14 Friday 11th February, 2011

BY JOE BARTON Former England cricketer

ustralian believes Australia’s recent Bailey killed in fire Aone day series humiliation of England showcased their greatest quality - LONDON (AP) - Former resilience. England cricketer Trevor Despite losing a host of players to Ponting hails injury, including Ponting to a finger Bailey has died in a fire at his injury, Australia dominated England with home. He was 87. a 6-1 series victory to convince the The former all-rounder doubters they are ready to defend their died Thursday in a retirement World Cup trophy. home in east England. Ponting believes it not only shows the Firefighters rescued his wife. Aussie battlers depth Australia has in the one day format Bailey played 61 Test of the game, but proves that that matches in a 10-year interna- Australian cricketers are still able to pro- tional career and spent 21 sea- duce their best cricket with their backs to sons with English county side the wall. Ponting missed the entire series, while Essex. After retiring, he (hamstring), became a cricket writer and (back), (hamstring), Nathan broadcaster. Killed In this file image dated Hauritz (shoulder), (back), England and Wales Cricket April 20, 1956 shows former Xavier Doherty (back), Michael Clarke Board chairman Giles Clarke England cricketer Trevor (rested) and (rested) all missed says Bailey was “one of the Bailey. (AP Photo/PA, file) In this Oct. 8, 2010 file photo, games. finest all-round cricketers this Australian cricket captain Ricky As a result, the likes of , country has ever produced” administrator ... a writer and Ponting gestures towards journalists John Hastings, and and lauded his work as “an broadcaster.” stepped up to fill gaps and during a training session ahead of play match-winning roles for Australia. their second match The comprehensive series victory con- against India, in , India. vinced Ponting Australia is in terrific Wracked by injuries, memories of a shape leading into this month’s World Cup stinging Ashes loss and player selec- Universal Music to - where Australia will be seeking to secure tion debates, Australia’s cricket team a an unprecedented fourth consecutive tro- month ago was set to go into the limit- phy at the one day game’s showpiece ed-overs World Cup in a predictable event. release official ICC mess. But six wins out of seven “Looking at the last few results I think against England in a limited-overs they were really satisfying against a pret- ty good English team,” Ponting said on series and the return from injury of album Wednesday night before he flew out to captain Ponting have the winners of India. the past three World Cup tournaments “The satisfying thing for me out of the Tournament song ‘De as artists providing a local feeling upbeat for a fourth in a row last series was that when we were down Ghumke’ included in musical flavour, such as AR Rahman and fifth overall. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) and out and it looked like we were beaten, celebration of event, includ- and other big Bollywood hits. we found a way to win games which I ing such international super- The official song is per- think has been a trademark of very good stars as Enrique Iglesias, formed in three different lan- Australian teams for a long period of time Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga guages, Hindi (sung by now. as well as local flavour in AR Shankar Mahadevan), Bangla “(And) we’re going to a part of the Rahman and other Bollywood (sung by Raghab Chatterjee) world (the subcontinent) where we’ve got hits and Sinhalese (sung by a very good record on one day cricket.” As ICC Cricket World Cup Ranidu Lankage), reflecting Ponting, meanwhile, admitted that he would be forced to play through the tour- fever grips the sub-continent, languages of the three host nament in pain due to the injured finger Universal Music India pre- countries. on his left hand - but he insisted that it pares to release the official Universal Music India wouldn’t hold him back from reaching tournament album aptly enjoys worldwide rights for his best. named ‘De Ghumake’. this album and will be releas- “I still feel a bit sore, but I think The album is led by the ing it on 10 February 2011. I’m going to be a bit sore for a foot-tapping and infectious The album will be available in while,” he said. official World Cup song of the retail stores across “I was pretty much told that same name by the prolific Bangladesh, India and Sri when I went in for surgery, Bollywood music directors, Lanka as well as being down- that it was going to hang Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. The rest loadable from www.hunga- around for a little while. of the album boasts of a high- ma.com/music-album- But it certainly hasn’t energy mix of international De%20Ghumake%20The%20O hindered me in the nets hits from the likes of Enrique fficial%20ICC%20Cricket%20 in the last week.” Iglesias, Black Eyed Peas, World%20Cup%202011%20Son (AAP) Rihanna, Lady Gaga as well g)-388677.

Airwomen lift ‘Deyata Kirula’ NB title BIA to provide excitement Air Force beat Colombo University beat Sri Lanka Army to clinch the Galle District in the consola- ‘Dayata Kirula’ Netball trophy tion final. to cricket enthusiasts in the final of the ‘Dayata The tourney and the Kirula’ Championship at ‘Deyata Kirula Exhibition’ Buttala, Monaragala, on were held simultaneously. With a novel idea to provde excitement to of the -keeper at the other end. Wednesday. (MP) departing passengers at the Bandaranaike Successful participants will walk away with International Airport (BIA), during the ICC ‘Sri Lanka caps’ and ‘Sri Lanka mugs’. World Cup, an interactive cricket pitch has This is organised by Airport and Aviation been set up at the airport to provide excite- Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd., in collaboration Under-19 Schools Cricket ment to cricket enthusiasts to test their with Alpha Orient Lanka. throwing ability. BIA officials expect many international Passengers who spend or shop at any out- cricket enthusiasts to travel to Sri Lanka to Dharmasoka on let in the departure lounge of the BIA, would witness the matches played in the country as be entitled to test their throwing skills at an Sri Lanka is one of the hosts’ nations with interactive net at the departure lounge. It is newly built stadia at Suriyawewa and The Interactive Pitch made to provide excitement first innings all but making a ‘Perfect Throw’ to the gloves Pallekele. to departing passengers with a ‘Perfect Throw’. Dharmasoka College scored were 108 for three at close. a first innings victory over Mahanama College in their Scores: VB Div. II Matugama CC in first innings win Under-19 match which ended at Dharmapala 84 all out in Balapitiya yesterday. 34.1 overs (Tharindu Liyanage Matugama Cricket Club 51.5 overs. T. Nawamini top top scorer with 75, while 15, Keshan Janith 15; Sohan Championship obtained first innings points in scored with 95. Nuwan Chinthaka scored 73. their Sara trophy match For Matugama, Asanka KTC in their second innings Scores: Kariyawasam 5/40, Indeera begins Feb. 12 against Kalutara Town Club Chandana was the most suc- were 212 for 4 at close. Dharmasoka 240 and 163 Madubashana 3/27, Nishad (KTC). The match was played cessful bowler with 4 for 20. Tharindu Nawamini scored all out in 46.1 overs (Thanura Kalhara 2/05) The Provincial level matches of the on Feb. 5 and 6 at Matugama Then the Matugama bats- 51, Supun Tharanga 50 and Helambage 21, Nilusha Mahinda 108 for 3 wkts at Division II Munchee National Volleyball grounds. men rattled up 335 for 9 wickets Chandika Saman was 53 not Uththamadasa 23, Nimesh de close in 43.3 overs (Sachith Championship, organised by the Sri first, Kalutara Town in 73.1 overs. out. Soysa 36, Ramesh Mendis 26; Lakmal 24, Chandu Piripun 28 Club were bowled out for 191 in Tharindu Nilanka was the (Russ) Lanka Volleyball Federation in collabo- Chathura Wanniarachchi 5/70, n.o., Udara Jayasanka 28) ration with Ceylon Biscuits, will get underway on February 12. Lahiru Niroshan 3/23, Janaka The opening ceremonies of the Madusanka 2/19) Western and Uva Province matches will Four Golds for Mohammed Nilshan Mahanama (139 for 2 o/n) De Mazenod 213, be held at St. Bosco ground, Hanwella 219 all out in 62.5 overs Isipatana 101/3 and Bandarawela public ground, respec- Nilshan Akthar of the Cordova House won in four (Chathura Jayasinghe 46, tively, on February 12. events at the Zahira College, Colombo, Primary Chathura Wanniarachchi 25, In reply to De Mazenod Nandana Wickramage, Group Duleeka Thissakuttige 29, College’s 213, Isipatana College Director, Ceylon Biscuits (Western) and Section Inter-house Sports Meet recently. Akthar Dilshan Rusiri 24 n.o.; Duminda were 101 for three at close on Dilan Perera, President, Sri Lanka won Gold medals in 100m, Long Jump, High Jump Volleyball Federation (Uva) will grace and 100x4m in the Under-10 age group. Here is Kannangara 2/25, Chamath the first day of their U-19 the occasions as chief guests. Akthar seen receiving the overall winner’s award for Gunasinghe 4/91, Ramesh encounter, which began at Mendis 4/49) and 156 for 8 wkts Kandana yesterday. Meanwhile, the ‘A’ Division tourna- the Cordova House from the chief guest, MD, Bahira ment, known as ‘Super League matches’ at close in 19 overs (Duleeka of the National Championship, will be Farm Group of Companies, Yakuth Naleem (4-L). Thissakuttige 58, Pavan Scores: staged at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Also in the picture are Mohammed Jiffrey, Principal, Devinda 21, Dilshan Rusiru 21; De Mazenod 213 all out in Colombo, from March 2. Zahira (2-R), Fouzul Hameed, President, Zahira Duminda Kannangara 3/72, 69.2 overs (Madushan Board of Control, and Dr. (Ms) Kalyani Karunathilake, Dates of matches and venues: Romesh Mendis 2/24) Fernando 25, Sasaka 19 and 20 February: North V. Principal, Zahira Primary Section. Kodituwakku 18, Srihan Western, Shilpa Shalika ground, Mahinda trouble Anuruddhika 58, Navod Costa Kuliyapitiya. Dharmapala 32, Shanil Perera 16, Praveen 20 February: North Central, Nonis 32; Sidath National Stadium, Polonnaruwa. Put in to bat first, Mallawarachchi 3/54, Samitha 19 February: Eastern, Civil Defence National netball pool pruned down to 23 Dharmapala College were Sulochana 2/57, Vimarshana Force ground, Uhana. bowled out for 84 as Sohan Thilakaratne 2/17, Dimuth 19 February: North, Central College The national netball pool, the move, Damayanthi around the country. ground, Jaffna. which consisted of 48 players Jayathilake, Secretary, SLNA, Final selections will be done Kariyawasam and Indeera Warapitiya 2/13) 19 and 20 February: initially, has been pruned down said: “This time, we have select- on March 3 and the final 12-mem- Madubashana shared eight Isipatana 101 for 3 wkts at Sabaragamuwa Public ground, Kegalle. to 23 by the National netball ed seven players, who are above ber squad will represent the wickets between them for close in 25 overs (Dimuth selection committee last 6 ft in height, among the newly country in the World Netball 19 and 20 February: Central, Mahinda College on the first Warapitiya 24, Danushka Seethadevi Balika grounds, Kandy. Thursday,Feb.3,at the picked 23 players.” Championship, to be held in Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, it The 48-member National pool Singapore next July. There will day of their match at Galle yes- Sandaruwan 25 n.o., Harith 17 February: South Vijitha Central terday. Wanigarachchi 27 n.o.; Shanil ground, Deswell. is reported. was formed from players of be three players in the In their essay,Mahinda Perera 2/22). (RF) (MP) Speaking to ‘The Island’ on clubs affiliated to the SLNA squad as well. (MP)