Tuesday 29th March 2011 15 country’s next generation of ath- determined to play in Tuesday’s near the northern town of letes. semifinal against New Zealand in Mankulam, ravaged by the war Who else but Murali, as Colombo and then possibly the that ended in 2009. Shaun Tait he’s known to the whole final in Mumbai. The land dedicated to the new country, could persuade Muralitharan took 800 test center first has to be cleared of the Sri Lankan presi- wickets and carried on a rivalry explosives, Murali said. Botham dent to donate a 50-acre with Australian spinner Shane said it was “mind-blowing” to see retires from parcel of land in the Warne for several years over who the extent of devastation left northern region that was the better bowler, before the behind in northern Sri Lanka. has been devastated by Sri Lankan retired from the five- High-profile cricketers like ODIs 20 years of civil war. day format last year. Botham, ex-England captain But Murali hasn’t Muralitharan outlasted Michael Vaughan and Australians SYDNEY (AP) - ending injuries.” given up on cricket yet. Warne, but both men now cooper- Steve Waugh and Warne have been Australia fast bowler Shaun Tait said Australia’s 2007 He’s hoping for two ate on development projects. Now major contributors to the project, Tait has retired from one- World Cup victory was the more games in the next only a maximum of two ODIs which has seen one center already day cricket, hoping to pro- stand-out memory of his few days to bring the remain to cap his career. built in the south of the country long his career in Twenty20 career. World Cup home. But the disasters that have that was ruined by the tsunami. internationals. “Being a member of a “We have a good struck Sri Lanka -civil war and Sri Lanka captain Kumar The 28-year-old Tait, who team containing so many team with good ability but then a tsunami that killed more Sangakkara, also a supporter of no longer plays first class legends of the game was a we’re also going to need than 30,000 people in 2004 - have the charity, said Muralitharan had cricket, announced his deci- true highlight of my cricket- some luck,” Murali said thrust Murali to the forefront of been an advocate of ethnic harmo- sion Monday, saying the toll ing career, while any match after a day spent touring the global efforts to raise money to lift ny in a country often divided of playing both limited over a person plays for his coun- project. Sri Lankans out of poverty - and between Tamils and the majority forms placed too much try or state is truly an hon- Murali got up cricket is often the best currency ethnic Sinhalese people. Murali is strain on his body and he our not to be taken lightly,” early for the heli- to use. a Tamil. didn’t want to be forced into he said. copter trip from “Cricket is the most important “Cricket is a social panacea in retirement by injury. Cricket Australia’s Colombo a few game in this part of the world,” he Sri Lanka and Murali is an icon, Tait played 35 one day General Manager Cricket, Muralitharan hours after help- told a news conference Sunday not just as a cricketer but as an internationals for Australia, Michael Brown, said Tait advocate of racial harmo- taking 62 wickets at an aver- had been an important con- ny,” Sangakkara said. age of 23.56. tributor for the national The center already He said concentrating on team. built in the south of Sri Twenty20 cricket allowed “Bowling at Lanka had become “a him to “manage my body to the speeds he vibrant hub,” Sangakkara a level where I feel I can con- generates places said. tinue to contribute to the an unusual Sri Lankan govern- game for some time yet. strain on his ment forces, dominat- Tait took 11 wickets in body and Cricket ed by the Sinhalese, seven matches before Australia respects are suspected of Australia’s quarterfinal exit the decision he shelling that killed at the current World Cup makes thousands of minori- in India, Bangladesh today,” ty Tamil civilians, and Sri Lanka. Brown and the Tamil rebels BY SIMON HAYDEN “My goal was said. ing Sri Lanka beat England and held to announce a $5 million are suspected of to hopefully help qualify for the World Cup semifi- project to build a new school as using civilians as COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - Australia retain As his cricketing career winds nal. well as a “Learning and human shields. With his 39th birthday coming Empowerment Institute,” Amnesty the ICC Cricket down, Sri Lanka’s superstar World Cup. Muttiah Muralitharan, the man up next month, Muralitharan is which will include sport. International says counting down the days to his On Sunday, Murali was between 7,000 and However, with who can spin a cricket ball like our involve- magic, is turning his sights on retirement from all cricket, which accompanied by his friend and 40,000 are estimated will happen at the end of Sri former cricketing foe Sir Ian to have died in the ment now fin- dragging war-shattered youngsters ished I feel it is out of poverty and nurturing the Lanka’s World Cup campaign. Botham, who has joined the final five months of Struggling for fitness, he is project, for a tour over the land the conflict. the perfect time to move on in a new SYDNEY (AP) - Ricky Ponting had decided the time of his own with Cricket Australia’s a run of 34-unbeaten direction,” is still defying calls for him to retirement. thoughts at the front of my World Cup matches Tait said in a retire as Australia captain, saying “I’ll know the right time that mind. It’s always been about put- for the Aussies. statement. on his return from a World Cup it’s time for me to not be playing ting the team before me. Ponting has “This is Shaun Tait quarterfinal exit that he’s think- any more and I haven’t found that “The direction of my thoughts been one of not a decision ing more of a “Tendulkar-sort time just yet,” Ponting said. will be along those lines the next Australia’s most I have taken rebirth.” Ponting strongly hinted on his couple of days.” successful cap- lightly but I believe it is one Demands for Ponting’s resig- arrival at Sydney Airport on Ponting has won three World tains, but that will help me to prolong nation were louder before his grit- Sunday that his is considering Cups, and was captain recently his my cricketing career ty hundred in the quarterfinal loss his future. He appeared to in the last two win- record has through the many Twenty20 to Tendulkar’s Indian squad, acknowledge that a ning campaigns been slipping - avenues avail- which still ensured Australia’s planned review by Cricket when Australia three Ashes able. worst World Cup run in two Australia of the didn’t drop a series defeats in “In reality, decades but salvaged his own Australian team’s recent game. Back-to- four series has playing all year career. loss of form might take back losses to proved costly to his round for Now the 36-year-old Ponting the decision from him Pakistan and popularity in Australia and says he’s hopeful of a late-career and recommend his India within six Australia. Now revival. removal as captain. days ended Australia will drop South Australia “I guess with even making “Even though we’re off its perch in ODI is not allowing some runs in this last game that out early, it’s nice to be cricket, too. my body to Ponting’s statistics stand up as I as a batsman remain would like and I impressive - he has do not want to Ponting looking 13,288 runs in 359 ODIs be forced into dating back to 1995, retirement although his 104 against through career- to Tendulkar for India at Ahmedabad last week was his first century in 13 months. He also has 12,363 runs in test cricket, with 39 hun- inspiration dreds. In terms of centuries and runs scored in international crick- I’ve played and getting that really home and I’ll have the et he’s second only to Indian great good feeling back about my batting opportunity over the next Tendulkar, who is aiming for his again, hopefully it might be a bit couple of days to reflect on 100th international century when of a kickstart for a Tendulkar-sort where things are headed for me India plays Pakistan in the semifi- rebirth, if you like,” Ponting said. and certainly what direction I nals on Wednesday. After admitting his nine year feel things are heading for the Tendulkar, who will turn 38 reign as Australian captain could betterment of Australian crick- next month, has more than 18,000 end if the Australian selectors felt et,” Ponting said. “Every deci- runs in ODIs and 14,692 in tests in it was time to go, Ponting said he sion I’ve ever made was always Ricky Ponting a career that dates back to 1989. BY RAVI NAGAHAWATTE these people might not put the and 208 out of them play bad- Ratnasiri, Upuli Samanthika and T. sport on top of their list of priori- minton. There is a lot of enthusi- Jayasinghe. These players will get Sri Lanka Badminton ties due to personal agendas they asm for the sport here, but the to contest in 13 international tour- Association (SLBA) President have to fulfil,” Gunawardena said.