14 Monday 26th October, 2009 Treading the road to Damascus suggests SLC has stumbled on a solution… Aravinda an ideal choice as National Director of

The Chesterfield Files responsibility of heading the is why Aravinda is needed to fill selection policy for this tour and the role as Director of Cricket. He is reflected in the results. will give straightforward answers Now, what about going a little to questions. further? Why can’t Aravinda be Likewise, no one has respond- given the same portfolio regard- Now, what about going a little further? ed from Wayamba about com- ing the National team? You can be Why can’t Aravinda be given the same port- ments made about the team’s sure that the results will again be abject failure in the T20 as startling as it would be posi- folio regarding the National team? You can Champions League in India, tive. be sure that the results will again be as which even without one of their In other words, Aravinda de three sides in the top four, was not Silva should be made Director of startling as it would be positive. of national interest. It was seen as Cricket at SLC, reporting directly In other words, Aravinda de Silva should a Lalit Modi run exercise, gaudy, by Trevor Chesterfield to the IC chairman, who after all brash and trashy, as bad as you is a former Test player and under- be made Director of Cricket at SLC, report- would expect from the dysfunc- stands the same language as it ing directly to the IC chairman, who after tional rugby system in this coun- eadlines do not always tell were and have this position with- try, run as it is by what appears to the whole story.Not even a out interference of any busybody all is a former Test player and understands be an increasingly malfunction- Hglimpse. office bearer or scheming politi- ing interim committee. They are just a teaser, cian. the same language as it were and have this Anyway, it needed a non- Yahaluweni which either entices In such a role, he would hand position without interference of any busy- Indian side, in this case a country, you read the article, or skip to pick the coaching and manage- Trinidad and not, as pointed out something more eye-catching. ment staff. That is national coach, body office bearer or scheming politician. last week provincial or state team, This is why, the bald headline his assistant, the senior, A team In such a role, he would hand pick the to rescue the tournament from about the success of the Sri Lanka and Under-19 coaches and opera- disappearing without trace. The Under-19 tour of Australia elicit- tions managers, coaching manag- coaching and management staff. That is pity is that Daren Ganga’s side ed more than a glance and the fol- er, selection panels and it should national coach, his assistant, the senior, A may have misplaced their exuber- low up added extra interest, be suggested, that in his role of ance when it mattered most in the which led to some delving into the director of cricket at SLC, be con- team and Under-19 coaches and operations final and lost to the clinical and subject of the tour and other fac- vener of all selection committees, managers, coaching manager, selection highly disciplined Australians, tors surrounding the game at this giving him the right to hire and but the Caribbean nation in the age level and the more senior fire as he see’s fit in the best inter- panels and it should be suggested, that in sun rescued the event from being structures in the country. ests of the game. his role of director of cricket at SLC, be con- a total flop for Modi and his It seems though, that some at It is not a case of building cronies. have had a sandcastles, but creating a solid vener of all selection committees, giving him What is perhaps a phenome- Damascene experience, as did St. foundation. The results could be the right to hire and fire as he see’s fit in the non, or a new form of global Paul, who was converted on the quite startling as well as positive, warming if you wish with a weird road to Damascus. The Sri Lanka in that instead of minting coins to best interests of the game. The one thing about this tour change in seasons, is where like Under-19 tour to Australia, under celebrate coming second as we did that has emerged is how actors, players are doing a quick the stewardship of Aravinda de at the last World Cup, the side Aravinda de Silva presided switch of costumes between Silva, has produced startling might actually celebrate another over selection to ensure that scenes as the ODI road show goes results - a first series win by a Sri win and display a new trophy. only the best performing play- on. ers were selected and the Lankan National touring side to Oh, yes. Here the big ‘J’ word During the CLT20, Ricky result – well, it is now history. It Australia. raises its ugly, malevolent head. will come as no coincidence Ponting gave his first media con- Now, if we are to take this There are those so jealous of the that Aravinda was also a major ference in Mumbai and comment- series at face value, we could say man’s brilliant success, not only and perceived young guns, has rest for a regular place. But per- Influence during the 1996 ed on how Australia might per- that Sri Lanka has indeed made as a batsman, but also when he failed Sri Lanka. formances will improve immense- World Cup process and that form in India in the seven match progress on the international was vice-chairman of the board, If you reflect on recent results ly and the results, well, we only result is also now consigned to series that began yesterday. This scene. Digging deeper, you will that he acted in the best interests of when the side has been playing have to look at what the Under-19s history. was while the curtain was about find a more revealing fact: for the of the game and moved it forward. abroad, it is the experienced play- have achieved. to be rung down on the Modi-run first time since the 1996 World This was in the days when clubs ers who will always win you Despite their 3-2 success, only be reflected when the ICC event. Cup final, Sri Lanka selected a were able to elect those holding major tournaments, not your because of the time of year and event is held. Already, there is serious side (or squad if you prefer), on office. unusual players or young guns climate, it was not achieved in Interestingly, South Africa debris fallout with not one of the performance, rather than Of course, every week there brought in as an experiment. Sydney, Melbourne or Perth, but have already reacted to their dis- three multi-million dollar run Influence. are rumors of how plans for club Good performances here at home in Darwin, where conditions are mal Champions Trophy showing Indian franchises making the last What this shows is how finally, elections are looming. In fact, this are so often offset by the poor not too unlike some you might by dropping Herschelle Gibbs and four. Yet, Modi and his BCCI the ineffectual and at times errant has much foundation as a sand- results when playing elsewhere. find in the island. Also, the the ever-energetic Makhaya Ntini cronies were warned well before and corrupt selection process has castle washed away by a tsunami. It is hoped that Somachandra International Cricket Council’s form their ODI squad for the early this particular brand of T20 was been exposed. This is why Sri Lanka, if they are de Silva, as chairman of the Youth World Cup is not going to be part of the England tour and sold to the public how the three The one thing about this tour to move forward as a competitive Interim Committee, will now played in Darwin but New selecting those who deserve a IPL sides would falter in their that has emerged is how Aravinda cricket nation, needs someone move SLC in this new direction Zealand, where in February, the chance. As Mike Procter, now con- efforts to reach the last four. They de Silva presided over selection to such as Aravinda in charge to run and the results will look after pitches are usually a tad green vener of South African selectors shrugged it off as ‘wishful think- ensure that only the best perform- affairs and appoint those who can- themselves. and seam around. said, he and his fellow selectors ing’ is one suggested comment put ing players were selected and the not be corrupted to positions We have heard after The need here, as Aravinda have run out of patience with out when it was made. result – well, it is now history. It without fear or favour. captain waxing lyrical about the has so often said, is until Sri Gibbs while Ntini is no longer What it does show is how will come as no coincidence that Sri Lanka has the talent to be new talent around and we have Lanka can replicate such pitches, seen as an effective ODI option flawed the grandiose IPL system Aravinda was also a major number one, but the ineffectual, heard all the excuses to follow the there will always be a problem with South Africa facing a series is and just how effective is the Sri Influence during the 1996 World errant and corrupt selection poor showings. Why not adopt a with batsmen adapting to condi- against Zimbabwe and later next Lanka provincial franchise. On Cup process and that result is also process has held Sri Lanka back. new approach? Everyone might be tions. month, England. the showing of Wayamba, a seri- now consigned to history. Please don’t think the blame surprised by the result. The ICC moved the event from It is hard to imagine the Sri ous rethink is needed. The provin- It also suggests a certain vin- lies only with the selectors. The This, however, is also accom- Kenya, where facilities, frankly, Lanka selectors making such cial system should be run to dication of the policy of the senior players, have over the last panied by a warning. The biggest are not up to the level needed to explanations when reasons are accommodate first-class, 50/50 as Interim Committee chairman, decade, a lot to answer for. This problem will come from the influ- stage such a tournament, to New given for dropping players or well as T20, not just T20. Somachandra de Silva, with his includes captains. The current ential group of senior players, Zealand. This suggests that the selecting others who continually email: decision to give Aravinda the trend to select unusual players who will have to compete with the success of the Under-19 side will make minor contributions. This [email protected] Sarasavi Uyana and Sri Rahula, Kandy Milo U-18 rugby joint champs

Text and pix joint champs at the end of the All extra time. Egodage, (External Affairs & from 31 schools took part in the Plate - Dudley Senanayaka by M. Farook Lantra Island Inter Schools Under-18, The tournament was organ- Activations Manager, Nestle tournament. MV beat D. B. Div.II 10-a-Side rugby final played ized by the Sri Lanka Schools Lanka Ltd., while the guest of Welegedara Vidyalaya, ast year’s Cup champions, at the UC Grounds, Bandarawela, Rugby Football Association honour was Mohan H. de Silva Results: Kurunegala by 24 points to nil. Sarasavi Uyana MV, on October 17. (SLSRFA) and sponsored by (Brand Manager, Nestle Lanka Cup - Joint Champions - Bowl - Devapathiraja MV, LPeradeniya and Sri Rahula At full time the scores were nil Nestle Lanka Ltd. Ltd.) Sarasavi Uyana (Peradeniya) and Ratgama beat St. Joseph’s College, College, Kandy were declared all and so it remained even after The chief guest was Bandula More than 450 participants Sri Rahula College (Kandy) Bandarawela by 22 points to nil.

The skipper of Sarasavi Uyana MV, Sameera Maduranga and the skipper of Sri Rahula College, Kandy, A. C. Jayaratna receive the The skipper of Dudley Senanayaka MV, Colombo, T. Kumara The skipper of Devapathiraja MV, Ratgama, T. Kumara receives the Milo joint champions trophy from the chief guest, Bnadula Egodage receives the Plate trophy from Mohan de Silva (Brand Manager, Bowl trophy from Dr. K. A. D. Punyadasa (President, (External Affairs & Activations Manager, Nestle Lanka Ltd.). Nestle Lanka Ltd.) SLSRFA/Principal, Isipatana College).