Thursday 25th May, 2006 11 Malinga writes off Test chances Plenty of other people may be talk- 29.48, might be called up at Edgbaston. not contain. I like to unsettle the bats- ing up 's chances of But when asked by reporters at the man with bouncers, yorkers and playing in the second Test against ground on Tuesday what his chances change of pace. England here at Edgbaston but the of playing were he replied: "No. The "I think batsmen struggle with my man with the distinctive slingshot last Test match all our players did action, it's difficult to pick and it action believes he has no chance of very good jobs, both batsmen and unsettles them." being included. bowlers but unfortunately the Malinga, who has worked in a 's attack managed just six didn't come." bank, said his action had been the wickets in the first Test at Lord's - and Malinga's unusually low arm same since childhood. five of those were shared between key action so disconcerted New Zealand "At first I played a lot of beach off-spinner batsmen during a recent Test series and softball cricket, with a and experienced left-arm seamer they asked the umpires to change tennis ball. I started when I was five - as England piled up their trousers and remove their ties or six and I always had the same A team of Karatekas from India visited Sri Lanka recently to participate in a two day Karate-do 551 for six declared in the drawn as they were having trouble seeing the action. seminar conducted by Sensej, Indishe Senanayake (3rd Dan-Okinawa, Japan), Sri Lanka series opener. ball. "It was always natural and I've Representative and Chief Instructor of the Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Kyudokan Karate-do That led to suggestions that the 22- "If the New Zealand batsmen are never changed," said Malinga, who Federation. This seminar was followed by a Friendship Karate tournament among Indian and year-old Malinga, who has taken 54 not comfortable then whatever," said was timed at 91mph during the series Sri Lankan students. Kyudokan Indian Representative Sensei Arun Bodake also underwent wickets in 15 Tests at a respectable Malinga. "I always try to take wickets, in New Zealand. (AFP) four day training under Indishe Senanayake Sensei. Picture shows Indishe Sensei training the Indian students. Caltex sponsors VB tourney Sara Trophy finals The Sara Trophy League 2005/06 final Yonex and SLBA team up for Deaf Schools between Kalutara Town Club and Army Sports by Gamini Perera through the years.” Club will be played on May 27 and 28 at the The Caltex Lubricants Lanka Ltd. sponsored Open To All Police Park. Awards ceremony of the Sara to produce champions volleyball tournament for the Deaf Schools and He also said that the tournament is opened Trophy league will be held after the match organised by the Deaf School Past Pupils to all the deaf schools in the country, and no Association (DSPPA) will be held on June 10, tournament fees will be charged. The winners of by Reemus Fernando 2006 at the National Youth Services Council, the respective groups will receive the Caltex In a bid to up the standard of young Maharagama. The tournament commences at trophies replicas and certificates. In addition, shuttlers the Sri Lanka Badminton Association has entered into a partner- 8.30 a.m. this will be followed by the finals and special awards will be made to the Best Spiker ship with Yonex, who have agreed to the awards ceremony scheduled to begin at — boys and girls. Gift vouchers will be awarded bear the cost of a four year training 4.15 p.m. at the same venue. to all the participating players. project. A past pupil, Shivanta Vivekananda, The reigning champions are Sivarg Sivaraja Over sixty youngsters selected from President and Chairman organising committee: Deaf and Blind School Mahawewa, who hopes around the island will undergo inten- “Our main aim is conducting this tournament to retain the championships for the boys and sive training at six centres, under the girls sections for the second successive year. is to popularize and promote volleyball among project. Shuttlers within the age group Other schools participating are the School the deaf community in Sri Lanka,” said of 10-14 will be trained by qualified for the Deaf, Ratmalana, Yasodara Deaf and The JohnDiversy sponsored, 05th Travel Vivekananda to The Island Sports. coaches and they will receive quality He said that, “Caltex Lubricants Lanka Blind School, Balangoda and the Rohana Deaf Trade Sports Club Bowling Championships was successfully completed on May 20 at gear and training material during the Limited has been associated with the DSPPA as School, Matara. four year period. well as the school for the Deaf to promote Entry forms for the tournament could be the Strikes Bowling Centre, Excel World. Aitken Spence Travels emerged champions, “We have been achieving local goals sports like, cricket, netball and volleyball for the obtained from, K. T. T. Sumanadasa, Secretary, within the last few years. This project to past number of years. We thank, the Caltex Deaf Schools Past Pupils' Association or from dethroning last year’s winner, Walers Tours. The winning of Aitken Spence train youngsters of this particular age Managing Director, Kishu Gomez, the manage- Mrs. Marie Wijeratne, principal or by phoning Travels, Gavin Godlieb receiving the trophy group has been launched to acquire ment of Caltex Lubricants Lanka Ltd., for all the them at 2636351. from the chief guest, country manager, international medals,” said Sumith assistance and the sponsorship extended to us Entries close today (25) Johnson Diversy, Rohantha Athukorala. Guruge, the president of the Sri Lanka Badminton Association at the official launch of the project at the National Institute of Sports Science, last Monday. The youngsters have been selected D. K. Seth, MD/Chairman of Yonex is seen based on their performances at the last delivering his speech at the official launch two Junior National Championships of the training project at the National and the make up of the pool for the next Institute of Sports Science. four years will change according to the performance of the players. The players (Pic by Nihal Chandrakumara) who are dropped after the first leg of Junior champion by the year 2009. “Our the programme will have an opportuni- hope is that one of these trainees wins ty to re-enter the pool based on their the Junior Asian Championship title by performance at the forthcoming Junior the year 2009,” said Oliver Guruge, vice Nationals. president, SLBA. The majority of the selected players Meanwhile D. K. Seth, the are from Colombo and the organisers of MD/Chairman of Yonex, explaining his the project have set up two training cen- interests of venturing into Sri Lanka tres in Colombo. The rest will be trained badminton, said that he was impressed at Panadura, Ambalangoda, Galle and with the young talents found around the The 5th AFC ‘B’ Certificate Coaching Course 2006 Education and Coaching programme is being conducted at the National Football Training Kandy. country. Incidentally, he has extended Centre, Baddegana, Pitakotte. It ends on May 28. The following are the participants and the leagues they represent. K. A. P. Sarathsiri (Sri Meanwhile, two players selected his generosity, by offering a two week Jayawardenapura/Kotte, B. T. Farook (Wattala), G. H. Wickremapala (Hatton), M. R. M. Jusmin (Mannar), K. Rohan Wickremaratne from the Kurunegala district will training stint in Malaysia to two young- (Playgrounds), S. G. Jayawardena (Playgrounds), J. G. G. Wickremasinghe (Balangoda), N. S. M. H. Roomy (SL Air Force), L. Anurakhanthan receive their training at the Kurunegala (Point–Pedro), B. Mukunthan (Point-Pedro), Sunil Shantha (Dehiwala/Mt. Lavinia), A. M. M. Nazir (Colombo), Ananda Peiris (Youth Co-ordinator, District Training Centre. sters who excelled at the recently con- Sri Jayawardenapura/Kotte), Nimal Wijesekera (Youth Co-ordinator, Badulla), M. L. Aboothahir (Ampara), J. A. Lalith Jayawardena (Kegalle), S. The project, which costs over Rs. 2.5 cluded badminton tournament in A. Wahid (Kegalle), and S. A. G. Nimal De Silva (Trincomalee). million is aimed at producing the Asian Matara.

LETTER Matters to ponder before the Edgbaston Test... One feels there are three selec- wasn't the done. row). ting. That probably explains why be ideal. spring or not, Malinga Bandara tion issues to be sorted out Issue No: 2 Let us not forget that he plays he has a very limited array of The only other problem is the doesn't seem to be a bad proposi- before the Edbagston Test: Kapugedara: He got a barrage his best cricket on flat SL tracks. shots. tussle tion at all either. (1) Who will partner of short balls at Lords, and so did There's a huge gulf between his Issue No: 3 between Zoysa and Malinga But there's an element of risk Tharanga as opener? Maharoof and Kulasekara (con- SL record and Int'l record. Once We must guard ourselves Bandara. Kulasekara is omitted; involved. Not due to the unpre- (2) Kapugedara or Thilan? (in sidered tailenders by the Poms, Rameez Raja mentioned that SL from making the same mistake at his slow medium pace, he's dictability of the pitch but from a batting lineup of six batters) while Kapu was a debutant). can never expect Thilan to play a that was made after the going to be loved by Test bats- two batters, namely Kevin (3) Whether to play leggie MB The English ploy is to soften sort of match winning innings Worcester game, in terms of men, (a handy ODI bowler Pietersen (KP) and Andrew or Zoyza (bowling attack consist- up the non-established batsmen and he's yet to be proven wrong. reading too much into practice though). Flintoff (Freddie). KP in particu- ing of five bowlers, including with short-pitched bowling (and Thilan does occupy the crease games. The pitch at Edbagston is With the Edbagston pitch lar, as Botham quite rightly said, Maharoof) make them get on the back foot), (but as of late, hasn't been doing most likely going to be different notoriously famous to be fast and bats as if he has just landed from Issue No: 1 to be followed by a good length even that), but in the process put from the Hove pitch (Sussex) and bouncy and in the same league another planet and is as such Don't be surprised if and take the . undue pressure on his partner this time it's not going to be a sec- as Kensington Oval unaware of the bowler’s reputa- Jayasuriya plays. For the Lords Kapu seems to be dropping by not rotating the strike. It was ond XI side on a flat track. (Bridgetown) in the West Indies, tion. Test the tour management gave his head when playing the short noticeable when playing the ris- Bowlers Vaasy, Lasith Newlands (Cape Town) in South KP made 71 off 76 deliveries, the impression that Vandort and pitched delivery and missing out ing ball (last Lord's Test,) he Malinga and Murali are obvious, Africa and WACA (Perth), it while Freddie made 68 off 62 and Tharanga were to open, but it on his timing in the process doesn't get on top of the ball and due to their superior Test bowl- might be a safe bet to bowl Zoysa, 73 off 86 in both innings (last was Mubarak, instead of (commentator's observation). with a half committed shot, ing strike rates and Lasith's awk- who could use his height. Edbagston Ashes), and one of Vandort. Don't be mystified fur- But he's still 19 and has so many often goes to the keeper or the ward trajectory and raw pace. Having said that and looking the biggest victims was Shane ther if it's Jayasuriya and years ahead of him, thus, valu- slips. Add to that, during last Not playing Lasith would be a at the last Ashes clash at Warne. This kind of quick fire Mubarak at Edbagston. able time to learn. The most com- Pakistan series, he failed to read cardinal mistake, and no doubt Edbagston, one wonders innings can change the game on Despite the unprofessional mendable thing with Kapu is his the seam movement of the ball. will be to the liking of English whether the Edbagston pitch is its head. way Jayasuriya the issue was deep hunger to play for SL and to He made a fool of himself, lifting batters, their wives and moms. changing its complexion slowly? Add to that, Edbagston has handled, now that he's in succeed. Something that was evi- the bat and letting the ball go He's a bowler most effective in This was queried by Ian Botham. short boundaries. No wonder so England, the fans should grant dent in Aravinda, during his right into the stumps(not to the short bursts (4overs), and giving During the last Ashes clash at many boundaries were hit. him some respite. However, early days. keeper, as thought by him). him a license to kill (not literary, Edbagston Warne took 10 wkts, Can MB keep his cool when Jayasuriya should not be an On the other hand Tilan; Both Kapu and Thilan have please!) would not only be great while Giles took 5(not a bad being hit and still take wickets automatic choice, and if he's in maybe a nice bloke, a team man, weaknesses, but go with the on TV, but also help Vaasy and effort for a not so celebrated like Warnie did? Or is Zoyza a the planning then the team man- etc. However, with his batting, youngster for his promise. After Murali to pick wickets from the spinner). safe bet, who can use his height agement should've played him in he's a sort of here nor there bats- all, Thilan was brought initially other end.With better batting Make conclusions at your own on a bouncy Edbagston pitch? the Sussex game and made to man. He appeared during the as an off-spinner who can bat, and to ensure the combination of peril, as these things can change! compete with Vandort. It just SL's short renaissance in Test indicating his main strength six batsmen and five bowlers, However, just reading the score- Hiran N.P Liyanage, defies cricketing sense, why this cricket (winning nine Tests in a from early days was not his bat- having Maharoof at No.7 would card of the last Test, be it early New York, NY.