14 Monday 26th July, 2010

It also gave me a story to share with The Island The Chesterfield Files readers last Wednesday. Not too surprising, the for- mer South Africa-born, Queens College pupil and England captain and a aficionado, is also on my wavelength when it comes to the thought how day/night Test cricket is a no go area. There are so many areas where it is wrong. Tony is a regular reader of these files, and makes occasional comments via emails. When it comes to the modern game, he is thoughtful yet realistic in his approach. He has a dislike of my dismissive “slogs” remark when it comes to ODIs, and that is fair enough. After all, and A worthwhile chat with Tony and agreed, it helps pay the rent. Also, it has to be remembered from where he is coming with his cau- tionary prudence over such comments. As one of Sanga’s complaint answered . . . the leaders in the Kerry Packer revolution and its reasons, World Series Cricket did change the face of by Trevor Chesterfield the game and shaped its future: in many senses, for the better. What has to be remembered is that along with t is easy to sympathise, Yahaluweni, with Kumar Ian Chappell, Tony is a pioneer of the modern game, Sangakkara. Sri Lanka do not play enough Test and when he agreed that Test cricket is a day game cricket. It is nothing new, either. They don’t. I for the reasons he pointed out, it suggests that a lot The way the future tours programme was more thought is needed before launching into that mapped there were too many gaps and the side need- area until they are ready. ed exposure at this competitive level. Repeated here, are comments written for a web- Whatever way you look at it, and forget if you Test tour site in India, CricketNext.com, where the question will for the moment, the euphoria of the ten- arises what type of game are the International win over India inside four days at munificent Galle Cricket Council, pushing. International, this current Test series is It is time for some plain talking. Time someone an additional tour to fill a gaping hole in also told the International Cricket Council, the the programme, and begs the question, of Marylebone Cricket Club and the current clutch who is to blame for the problem. of national captains to forget the day/night Administratively it could be said the bonanza gimmick proposal for Test cricket. ad-hoc government appointed (non- Let us be honest about this. Gimmicks elected) interim committee have don’t sell the game but quality does. And the done what they could to arrange this day/night concept for the Test arena is noth- tour, as the next on offer is the West ing more than a tacky publicity stunt and Indies in November. After that, there those advocating this trend need take a seri- is England next year, following the ous look at several important factors that World Cup and then? If we check the looms deal with the game. future tours programme, 2011 sud- What needs to be told to these latter day denly becomes a cluttered calendar, with “boffins” of the MCC in St John’s Wood as the possibility of fourteen Tests well as that coterie of diverse political opin- spread over nine months. ion, known as the ICC, now situated in some Australians are due back in about elevated glass edifice overlooking Dubai, is this time next year for three Tests, that as custodians of the game they have a although there could be an unprece- responsibility for its future. What are they doing dented fourth Test in the wings to with it? Why, cheapening its image. give one of the new outstation ven- They are treating a proven product as if ues built for the World Cup a game. it is three-ring circus without the clowns. There are also three return Tests And this is where questions need to be asked, against Pakistan; these are likely to with some genuine answers. Whether these be played in the United Arab will be forthcoming is another matter. What Emirates, as with South Africa who is not wanted is how these so-called adminis- are due to play them later in the year. trators, some who have not played a first- Finally, after an eight year gap, a class game let alone at Test level, are toying return to South Africa and three with such an idea. Tests, sans Muttiah Muralitharan Do they have a ball for the day and Sanath Jayasuriya who first night/game that will be as good as the red toured with the under24 side in the one that is now used? No, they don’t. They 1992/93 season. It was a tour where tried some pink gimmick, which from Murali pocketed his maiden ten- reports was a paint job, and this began to wicket haul at first-class level peel off after a few overs and the seam was against a South African under24 side mess because of the dew. If this is the future, led by Hansie Cronje and Jayasuriya, just what are they trying to do? There has the captain, complained about some been an experiment with a yellow ball that shoddy umpiring decisions as it is a has been trialed without genuine success. game that was eventually lost Playing Test cricket under lights with a because of the pace of Brett Schultz white ball is not an option either. That is for was just a little too much for the the 50/50 and other lollypop formats they are tourists on a fast, bouncy surface. Tony Greig (L) and Kumar Sangakkara selling to the public with white clothing and Fourteen Tests in nine months. where the ball needs to be changed every 35 Well, that is what the FTP on the or so overs. International Cricket Council site says. It now Test cricket is about many varieties of concen- makes you ask, when Sangakkara was grumbling tration levels and player finesse: with this, there are about not enough Tests and foreign tours, if he had Test cricket is about many varieties of concentration levels and touches of flamboyance, articulate action that whis- actually checked this schedule. This is not a criti- pers of romance and character and is what the pub- cism but an observation of what next year could player finesse: with this, there are touches of flamboyance, articulate lic have paid to see. It is about records, about players become. A busy one and with it, give the selectors a action that whispers of romance and character and is what the public such as the artistic Sachin Tendulkar chance to trial some of the exciting young batting have paid to see. It is about records, about players such as the artistic against cunning of a Muttiah Muralitharan, sadly a talent and test the theory of just how good is sight that shall not be seen again, but it is what Test Ajantha Mendis in conditions outside the emerald Sachin Tendulkar batting against cunning of a Muttiah Muralitharan, cricket gave us and allowed us to enjoy. It is about isle and subcontinent. sadly a sight that shall not be seen again, but it is what Test cricket memories of former past greats who gave the game Sure, he has been in South Africa, but bowling character and value as well as professionalism, with a white ball in a limited-overs (Champions gave us and allowed us to enjoy. It is about memories of former past which the ICC/MCC are not showing in their quick Trophy) tournament in largely out of season greats who gave the game character and value as well as profession- sell of the game’s soul. September, is far different to bowling in season on On arriving home, the question of, “Well, how bouncy surfaces at venues such as The Wanderers, alism, which the ICC/MCC are not showing in their quick sell of the did you enjoy Galle this time . . ?” was an easy one. Newlands and possibly Durban. As a thought, game’s soul. There is no place on the island like Galle and the maybe Sri Lanka Cricket, at the behest of their cap- Fort and its accommodation is, as always, memo- tain, can twist an arm in South Africa to scrap a rable. Meeting new people and making friends, and couple of senseless slogs and add an extra Test, finding a couple of delightful eateries, one of them a although the FTP indicates a tour of South Africa four Tests to build a side and create an interest. As for Hambantota, accommodation will be a local at the back of the bus stand, where they make by Australia in October and November. With Pallekelle available after the World Cup, a problem, as no tour budget will stretch to having a great egg hoppers (a favourite), is part of the attrac- If India can scrap three ODIs earlier this year to four Test tour is always an option. It will give those five star floating hotel available, as it appears will tion. give their Test rankings, a boost with a two-match in Kandy a chance to sample Test matches again as happen for the two matches. About the only complaint (oh, yeah . . . here we series against Graeme Smith’s Proteas, what is frankly Asgiriya has long been a sad, dowdy relic. One of the advantages of the pavilion and media go again) was being made to feel like a penguin wrong with Cricket South Africa doing the same for Its media centre is a place “from hell” that not even centre at Galle International is catching up with old perched on an iceberg in what is termed the Sri Lanka and make it a four-match series for a the magnificent scenery can distract attention from associates and at the request of the mass circulation media/press centre. At a guess, the A/C was about change. This would at least comply with its woeful distasteful state. Not even the best efforts Mumbai tabloid Mid-Day, did an interview with 12 deg C and the ensuing head cold the result. Sangakkara’s argument of Sri Lanka being reduced of the SLC media unit to make it as habitable as Tony Greig about his views of the modern game and Thanks Brian. to playing what some might call “afterthought possible could make up for the appalling conditions the way it is being shaped. With the second day lost that had a woman writer from a Colombo daily once to rain, it allowed us to chat about old times and tours” with two Tests instead of having three of (email: [email protected]) describing it as a “mind-numbing insult”. mould them to modern thinking.

Iraq’s football election split between 2 cities

BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraqi city of Irbil, along with observers responsibility” they have said the capital was safe. They felt andthe repeated delaying of inter- aformer striker for Baghdad’s al- Football Association members from FIFA and theAsian Football forIraq’s football - the only unit- FIFAtried to impose its will on nal elections. The ban was lifted Talaba club and he is ranked 10th held duelingmeetings in two Confederation. ing factor for Iraqis during the- Iraq by choosing Irbil for the inMarch. onFIFA’s list of players with the cities to elect a new president on An official from the Iraqi worst years of sectarian blood- vote,although nobody - including FIFA’s representative at the most international caps. But crit- Saturday, riskinga FIFA ban from association, Abdul-Khaliq shed that brought the country to the main challenger of the associ- Irbil meeting, Nidhal al- icsallege he has ties to the former international competition due to Massoud,told The Associated thebrink of civil war in 2005 and ation’scurrent president - wanted Hadidi,warned against meetings regime and is suspected ofcorrup- governmentinterference. Press that they had failed to form 2007. a confrontation with FIFA and being held in other locations. tion. The meetings were the latest a quorum inIrbil and the vote was “Football has been able to risk a ban. “FIFA chose Irbil for the Hassan, a 60-year-old Shiite development in the ongoing dra- postponed until Sunday. bring all Iraqis out on the “We have the right to hold the meeting,” he said, adding that from Baghdad’s slum of Sadr City masurrounding who will lead the The Baghdad meeting was streets... to cheer in one voice for election in Baghdad. We don’t- anyother meeting “outside Irbil is anda former captain of Iraq’s best governing body of the country’s also delayed until Sunday. The Iraq,” Hamoud said. want to go head-to-head with considered illegal and illegiti- team, al-Zawra, is Saeed’s mainri- mostpopular sport. The battle deputypresident of the FIFA chose Irbil to stage the FIFA. We know how strong they mateaccording to FIFA’s point of val for football’s top job in Iraq. reflects the sectarian tensions Association, Najeh Hamoud, said vote after deeming Baghdad are,”said the Shiite candidate for view.” In one indication of how high prevalentin a country where just the postponementwas designed so toounsafe to send international the presidency, Falah Hassan. Iraq’s Shiite-dominated gov- the tension has been raised, men a few years ago Sunnis and football representatives in observers to monitor it. But FIFA has warned Iraq it will ernment has long wanted to inmilitary-style uniforms raided Shiites werebattling in the Baghdad could consultwith offi- Iraq’sgovernment insisted on be banned if the governmentin- purgesports of any officials with the federation’s offices on streets. cials in Irbil and try to convince holding it in Baghdad as a way of terferes with the election. Last alleged ties to the deposedSunni- Sundaycarrying arrest warrants Football officials backing the them to come to Baghdad,along showing thecountry is stable after year, Iraq was suspended for five- dominated regime of Saddam for several of its officials, government’s candidate, a with the observers. years of war. months after Iraq’s Olympic Hussein. includingSaeed. The government Shiite,met in Baghdad, while sup- Hamoud said the decision not Forty-three of the associa- Committee dissolved the associa- The Sunni candidate to run denied any responsibility for the porters of the incumbent, a to rush the vote underlined theof- tion’s 63 members attended the tionbecause of alleged financial the association, Hassan Saeed, is raid. Sunni, gatheredin the Kurdish ficials’ keen awareness of “a big Baghdadmeeting. Most members and administrative irregularities