Monday 19th June, 2006 11 Strange bedfellows on a balcony at Lord’s ut in the defeats by Pakistan. Caribbean, Also, perhaps, after OBrian Lara is the success of the Test lamenting the lack of side in levelling the a fast bowler to shake series 1-1, it might be up the Indian batsmen an idea to ask the ECB in the Test series. to grant Sri Lanka a If he had been at second half of the sea- Lord’s on Saturday, son tour, when the Yahaluweni, he would weather is warmer. have cast envious eyes This has little to do at the Sri Lankan with the slogs event. attack. It was good old Tests are far more by Trevor fashioned pace and important in England leading the charge Chesterfield (as they are in was beanpole Dilhara Australia); while in Sri Fernando. And there sharing Lanka, a spoiled public cannot the team balcony was an inter- make up their mind what they esting combo – coach Tom want. Moody and selection convener As the next World Cup strate- Ashantha de Mel. gy looms 10 months on, Sri While Lara’s concern and Lanka’s steady progress in the plea to the selectors is to find a slogs is going to be monitored. fast bowler to replace the Critical to this is the triangular injured Fidel Edwards, Sri series in August that involves Lanka’s captain Mahela India and South Africa. There is Jayawardene was able to mar- the Champions Trophy followed shal his attack around the twin- by a tour of New Zealand. Not pronged Lasith Malinga and that this tour of the shaky isles Fernando. But where as Joey in November and December has Carew’s selection committee been void of controversy,even at ignored Lara’s lament for the this advanced stage. There is third Test in St Kitts, Sri criticism of New Zealand Lanka’s need for double-edged Cricket’s decision to scrap one of pace at Lord’s was a require- the Tests for two twenty/20 ment. games on the pretext of the Early morning and light hazy weather in November likely to conditions at Lord’s can create a cause problems. few problems for teams batting Relatives in Wellington and first. The pitch has a tinge of Hamilton complain in emails of green and the ball comes on how last summer was the nicely.After lunch, it might have wettest in a decade. Now the Sri settled down, but any good fast Lankans are off on another tour bowler will exploit the condi- of New Zealand as part of the tions to his advantage. Marcus build up to Caribbean CWC07. Trescothick’s duel with Malinga Jayawardene’s side have visited was real fun to watch as the the land of the long white cloud rocket-propelled son of the so often these past two years south let rip with the occasional they will soon be able to apply 140 kmp/h deliveries instead of for permanent residence and choice invective. Trescothick return with a Kiwi twang that is knew that he was in a battle at least a better vernacular than Sri Lanka’s coach Tom Moody has been blamed for not being able to correct Dilhara Fernando’s no ball problems. He was overlooked for the Test series zone. that encountered across the against England but in the first ODI, the tall fast bowler’s pace troubled the English batsmen as he picked up three wickets. There was entertainment and Tasman Sea. later, as the television camera Surely though it is the height attracts those who can’t sit for Collingwood’s wicket with formances that have England pre-lunch Test century at Leeds zoomed in on the visiting team’s of crass greed that New Zealand more than 90 minutes; or where England, at 66 for four, looking batsmen guessing is rubbing off in 1930. He correctly points out balcony at Lord’s, the incongru- has scrapped a Test to play two the intellectual capacity of the for a life raft to paddle to calmer on the side as well. It was pleas- that Bradman scored 105 before ous sight of Moody and De Mel twenty/20s on the pretext weath- longer game is beyond their waters. ing also to see Upal Tharanga’s lunch, 115 between lunch and seated side by side created an er will interfere with the five- scope. It is why it attracts the ‘Well, now. This is interest- classical style blend with the tea and 89 between tea and the interesting juxtaposition of day game? A grand niece in same yobbo element you find on ing,’ Hussain proffered. form we all know he has to pro- close. As he points out, it is a team strategy. Sure Fernando Hamilton expressed the thought the terraces of stadiums where ‘Dalrymple is making his debut duce a match-winning effort. common enough error to sug- transgressed with a no ball and that NZC’s chief executive muddied oafs occupy the centre and we have England facing a Lord’s is only the start of the gest he scored a hundred in each a wide, but in such heady atmos- Martin Snedden sees only the stage and battle out a draw. calamity. He will be facing series, but it does instil the sort session. phere as a packed Lord’s adrena- bank ledger and forgets the At least Sri Lanka get to play Murali who has the uncanny of confidence that Jayawardene In those days, they didn’t bat lin often takes charge. development of the side. more than two Tests over the ability of being able to turn the and Moody have shown, Moody for 90 overs. Often a day’s play De Mel, the man (among a ‘When I read in today’s paper next 18-months and that is what ball both ways. It will be a test of especially over the past 12 would consist of 112 to 118 overs. number of others) who accused that we have only two Tests helps develop players. his batting skills. Welcome to months. This was an innings watched Moody of not sorting out between now and late next year, Okay . . . Back to Lord’s, reality.’ Finally, a correction. Friend with interest by the brilliant Fernando’s no ball problem, see- it becomes deeply worrying to Saturday and the couple of The reality of that victory by and colleague Mahinda Leonard Hutton, the ing just how the lanky fast-medi- fans like me. Doesn’t this send a interesting comments made on 20 runs was how Sri Lanka put Wijesinghe contacted me over Yorkshireman eight years at the um swing and pace bowler has message that Martin Snedden, cable TV by Nasser Hussain, the together a professional perform- comments made in last week’s age of 21 later broke Bradman’s sorted out the foot fault error. It who was an average Test crick- former England captain. One ance that showed just how far column about Don Bradman’s 334 record score at The Oval. would be interesting to learn eter yet played more than two was about an lbw decision they have come this year. Forget what De Mel had to say. Not too Tests in a 18-month period, does- turned down by Darrell Hair the build up games. As seen long ago he was blaming Moody n’t care any more about develop- (the umpire most Sri Lankans before on this tour, they are not for everything. From the sour ing players?’ love to hate because of one inci- a reliable guide even to a play- Katukurunda Circuit milk in his morning tea to the It is though suggested that dent). The batsman involved in er’s form let alone the team’s weather conditions in murky this affection some countries the appeal was debutant and ability to continue to develop Worcester early in the tour. (boards) have with two-Test Middlesex all-rounder Jaime and grow as a side. This is what Motor Race on June – 25 As politicians are well aware series is creating an imbalance Dalrymple and the bowler has become so impressive about of its effectiveness, rhetoric is within the game. When the Fernando. He suggested that the ability of the team under the The Katukurunda Circuit events and 13 motor car events. cheap. Maybe De Mel is ponder- query of whether players are ‘England have been favoured management it now has. Motor Race, the premier event in Speaking to “The Island” ing his options of what next to consulted over what they want again with an lbw decision’. Also, don’t forget that it has the motor sports calendar, will Deen further said that they were say.He would though be mindful to play, Snedden declined to As a captain, Hussain often been on the road as it were since be held on 25th of June, at the planning to bring down an of Sri Lanka having moved up answer the email. came across as being one-dimen- last October and without much Katukurunda Air Force circuit. Indian Formula driver to add the Test ladder one position is He could of course point to sional in his approach, yet time to catch breath between The event has generated colour to the event. the calm step at a time practice. the comments of players con- earned praise for the way he assignments. And as this tour of immense interest among drivers “We are negotiating with No use rushing it: team develop- cerns by a treadmill system of taught England to stand up to England has seen the side create and riders and over 60 competi- him,” he added. ment takes time. too many games. Yet when it the Australians in a way that opportunities of its own without tors have confirmed their partic- Meanwhile, plans have also Now the limited overs duel comes down to it, when adminis- matched the Australians in the expert guidance of Marvan ipation. The Sri Lanka Motor been made to felicitate drivers has started it will be equally trators in top posts such as sledging tactics. Atapattu, it adds to the charac- Cycle Club (SLMCC) even and riders of a bygone era dur- interesting to see how a young, Snedden scrap a Test to play two The other comment that came ter of those involved. expects the number to increae in ing the event. The officials will developing side moves forward novelty events, questions need from Hussain was quite enter- Hair fashions aside, Lasith the next few days. also conduct a two lap honour in this arena. With the sponsor’s to be asked. And really, novelty taining. A former fellow at St Malinga as an example looks as “We extended the closing date ride to salute motor cycling NatWest and the England (and without sanguine terms such as Peter’s College Oxford and has though he is straight out of for entries until 20th of June so greats late U.G. Jinadasa and Wales) Cricket Board scrapping originality, innovation and cre- the right to put MA (Oxon) some Mexican western and aim- that more competitors could Zacky Deen. the triangular format, it is not ativity is what the twenty/20 behind his name, Dalrymple ing for the next victim. His san- enter the fray,” said Kiyaz Deen, The event is organized by possible to see how far Sri Lanka game is all about. joined Trescothick at the fall of guine ability to produce per- the meet secretary. SLMCC in association with ITN have come since the March It is the sort of game that There will be 13 motor cycle and Sri Lanka Air Force.