Can Phelps better Spitz’s record? See page 14 Tuesday 22nd July, 2008 Dravid says Murali, Vaas and heat more dangerous than Mendis by Rex Clementine journalists at the SSC, the venue big issue. That’s a big factor that for the first Test. you have got to be aware of and “Sure, he is going to be one of you need to maintain your con- After all the euphoria about their four or five bowlers but you centration for long periods,” mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis can't just focus on Mendis. They Dravid said. leading up to the Test series have got a couple of other guys This time around, the Sri between Sri Lanka and India, vet- who have got 1000 wickets Lankan fans will see a full eran batsman Rahul Dravid between them. Murali is a big strength Indian side taking on spoke on the reality reminding impact in his own country while their team as India’s last cam- everyone that the bigger chal- Vaas is a clever bowler in these paign in Sri Lanka under Sourav lenge for the Indian batsmen dur- conditions,” Dravid only the Ganguly didn’t include V.V.S. ing their tour of Sri Lanka is sixth batsman to score 10,000 Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar as posed by off-spinner Muttiah runs said yesterday. both batsmen were injured. Hard Muralitharan, left-arm seamer Murali has claimed 67 victims hitting opener Virender Sehwag, Chaminda Vaas and Colombo’s in 15 Test Matches against India meanwhile, wasn’t a part of the scorching heat. at an average of 32:47 while Vaas Test squad at that time. Since his match winning per- has dismissed 42 Indian batsmen Present captain Anil Kumble formance in the Asia Cup final, in 11 Tests. Muralitharan is the also didn’t play the series due to the media attention has been on World Record holder in Tests injury. Sri Lanka won 2-1 and in Second Lieutenant Ajantha with 735 victims while Vaas is the same year went onto beat both Mendis, but Dravid spoke of the Indian batsman Rahul Dravid quenches his thirst during a practice session in Colombo on Tuesday seven wickets short of 350 vic- West Indies and Zimbabwe 3-0. real challenges facing the ahead of the first cricket Test against Sri Lanka. (AP) tims in Tests. “We haven't played here since tourists ahead of the first Test Dravid also said that the 2001. It’s great to come back here “I have been hitting well in the spend an hour or so, it tends to Board President’s XI. He was run that gets underway on Indians needed to cope with swel- and play Test cricket,” Dravid one nets. It's just going to be a ques- flow from there. The practice out backing up too far in the first Wednesday. tering heat in Colombo and Galle of the two batsmen along with tion of spending some time in the match went well for us. We are innings and in the second innings “Personally and as a team, we if his side is to win the series. Ganguly to play the 2001 series middle. If you spend some time in happy and prepared,” Dravid said. was bowled by left-arm spinner are not focusing only on Ajantha “Managing the heat is another said. the middle in these conditions, it Dravid made five and 26 in the Rangana Herath after missing a Mendis,” the 122 Test veteran told makes a big difference. Once you warm up game against Sri Lanka straight one. Names of Sidat and Sumithra discussed as alternatives Mendis named in Test squad Politics raises its ugly head with by Rex Clementine Sri Lanka’s selectors named just Hashan’s dumping as Manager three seamers in the 14 member squad by Rex Clementine Fernando have held positions at the for the first Test Match against India Only last week swimming great Board of Control for Cricket in Sri that starts on Wednesday at the SSC. Julian Boling slammed Sports Minister Lanka. Dissanayake’s contributions were Mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis was Gamini Lokuge for meddling in swim- also recently recognized by the Asian named in the squad and selection ming selections and this week he has Cricket Council. sources told ‘The Island’ that he will earned the wrath of cricket enthusiasts SLC sources said that when they met play the series opener partnering ace- for chopping former Test captain Hashan the former captain to negotiate his con- spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. Tillekeratne as the Manager of the tract, he had said that he didn’t expect a The source also said that the hosts national cricket team. As a result, lead- cent while functioning in the role and will play just two seamers in the first ing up to a crucial Test series, the Sri was more than happy to do the job in an Test and Thilina Tushara Mirando is Lankan team is left without a manager. honourary capacity. likely to partner left-arm seamer The Minister of Sports demanded SLC had yesterday sent the names of Chaminda Vaas. Tillekeratne be removed as the Manager the squad and officials for Ministry Fast bowelrs Ishara Amarasinghe of the national team citing his involve- approval for the first Test and at this and Chanaka Welagedara and left- point Lokuge had demanded the removal ment in politics, but when you look arm spinner Rangana Herath, who around, several sports bodies have got of Tillekeratne and nominate alternate were part of the Test squad for the politicians as their heads. names for the role. West Indies a few months earlier were While Central Province Chief ‘The Island’ learns that the names of the players left out. Minister Sarath Ekanayake is the Hashan Tillekeratne former Test batsman Sidat Wettimuny Chairman of Sri Lanka Basketball and former cricketer Sumithra Chamara Kapugedara, who was Ajantha Mendis Federation, Government Minister Dilan “I am not holding any positions in the Warnakulasuriya have been thought of not part of the squad for West Indies, Perera heads the Volleyball Federation of party. I am just an organizer and I am as replacements for Tillekeratne. was named in the side despite not keep wickets while occupying the Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka. Cricket too is sad that it has come to this. I was very It has also been felt in cricket circles coming up with any noteworthy con- number seven slot. headed by a Member of Parliament - excited to work with the team. I have that Lokuge’s interference in internal tributions in the drawn warm up Arjuna Ranatunga and it’s puzzling why played with most of these players and matters of the sport has been too much. game at the NCC. Sri Lanka Squad for first Test Hashan Tillekeratne’s position only has that makes communications easier,” His severe criticism on the previous Sources said that Tillekeratne Mahela Jayawardene ( Capt), come under fire. Tillekeratne told ‘The Island’ yesterday. administration of Sri Lanka Cricket for Dilshan will occupy the number six Kumar Sangakkara ( V.Capt), Michael “There have been individuals who Maybe, more than Tillekeratne’s not alerting him about the television position ahead of Chamara Silva, Van Dort, Malintha Warnapura, have held positions at the cricket board involvement in politics, its his associa- agreement they signed with Ten Sports who had a good outing during the Thilan Samaraweera, T.M.Dilshan, while being politicians and I can’t under- tion with the opposition that has put him too has irked some. warm-up game scoring two half-cen- Prasanna Jayawardene, Chaminda at loggerheads with the government. stand why only I am singled out,” he The Minister also came in for criti- added. turies. Vaas, M. Muralitharan, Nuwan And as it has happened so often, if he’s cism for requesting SLC to bear the cost Michael Van Dort and Malintha Kulasekera, Thilina Thushara Prominent politicians like J.R. of 600 cups of tea for a felicitation cere- willing to change colours, like Lokuge Warnapura will function as the open- Mirando, Ajantha Mendis, Chamara Jayawardene, Gamini Dissanayake, mony that was conducted to celebrate his and his 16 colleagues, the Manager’s post ers while Prasanna Jayawardene will Kapugedera and Chamara Silva. could become his again very soon. Lakshman Jayakody and Tyrone services as a politician. Late City Edition Published by Upali Newspapers Ltd, 223, Bloemendhal Road, Colombo 13. and Printed at 195/187, High Level Road, Homagama on Tuesday 22nd July, 2008.