – BT Sports, Singapore/MRI Aluthgamage, when the tender deal was Construction Corporation) another bidder has Polytech, who are the foreign principal, exposed and explained to him and this was one not filled and signed the ‘Form of Tender’ W. D. Vithana schools in the outstations. Fumihoko/High Tech Sports (STI who is the reason to call for ‘open tenders’ for the which indicates the final pricing in words and of Delgoda Valuable prizes are on foreign principal) and State Engineering Sugathadasa Stadium’s 200 and 400 metre figures, which is also a violation of tender pro- Applications for the year offer for the winners. Corporation – BT Sport, Singapore/MRI tracks. cedure. They had also not submitted required 2011 outstation swimming Further details could be Polyteca, who is the foreign principal. BT Sports Singapore/MRI Polytech, through samples at the time of opening the tender. meet, organized by the obtained from W. Thilak Two bidders have given the same foreign Seltech and SEC representing them in Sri Therefore, with one bidder in hand, the end Biyagama Swimming Ratna Kumara, Swimming principal as their agents (BT Sports, Lanka, do not possess a Class I certification user/client who is the Sugathadasa Stadium, Diving and Life Saving Advisor, Yoshida Singapore/MRI Polytech), which is a tender track installed in any country, which is also a nor the Ministry of Sports is going to get the Association and Swimming Academy, violation. They have submitted only one bid tender requirement. best price and quality as Conica material and Sapugaskanda Yoshida Sapugaskanda or on tele- bond, whereas two are required for the 200 This leaves three other companies (Star services are very expensive. Swimming Academy will phone 0714 991999. metre and 400 metre tracks, separately. Construction, State Development and Certain officials at the Sports Ministry are close August 2. The meet will be held They were responsible for the cancellation of Construction Corporation and Fumihoko High making attempts to influence the Minister of The swimming meet is on August 12 and 14 at the the tender in 2008 when they came into an Tech Sports) in the fray, whilst the fourth bid- Sports, ‘The Island’ has learnt. open to participants from Sapugaskanda Yoshida swimming clubs and Swimming Academy pool. Revival of Police basketball Following the impressive run they had in Weerawardena six years ago. Police Basketball team the recent National Championship, an Policeman Sujeeva Sampath was named Squatting from left to right: T. Allan, assurance was given by the Secretary of the Best Offensive Player in the final while G. Gunasekaran, A. Lajeerathan and Police Basketball Club, Chief Inspector K. D. L. N. Indika was named the Most R.