Wednesday 23rd July, 2008 15

Technology Trial has also sion of the umpire. Sometime on the been introduced apart from the cus- spur of the moment they might not tomary third umpire. While a neutral have picked up an edge during an lbw umpire, Rudi Koertzen will fit in in appeal and they give you out and the new role, umpire Asoka de Silva those kind of moments probably will After eight years a will be the third umpire ruling on be sorted out as that might change stumpings, run outs and other televi- the course of the game,” he said. sion decisions. Both captains welcomed the new Milestone for Sachin and Vaas trial. “I am all for it. What we are There are also a few personal mile- trying to eradicate is the obvious mis- stones awaiting two players during takes that tend to happen on the field. the series. While former Indian cap- mouthwatering contest Some obvious decisions like caught tain Sachin Tendulkar needs 172 behind and lbws when the batsmen more runs to overtake Brian Lara as have nicked it will be probably the highest run scorer in Tests, Sri referred,” Jayawardene explained. Lanka’s all-rounder Chaminda Vaas “The career threatening decisions is chasing a twin milestone. and series threatening decisions will Vaas requires seven more be eradicated . We need to keep it to join the 350 club and needs 72 runs awaits fans very simple,” Jayawardene said fur- to complete 3000 Test runs. Only “Our priority is on keeping our ther elaborating. seven other Sri Lankans have scored focus on the Test Match and prepare Kumble too agreed. “It’s for the more than 3000 runs in ourselves. I honestly don’t know obvious error that happens on the for Sri Lanka. Only 15 bowlers in all what exactly has been going on. field. It’s not something where you have taken more than 350 Test wick- Trevor (Bayliss) is the one who has question ets. had chats with the cricket board and every he’s looking after that right now and deci- Sri Lanka (Probable XI) we are just focusing on the Test Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Match. What has happened is beyond Michael Van Dort, Malintha our control.” Warnapura, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, TV referrals to be trialed Tillekeratne Dilshan, Prasanna Cricket will undergo a major Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, change with the administrators Muttiah endorsing a Television Referral Muralitharan, Thilina System like in tennis where captains Thushara Mirando and Ajantha and players will be allowed to chal- Mendis. lenge umpiring decisions if someone India (Probable XI) perceives a decision is incorrect. Anil Kumble (captain), There are three referrals per Gautam Gambhir, Virender innings and every decision that is Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, successfully challenged ensures Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav that the quota of three referrals Ganguly, V.V.S. Laxman, remain intact. The review system is Dinesh Karthik, Harbhajan already in place in tennis. The TV Singh, Ishant Sharma and Technology Trial Umpire will have Zaheer Khan. Hawkeye replays available to make Umpires: Mark Benson (Eng) his decisions. and Billy Doctrove (WI) The trial that was first supposed to TV Technology Trial Umpire: be tried in England was cancelled Rudi Koertzen (RSA) after the England players opposed to 3rd Umpire: Asoka de the move. The third Silva umpire’s role itself

Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar during a practice session at the SSC ground on has undergone Tuesday. The first Test between Sri Lanka and India gets underway today. (AP significant Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) change. For this series, a 1 win for will help India by Rex Clementine TV to regain the number two position. ow often do you get to see Indications are that both sides will world’s best bowler bowling heavily rely on their traditional Hagainst world’s best batsman? strength - spin bowling. While India’s How often have world’s highest spin duo of captain Anil Kumble and ranked bowler and batsmen have will play the game , been involved in a cricket contest? the new ball will be shared by Zaheer And how often does India and Sri Khan and Ishant Sharma. Lanka play Test cricket? And when For the Sri Lankans, alongside vet- they play, the cricket on display is eran Muttiah Muralitharan, mystery first class. spinner Ajantha Mendis will play the After an absence of eight long game making his debut. The new ball years, India’s cricketers will take on will be shared by Chaminda Vaas and their neighbours across the Palk Thilina Tushara Mirando. Straight in a three match series that’s Jayawardene confirmed that the expected to go to the wire with very lit- number six position will be occupied tle separating the two teams. by middle order batsman Tillekeratne Colombo’s SSC will host the first Test Dilshan, who was contesting for that Match that starts today and then the spot with Chamara Silva, who scored series moves to Galle before returning two fifties against the tourists in the to the capital for the third and final warm up game representing Sri Lanka Test at the historical P. Saravanamuttu Board XI. Stadium. “When Prasanna Jayawardene got There’s very little to choose injured in the West Indies, Chamara between the sides and the outcome of came and played at number seven and the series is important as it could when Prasanna comes back, Chamara determine the teams’ position in the unfortunately needs to step out,” ICC Points Table. The Indians are cur- Jayawardene said confirming Dilshan rently placed at number three in the will play at number six ICC Points Table behind Australia and South Africa, while the Sri Lankans The issue of Team Manager are two places behind at number five Jayawardene also said the ongoing with England ahead of them. saga relating to the Manager of the A 2-1 win will help Sri Lanka to national cricket team where Hashan leapfrog England and India and to Tillekeratne was removed barely a take the number three slot , but they week after being appointed on the have to hope that South Africa will not insistence of Sports Minister Gamini Sri Lankan cricketer Ajantha Mendis during yesterday’s final practice session ahead of the first Test against India at the SSC. lose their series against England. Only Lokuge hasn’t affected the team’s a 3-0 whitewash and not more than a 2- preparations. Mendis is set to make his Test debut today. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Letters Jayasuriya voted Sri Lanka’s best ever captain Mendis –The secret weapon Sanath Jayasuriya has Test cricket in 2001 and 2002. been voted Sri Lanka’s best The Cricinfo survey took Mendis' bowling should not will not be giving the batsman breaking it down to the differ- about the ‘’, the better captain in a recent online place in June with 40,433 Sri be exposed in the Test matches time to pick his different varia- ent types of balls he delivers in batsmen are able to cope with poll by leading cricket web- Lanka fans participating. where batsmen have many tions. He should be used exclu- an over. Such descriptions give it to a certain extent. So too, it site Cricinfo. Statistically speaking, days and hours to figure out sively for 50 overs and an opportunity to the oppo- would be with Mendis' bowl- Jayasuriya polled 31% of Jayawardene is Sri Lanka’s the types of balls delivered by Twenty20 games, until the next nents to guage his bowling, ing. He should never disclose the popular vote, just ahead most successful captain with him; unlike in the case of 50 World Cup in 2011. anticipate his deliveries and the types of balls he is able to of current captain Mahela a 62% win ratio in One-Day overs and Twenty20 over By resorting to this method, develop suitable remedial bowl, except to be known as an Jayawardene who secured Internationals. games where he could be used we can be champions in the measures. off-spinner. 30%. Jayasuriya had a 58% win in short spells. By adopting shorter versions of the game The great mistake that Please use him as our secret Marvan Atapattu, ratio, Atapattu 56% and this tactic, batsmen will be for quite some time. Mendis' Murali made was to announce weapon until the 2011 World Jayawardene’s recently Ranatunga 48%. deprived of reading his action skills should not be exposed in his ‘Doosra’ instead of using it Cup. After the World Cup, retired predecessor, was also Jayasuriya Jayawardene is also the properly and coping with his Test matches. Also, people as a secret weapon as and Mendis could be introduced to rated highly with 19% of the most successful captain in bowling. writing to the press like Dilip when necessary. Had he done Test cricket, especially as he is vote. Test cricket with an impressive 52% In the shorter versions of Premachandran writing to so, he would be having many still quite young. World Cup winning captain Arjuna win ratio. the game, 10 overs or four ‘The Guardian’ should not be more wickets to his credit. R. Amarasekera, Ranatunga was backed by 14% of Jayasuriya won 47% of the Tests overs (not consecutively), he analysing his bowling openly, Now that the batsmen know Kohuwela. users and 5% thought Aravinda de he captained, Atapattu 44% and Silva was Sri Lanka’s best captain. Ranatunga 21%. Jayasuriya lead Sri Lanka between Cricinfo is the world’s leading Charles Robinson 1999 and 2003, leading Sri Lanka to a cricket website accessed by over 15 What madness is this? Memorial hockey record 10-game winning sequence in million cricket fans worldwide. The ugly head of politics This is a minister who has wrote, "critics are like The Matale Old Thomian's has once again crept into never played sport at any level eunuchs in a harem, they Association, (Colombo Branch), Therese Candappa Memorial Bridge sports. It is a shame that the states that "This job is not for know how it is done, they have will be conducting the tourna- Sports Minister has disap- a politician." seen it done many a time, but ment for the 12th successive The Therese Candappa Memorial from all over the island gather for an proved the appointment of Then what is he doing? He they cannot do it themselves.” year on 27 July, at St. Benedict's Bridge Tournament will kick off exciting meet and last year’s win- Hashan as Manager of the is and never was fit to handle If he cannot handle this College Grounds Colombo. today at the Women’s International ning pair was Mrs. Daisy national cricket team. It is this post. The public must, no appointment, he should be This tournament is looked Hall, Guildford Crescent. Thewasagayam and Mrs. Rita de obvious that Hashan's UNP doubt, be hoping for his given the Ministry of forward to by all leading hock- The tournament, which is being Alwis. connections have a lot to do removal before he ruins any Agriculture portfolio, where ey playing clubs in the country held for the 7th consecutive year, was This year’s tournament will bring with this. Time and again the more sports bodies. A number he will be more at home. and has been acclaimed by the established in memory of the late together around 65 participants, sports minister has interfered of former cricketers did not This does not augur well for media and hockey enthusiast Mrs. Therese Candappa who was a some of who have partnered Mrs. in various decisions made by wish to be nominated for this a sport which unites a divided as one of the best tournaments, veteran Bridge player with a passion Candappa in Bridge over the years. sporting bodies. post mainly due to the fact nation. if not the best. for the game. Today will be an exciting event for Arjuna, with his wealth of that the sports minister can Joseph Roshantha The tournament is spon- Mrs. Candappa was the winner of the participating players and Bridge cricketing knowledge and make things difficult for peo- Fernando, sored by ICICI-BANK Ltd, several Bridge tournaments during enthusiasts when the seventh experience did appoint the ple. Corpus Christi, "Elemech Engineers (Pvt) Ltd. her time. Therese Candappa Memorial Bridge best man for the job. As Brendon Behan once USA. and Elephant House. Every year Bridge enthusiasts gets underway.