Tuesday 21st February, 2006 11 Kaluperuma delivers black magic by Nirgunan Tiruchelvam ed as a player. He and his committee batsman announced himself with such The chairman of the Sri Lankan have made bold changes, particularly in a flourish. It may be premature to pre- selectors Lalith Kaluperuma and his the department. The recall of dict his international future, but one English counterpart David Graveney Ruchira Perera and Nuwan Kulasekera hopes that he his not made to wait in have much in common. Both were off- for the VB series was an inspired move. line. Other promising batsmen such as spinners who disgraced their countries Ruchira Perera has proved to be an Saman Jayantha and Michael Vandort by signing up for rebel tours to South aggressive and combative bowler. have languished in club , while Africa in the 1980s. While David Perera’s commitment to the team cause they aged and their talents waned. Graveney never threatened an interna- was streets ahead of the rival left-arm tional career, Kaluperuma’s South fast bowler Nuwan Zoysa. Zoysa has The Arnold travesty African sojourn ended his test career survived for nearly a decade on the The exclusion of Russel Arnold from after a few months in 1982. strength of the patronage of the good the Bangladesh squad has received an I have only vague memories of and the great of Sri Lankan cricket - a irate response from the public. His watching Kaluperuma bowl in Sri luxury that Perera never enjoyed. omission cannot be for cricketing rea- Lanka’s inaugural test match in 1982, The introduction of Kulasekera was sons, because the 32 year-old topped the which I watched as a curious nine year- a shrewd step, that provided the team batting averages and scored three fifties old. What I vividly recall is a spectacu- with a miserly seam bowling option. (including two in the finals). The selec- lar catch that he took in the gully in the The slight and short Kulasekera may tors have clarified that Arnold has been second innings. I later learnt that lack the hostility of other claimants, rested for the tour, like the other senior Kaluperuma was a specialist in the but on the flat Australian pitches he players. gully region. was consistent with his line and length. Arnold, who has played much of his Whenever he took in club cricket as a specialist opener, was made Arnold’s omission cannot be for cricketing reasons, because the 32 year-old topped the cricket, the papers used to announce Prodigious Kapugedera to bat at no. 7. Despite the pressures of batting averages and scored three fifties (including two in the finals). his achievements with headlines that The shock selection of the 18 year- batting at the death, Arnold rose to the has hardly batted in the top order. One tiness of the Sri Lankan cricket admin- read ‘Kaluperuma performs black old Chamara Kapugedera is a feather in occassion. He was proactive in his shot- has fond memories of the battling cen- istrators. magic’. This was a clever pun on the the cap of the selectors. The unherald- making and nimble between the tury that he hit in Old Trafford in 2002. No excuse from Kaluperuma can jus- Sinhala rendition of Kaluperuma’s ed Kapugedera batted with confidence stumps. His calm demeanour was a Arnold has had a chequered relation- tify the shoddy treatment of Russel name. that belied his youth and inexperience. constant asset to the team. Where he ship with the selectors. It could be Arnold, who is the eternal scrapegoat of When Kalupurema and his fellow One could scarcely believe that he had was found wanting in that he played too because he is not as attractive a bats- the selectors. Arnold has not appeared rebels were banned for 25 years in 1982, only played two first-class matches and many nudges and adventurous sweep man as some of his counterparts. His in since the ill-fated Darwin the then 32 year-old spinner could that he was not heard of outside his shots, especially in the league matches. odd stance has become squarer and test of July 2004 and the brittle top- scarcely have believed that he would hometown of Kandy. This was rectified in the finals, where more crouched. order continues to miss a man of his one day assume the high office of the The straight six that he slammed off the NCC batsman hit the ball in front of In his early days, he stood tall at the ability. Unless he features in the plans chairman of selectors. Brett Lee will endure in the memory for the stumps with the full face of the bat. crease like an Asian version of Chris of the selectors for the forthcoming Unearths bowling talent long. Not since Aravinda de Silva hit His ODI career average (36) is the Broad. An equally plausible theory is Pakistan and England tours, only more As a selector, he has displayed a mag- Craig Mcdermott into the MCG stands best in the team and his test average of that he has become a victim of the pet- black magic can save the team. ical ability that he seldom demonstrat- in the 1985 triangular, has a Sri Lankan around 30 is respectable given that he

At St. Peter’s Sports Meet Lanka ‘Mercantile’ clinch All India Rugby 7’s Trophy Text and Photos by M. Farook Lantra The Lanka ‘Mercantile’ rugby team proved their win over Chennai ‘Cheetas’ was no flash in pan when they cruised to a convincing 36-nil win in the All India Rugby Tournament, 2006, which was staged at the S. D. A. T. Stadium, Chennai. The finals was worked off on Feb 12. The Plate was won by ‘Delhi Lions’ The 4 x 100 metres event in progress. (Pix by Nishan S. Priyantha). while the Bowl was won by ‘Future Hope Club’. According to the Manager, Romesh de Livera, more than 40 teams took part in this tournament. A few leading teams who took part were: Bengal Tigers, Jungle Crows Calcutta, Indian Army A and B, Indian Police, Chennai Irish (All foreigners), and Delhi Lions. While it was an historic win for the Mercantile rugby team, the most valu- The jubilant ‘Mercantile Rugby team’ with the All able player’s trophy was India Champions trophy at the arrival lounge at awarded to skipper the Katunayake Airport. From L/R Eranga Milinda Jayasinghe Swarnthilaka (John Keels), Romesh de Livera (Butani Exports) while the most popular players (Team Manager/Manager H. N. B. Col 7), trophy was awarded to Niroahan Ekanayake (John Keells), Achala Niroshan Ekanayake Perera (Butani), Dinuk de Silva Wijeratne (Mas), The 67th Inter-House Athletics meet of St. Peter’s College was held last Friday at St. Peter’s College (John Keels). Zakir Badurdeen (John Keells), Madisha de Silva grounds, Bambalapitiya. The chief guest was Air Vice Marshal Roshan Goonetilleke. (From left to The star of the tourna- (Butani), Milinda Jayasinha (/Butani), right) Rector, Fr. Travis Gabriel, Air Vice-Marshal Roshan Goonetilleke and Mrs. Goonetilleke. Skipper Milinda Jayasinghe receives the All India Cup ment was Ishan Eshan Edirimanne (Capital AEI), D. I. S. Udaya Championship trophy from the chief guest, who was a member of Kumara (Butani), Ramshan Cuncheer (Amana), Edirimanne (Capital AEI) South Indian rugby team in the mid 60s and who played under the who planted 15 tries in Anusha Perera (John Keells) and Marco de Silva captaincy of South Indian rugby legend, Duncan Harvi. seven games. (Coach-Trans Asia)

Vidanagamaarachchi St. John’s present vs old boys at cricket The annual Old Boys Vs. Present Old boys team with Charith Buddika Cricketers limited overs match of St. as his vice captain present boy’s excels as Royal John’s College, Panadura will be team is captained by P. Manoj. played on Sunday 26 at College The match will be followed by a trounce Wesley grounds commencing at 10 am. soft ball match played between Right-arm paceman Wesley, batting first man- While Ajith Walallawita leads the Present Boys and Old Boys of over Krisham Vidanagamaarachchi aged only 86 runs. Royal 50 years of age. captured a match boy of nine replied with 204 for 8 wickets wickets and helped Royal declared. Samith Nandamulla College second XI to an easy scored 65. Sunil, Methmali lead innings and 27 run win over In their second essay Wesley Wesley College in their match The only FIDE Master playing at and did not receive any threat during were shot out for 81 as they played at Royal grounds recent- the National Chess the four games played. found Vidanagamaaarchchi ly. Championships, Sunil UGY Methmali of Southland The Annual Sports Meet of Nawala Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya was held at the school ground recent- The 6’3’’ paceman displayed virtually unplayable. Weeramanthry took the lead after College, the current national chess ly. Lilee house won the championship. Lilee House captain, H. Jithendra Nirmani Fernando receives the his brilliance in a magnificent Vidanagamaarachch cap- the 4th round of the championships champion is also in the lead with all championship trophy from the Chief guest Ajith Cabral, Secretary Ministry of Planning and Implementation. manner winning tremendous tured 7 for 39. Altogether he last weekend. possible 4 points in the women’s Principal Malanee Abesekera and Deepa Wishmanie are also in the picture. applause from the spectators. had nine wickets. Sunil scored all possible 4 points championship.