Tuesday 12th February, 2008 F1 boss pledges Batting a concern to tackle racists Motorsport boss Max Mosley has said he will impose immediate sanc- tions if there are any further inci- dents of racist abuse in Formula One. for Jayawardene McLaren's Lewis Hamilton was targeted by a section of spectators during pre-season testing in Sydney, but called on Barcelona. his players to put that defeat "We will do whatever it takes to behind and bounce back stamp this out," said Mosley,the presi- strongly. dent of governing body the FIA. "The plan in Sydney was to "If a very small number of people bat 50 overs somehow. It didn't are involved, it ought to be possible to work to plan. We never gave stop it immediately." ourselves a chance and losing Mosley, in an interview with the wickets early on, put pressure Sunday Times, said the FIA could on us. We've got to come back "pull the [Spanish] Grand Prix" if the strongly; otherwise we can't racist abuse continued, but added that compete in a tournament. calls for the country to be stripped of Rex Clementine reporting few games he played with that and I feel This is not the first time it one or both of its Grands Prix were from Canberra he should be alright," an optimistic has happened to us and the premature. With quite a bit of catching up to do Jayawardene told journalists at the important thing is to bounce "Not to give the Spanish authori- after both India and Australia managed Manuka Oval on Monday. back strongly," he said. ties the opportunity to show they can a win during the last few days, the Sri "Our batting is a bit of a concern. After the Indians got on deal with it and ensure there is no Lankans are desperate for a win here at You can have those kinds of days I sup- top of Australia by wining in recurrence would have been over the the Manuka Oval in Canberra, in the tri- pose. Just like what happened to the Melbourne, Jayawardene Mahela Jayawardene top," he said. nation Commonwealth Bank Aussies on Sunday. They played seven admitted that India's ODI team "But it is necessary to make it clear Tournament. batsmen and yet couldn't get a competi- is a much improved side since they Sri Lanka (From): it will not be tolerated, and we have Sri Lanka are placed bottom of the tive total on the board. It looks a very handed them an early exit in the World Upul Tharanga, Sanath Jayasuriya, done that." table and furthermore, they conceded good wicket and we need to get a few Cup campaign in the West Indies last Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Hamilton's father Anthony has the bonus point to Australia in Sydney things going our way," Jayawardene year. "There's a lot of energy in that Jayawardene, (Captain), Tillekeratne claimed his son also suffered racist where their net run rate also suffered said. team and opposition teams are adjusting Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Chamara abuse by travelling Spanish fans at the after a massive defeat. With the batsmen Today's One-Day International is a to them as they've got a new side. The Kapugedara, Farveez Maharoof, Chinese GP in Shanghai last October. not the best form, Sri Lanka have more day game and is only the second interna- challenge for India is to be consistent Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Ishara The 23-year-old has been targetted bad news as Tillekeratne Dilshan is tional to be played in Australia's capital and the challenge for us is to challenge Amarasinghe and Muttiah following his public falling out with struggling to be fit for the crucial game territory. The Manuka Oval hosted its ourselves," he added. Muralitharan. former Spanish team-mate Fernando and if he's ruled out, they haven't got a first international in 1992, during the He also felt that Australia is losing India (Probable XI): Virender Alonso last season. specialist batsmen as subsitute and will World Cup when South Africa played their dominance in world cricket with Shewag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam "Anthony Hamilton told me that be forced to play Farveez Maharoof, Zimbabwe. other teams catching up. "They are not Gambir, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, there were some people in China who whose form with the ball looks slightly Sri Lanka played a warm up game dominating world cricket at the M.S. Dhoni (Captain), Robin Uthappa, were also appallingly abusive - not patchy. here a fortnight ago against the moment. They have been pushed to the Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, S. Chinese fans, but people who had trav- Although Mahela Jayawardene Australia Prime Minister's XI and limit and I think the rest of the world is Sreeshanth, I. Sharma. elled from Spain," said Mosley. played down Dilshan's injury, the bats- should know what it has to offer and so catching up, especially in one-day crick- Umpires: Tony Hill (NZ) and Peter "If they went to Australia and did man was to see a specialist doctor do the Indians, who played a three day et." Parker (AUS) something like that, they could get Monday evening, and his fitness will be warm up game here during the Test Sri Lanka needs to win here today, as 3rd Umpire: Bruce Oxenford (AUS) arrested and we would know their reassessed on the day of the game. series. the next game against Australia is to be 4th Umpire: Yohan Ramasundara names, and passport numbers, and "He's got a bit of infection in his Jayawardene said he was disappoint- played in Perth, where conditions will (AUS) they wouldn't get into another coun- knee and I hope he will be okay. The last ed with letting the net run rate suffer in suit the hosts. Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (NZ) try." Sri Lankan expat 4th umpire today Sri Lanka-born Yohan Ramasundara will be the fourth umpire in today's One-Day International between Sri Lanka and India at the Manuka Oval, in Canberra. Ramasundara, (29) was born in Matara, and educated at Thurstan College, Colombo and migrated to Australia for higher studies in 1999. At tpresent, he works for the Australian government and is a part-time cricket umpire. "I always had a passion for crick- et and wanted to be involved with the sport. Back in , my mother wouldn't allow me to go for cricket practices as she thought it would affect my studies. After studies, it was too late to start cricket again and I took up umpiring," he told 'The Island' on Monday. Ramasundara, who took up umpiring seven years ago, made his first class debut last year when England played the Prime Minister's XI in a warm up game, where he was the third umpire. Subsequently, he stood in Sri Lanka's warm up game against the Prime Minister's XI a fortnight ago and will function as the fourth umpire today. "I was a bit nervous when I was called upon to do the Sri Lankan game. There were a couple of close leg before wicket shouts against Jayasuriya earlier on, and I gave him the benefit of the doubt and there was this one off Kumar Sangakkara, where he was trapped in front and I gave him out and it was quite tough to give out one of your favourite players," Ramasundara said. The Sri Lankans players rate Ramasundara pretty highly and with age on his side, they believe he will go onto make the grade. (RC) Yohan Ramasundara Published by Upali Newspapers Ltd, 223, Bloemendhal Road, Colombo 13. and Printed at 195/187, High Level Road, Homagama on Tuedday 12th February, 2008.