14 Monday 7th September, 2009

Hiccups, but good police work cleans up Premadasa problems... Triangular series poses problems for selectors Inspector General of Police Nimal lurking in the shadows. Abhishek Nayar or Mediwaka. It was Senior Deputy IGP Even back in January Ross Taylor. And why Mediwaka who, when he addressed and February, when Farveez Maharoof is the media last Monday explained how India paid a courtesy being kept out of the security would be handled and how tour, the Mendis myth side smacks of certain no one without a valid pass (and his was already in danger: politics. family) would be allowed into the compare 13 at As part of the build venue. 12.38 a year ago to the up to the Champions Reports suggest instructions three for 51.66 back in Trophy, the triangular issued by Senior Deputy IGP February, quite a major gives three sides a Mediwaka were ignored to eject any- difference. chance to look at the have now been effectively shut out one without a valid pass, or match There is also a season ahead with Sri through the use of a resourceful bar- ticket. This is not in keeping with the chance that Lanka touring India rier system which is well away from Senior Deputy IGP’s assurance to the Muralitharan may not later in the year, facing the gates. They are the disreputable media a week ago, to stop police offi- play in the triangular challenges to improve types who in the past have routinely cers from exploiting their uniforms series. He was rested for their 50/ 50 ranking of hijacked their seats through cunning to gain entry. Such cruds as this cop the T20 games against by Trevor seven. India are cur- and bribes in the stand next to the are the rouge elements that dishon- New Zealand and there Chesterfield rently two and a points print and radio media centre. our their uniform and teach family is concern the groin behind South Africa. It is why there were so many members how they too are above the problem recurring in the triangular, Sri Lanka, at seven, are six, ranking empty gaps in the lower tier of the law. which means there could be no points and two positions behind stands during the two T20s with the If you check your standard Oxford Sachin Tendulkar/Muralitharan duel New Zealand, who continue to sur- Kiwis and shows just how much SLC English Dictionary, a crud is some- under lights. It will also weaken the prise as a one-day side. Although not have been defrauded through such thing (or someone) loathsome, despi- Sri Lanka side and place pressure on part of the future tours programme, disreputable tactics by the many who cable or worthless. This aptly their other bowlers, although the the triangular will at least create the turned up to deny those with tickets describes such a cop who invades the impressive Nuwan Kalusekara does early planning stages that Mahendra entry to let those who have paid media centre and creates problems head the ODI rankings. Singh Dhoni and Gary Kirsten are bribes. Those who have allowed this when it comes to regulating security. Anyway, watching Daniel Vettori, hoping to establish as they eye And to pretend that the problem does- number two in the ODI rankings, South Africa’s position at the top. n’t exist is not going to make it go bowling to Rahul Dravid, or Yuvraj With Sanath Jayasuriya failing away. Singh facing the Kiwi skipper is far again against the New Zealanders Honest regulation of security is more enticing fare than say for Sri Lanka ‘A’ in a practice game one thing, allowing it to be breached Tillekeratne Dilshan shaping to play at the Sinhalese Sports Club, the by such people is another issue and the controversial Harbhajan Singh, burning questions of how much with Indian journalists in town, they should Dilshan still be batting when longer he can be retained in the side will not tolerate their media space Bhajji is brought into the attack. are not new. Frankly, remembering being invaded by such iniquitous Vettori proved the point when the style and exuberance of the man types. There are said to be thirty- playing in the two T20s at who changed the face of the way the eight Indian writers, radio and TV Premadasa Stadium. In the first ODI game is played and earned the stations who will descend on game, the Kiwis were initially out- metaphor ‘Matara Mauler’, to the Colombo today. Along with the small gunned, but the deep-thinking shadow he is now, is not helping him Kiwi contingent, no one wants a cop Vettori exposed more cracks in the or the team. without a valid pass invading the Sri Lanka batting edifice than fis- He gives the impression of trying media centre or stealing seats from sures in any earthquake zone. No too hard and with it becoming nerv- Sanath Jayasuriya those who have paid for them. one scores 3000 runs and takes 300 ous about his stroke play. This was As for the Premadasa Stadium, it wickets at Test level unless they are shown up against the Kiwis and the is argued these days how winning the a special player, lustre that he brought with him is t is amazing what a little criticism toss at Premadasa Stadium, and bat- and his wiles slowly fading through each failure. and with it, smart thinking and to happen need to be held account- ting first in a 50/50 were far too On another note, there is sad Ico-operation as well as good for- able, while it also shows just how overs game auto- much for the sus- news out of South Africa. This past ward planning can do. effective a system can be in keeping matically earns The Chesterfield pectFiles middle-order. week came the death of an old asso- A week ago, Colombo’s senior out such undesirables. you the winner’s Sri Lanka’s decision to experi- ciate and enjoyable personality, police chiefs told the media at Sri Those caught need to be jailed for cheque from the sponsor. ment with their middle-order in the Hylton Ackerman; a left-handed Lanka headquarters how a week without bail as well as being Which means that all Mahendra series against Pakistan has left them batsman whose footwork and bal- they planned to end the all too often fined a lakh, to teach them a lesson Singh Dhoni, or Daniel Vettori needs as vulnerable as an eggshell against anced skill as a batsman in his day chaotic entry by spectators at the for their dishonesty, and have their to do is keep calling correctly when a well-aimed hammer. Kumar was as remarkable as his devotion to Premadasa Stadium. Thankfully, two photo also published in the daily the triangular series starts tomorrow, Sangakkara feels the policy will the youth of South Africa as he was 20/20 internationals have passed off newspapers as well as banned from and where the longer version of the have longer-term benefits, such as at given the task of handling Cricket between New Zealand and Sri Lanka future entry to the venue. limited-overs games goes on trial the next World Cup. South Africa’s academy in the 1990s without too many problems. No one can doubt the sincerity of again. It is also, where personal They are continuing such a poli- and into the new century. His per- This means how the police, and those who presented the traffic plan duels/battles will assume a far more cy for the triangular series, ceptive commentary on TV was one security have performed as promised at SLC headquarters a week ago as important a role than the frenetic, if although the middle-order in their of the pleasures of listening to and the public have gained access to they put forward a transparent plan sterile, T20 bash. T20 squad against New Zealand was someone who knew the game and the island’s main day-night venue and did what they could to explain For India, there is again the ques- short of experience; someone such cared for the future of the players without too much fuss. Now the acid their own difficulties. Understand, tion of whether Ajantha Mendis is as Gihan Rupasinghe was as much he coached. test arrives tomorrow, Yahaluweni, Sri Lanka is not the only country still a mystery or a myth. Gautam out of his depth as Thilina The father of the Test batsman when Sri Lanka meet New Zealand in where there are rouge elements in Gambhir confidently says they have Kandamby and Chamara HD Ackerman, who twice toured Sri the first of the four limited overs tri- the police and those who give honest sorted him out. We will need to wait Kapugedara. They were woefully Lanka with the Under-24 (1995) and angular games in the Compaq Series. law enforcement a poor image that on that one until Friday when India exposed and India’s bowlers will ‘A’ team (1998), Hylton toured the While those shambolic events of reflects on the remainder. play back to back games. have a lot of fun with the Sri Lanka island back in the 1970s with a the horrors of August 12, when the This includes types of who it is The Pakistani batsmen largely middle-order when they meet. The Dutch side and did some coaching as gates were closed and the ensuring reported took their family into a sec- reduced the Mendis effectiveness technical skills against the world’s well. What is sad is that he was only baton-charge on ticket-holders have tion of the media centre last Friday while Rangana Herath emerged to top bowlers will leave them wonder- 62 when he died and still with so become a fading memory, it is noticed night and refused to leave, despite become ’s heir ing what it needs to become a Yuvraj much to offer the game he loved. how those spectators without tickets complaints to the Senior Deputy apparent, with Malinga Bandara Singh, Suresh Raina and even a email:[email protected]

by Revata S. Silva Sri Lanka beat year. The previous committee ‘SLTA - Playing Section’ (a sep- Johnson smashes 43 for of the SLTA (which was in arate tennis club), for their Singapore, meet Hong It was strange to notice power before last May), has own convenience. The fact Australia in second ODI that the Sri Lanka Tennis agreed early this year to allo- only gives the impression that LONDON (AP) - Mitchell Nationals this year was to be cate the SLTA hard courts for this prestigious annual event, Kong on Wednesday Johnson smashed 43 from just SCOREBOARD temporarily halted at the SL the schools tournament,” clar- held for the 94th year, is just 23 balls to take Australia to 249 Australia innings Tennis Association hard ified Dayaratne. another club level competition for eight wickets in the second S. Watson c Wright b Bresnan 34 Sri Lanka under Chinese Taipei, courts on Sunday (Sep. 6), due that is run according to the one-day international against T. Paine c Morgan b Wright 26 20 rugby players Malaysia and to a sudden staging of all- whims and fancies of its par- England on Sunday. SL Tennis Nationals C. White c Prior b Bopara 42 started their defending champi- island inter-school tennis ticipants. Callum Ferguson followed M. Clarke c Prior b Wright 4 Olympus Capital ons South Korea tournament. 2009 Answering our queries, his man-of-the-match perform- C. Ferguson b Anderson 55 Asia Rugby Junior are contesting the All Open events at this Avantha Suranimala, the ance in Australia’s series-open- M. Hussey b Swann 8 Championships Championships’ year’s Nationals, the most sig- SLTA Tournament Referee of ing victory by top-scoring with J. Hopes lbw b Swann 11 campaign on a win- Cup competition. nificant and historic competi- the Nationals, said, the Entry a 58-ball 55 at Lord’s, while Is it really M. Johnson 43 ning note by beat- Sri Lanka finished tion of the calendar year, are Forms of this year’s Nationals Johnson came in at No. 8 and B. Lee c Shah b S’bottom 0 ing Singapore 65-0 third in the 2008 obstructed due to this schools mentioned that such change of helped the tourists add 80 from ‘Nationals’ N. Hauritz not out 10 in Hong Kong on edition of the competition held at the same surface could be possible the last 10 overs. Luke Wright and Graeme Extras: (8w, 8lb) 16 Saturday. Asian Youth venue for two days parallel to (according to Rule No.17) if TOTAL: (for eight wickets) 249 or yet Swann had each taken two The chief try Championships, the Nationals which is to go on any necessity arose. Overs: 50 wickets to slow the scoring scorer in the match beating Thailand in till Sep. 13, following its start “All open events are held Fall of : 1-62, 2-64, 3-73, after England won the toss and was Anupriya the third place play- on Aug. 29. another on hard courts any way. There 4-142, 5-155, 6-179, 7-201, 8- asked Australia to bat for a sec- Ethipola who off. Boshan Dayaratne, Gen. is no scarcity of hard courts at 208. ond straight game, but crossed the Japan has to Secretary, SLTA, told ‘The club the SLTA. But we shift some Did not bat: N. Bracken. Johnson’s blitz gave his side a Bowling: Anderson 9-0-57-1 Singapore line on win the 2010 Junior Island’ that they had earlier matches to clay (courts) total for his bowlers to defend. three occasions. Rugby World Cup made a request from the inter- event? because the senior players pre- (4w), Sidebottom 9-0-45-1 (1w), Sri Lanka, led Trophy to qualify school tournament organis- fer to play their matches on Bresnan 7-0-25-1 (1w), Wright by Niroshan for the 2011 Junior ers, the Education Ministry, clay (to play on hard surface),” Aussies slightly 10-0-52-2 (1w), Collingwood 4- Fernando will now Rugby World Cup. If for a date change of the Meanwhile, it was also Suranimala further added. ahead 0-19-0, Swann 8-0-31-2, meet Hong Kong on Japan fails in this schools tennis event, but reported that some of the But such a situation only England, needing 250 to Bopara 3-0-12-1. September 9 endeavor, it will received a response in the neg- Senior Age Group matches of gives the idea that the SL defeat Australia were 191 for Toss: England Umpires: T. Hill (NZ), I. Gould (Wednesday) and if have to compete ative only to create an unset- the on-going Tennis Nationals Tennis Nationals is yet anoth- the loss of seven wickets with (Eng) they win, the side against the best tling situation for some play- have been shifted to clay er mediocre competition, not a skipper Paul Collingwood at TV umpire: Nigel Long (Eng) will book a berth in teams from Asia ers who take part in both tour- courts and that the senior par- real ‘Nationals’ where the the crease on 43 and with him Match referee: R. Mahanama the final. Sri Lanka and earn a promo- naments. ticipants of Age Groups of organisers should have total was Graeme Swann on 12. (SL) along with tion to the Junior “The Nationals is any way Over 40, 45, 55, 65 and 70 opt to control of the proceedings, not Shane Watson had taken 2 Series : Australia lead series 1- Singapore, Hong Rugby World Cup. fixed in the tournament itiner- play on clay courts that belong its participants who are only for 20 while Johnson had fig- 0 Kong, Thailand, (RN) ary before the start of every to the adjoining club, the expected to follow the rules. ures of 2 for 50.