Tuesday 19th February, 2008 15 Revisiting Adelaide 1999 Munchee National VB Championship Jaffna champs Abragaal Arjuna takes on Ross Emerson YC and KKS doubtful Rex Clementine reporting from Adelaide for National stage he world looked stunned and saw the events unfold at the by Reemus Fernando the National Championship. “I TAdelaide Oval on 23rd of can’t remember a team from January 1999. For young and old The lack of finances and Jaffna taking part in any Sri Lankan cricket fans, this was fearing a possible LTTE attack National tournament after D-Day. may hinder the Northern 1946, and this is something They had put up for years with champions and runners-up par- great. We were seldom invited the crap the Australian players, ticipating in the National stage for such tournaments, earlier. officials and umpires had been matches of the Munchee It is a good thing that the unfairly giving them and Arjuna National Volleyball teams from Jaffna too get Ranatunga took the Australian Championship. chances to play in National establishment head-on, putting his The Northern Province tournaments,” he added. career in danger. final of the National Volleyball When asked whether they Today, as the Sri Lankans play Championship was played at have requested support from their fifth ODI of the Malagam Club Ground on the Sri Lanka Volleyball Commonwealth Bank Series Sunday, where Abragaal Youth Federation, Gunasingham against India, we look back at the Club beat KKS Team 3-0 in doubted the SLVF’s ability to events that unfolded on that day Adelaide, Australia, Feb. 18, 2008: Sri Lanka spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan inspects the Adelaide wicket a straight three sets to win the provide assistance. “I don’t where a spirited effort from the day prior to the Australia vs Sri Lanka ODI. (AP PHOTO) Northern Championship. think the federation can afford Sri Lankans saw them successfully Despite being the first to provide such a big amount chasing a stiff target, under lights. players from crossing the bound- teams to take part in a of money.” Muralitharan had been called ary rope and instead went to the National Volleyball In mid 2007, several Jaffna in his only previous tour to dressing room and spoke with Championship after nearly five teams --especially athletes -- Australia four years ago by three team manager Ranjit Fernando decades, the champions and visited Colombo via different umpires and Ross and coach Roy Dias. runners-up, making it to Government Security Forces Emerson was one of them. But in Sanath Jayasuriya, who was Colombo for the Final Stage aided transportation for 1998-1999, when the Sri Lankans the vice-captain in that game, in matches, to be worked off from National sports events. “The toured Australia, apparently, they his column that he wrote for ‘The March 15 to 23 at the players fear that they could had been given a verbal guarantee Island’ last year rememberes the Sugathadasa Stadium are become LTTE targets. They that there would be no unsavoury incident vividly. doubtful. fear that they could be hit by incidents. “I was standing at mid-on or “Our efforts to find a spon- the LTTE while using trans- In fact, the Australian Cricket mid-off and when Emerson called sor to bear the burden of our port provided by government Board even removed controversial Murali for throwing, Arjuna bowled six more overs and there Wickramasinghe, appeared to teams expenses have proved forces,” said Gunasingham. umpire Darrel Hair from its asked Murali to stop bowling was no more no-balling. But have obstructed Darren Gough futile so far. And we are doubt- Asked what chances the panel of umpires for and said we were there were further arguments as in attempting a quick single and ful about our ability to take Jaffna teams have of taking that Carlton & leaving. It was Ranatunga insisted that the bowler almost did a part in the National stage, said part in the National stage United a great act Emerson should stand closer to Zinadene Zidane, but stopped Captain Gunasingham (Rtd), matches, Gunasingham said, “I Series, on his the stumps. short with a feigned head butt. President of the Jaffna District don’t think that we have any fol- part The controversy overshad- At the end of the over, wicket- Volleyball Association on realistic chance of making it low- to owed two brilliant hundreds, keeper and captain Alec Stewart Monday. to Colombo.” Graeme Hick’s 126* and Mahela barged into Mahanama. “We need at least Rs. The Provincial Stage Jayawardene’s 120. Stewart was having a go at 400,000 for the teams to travel matches of the National After the incident, Emerson Ranatunga and the stump to Colombo. We have appealed Volleyball Championship were seemed to have been distracted microphone picked him up say- for assistance from a number concluded in Sabaragamuwa, and allowed a seven ball over. ing, ‘your behaviour today has of organizations, but nothing Eastern, Northern and Central The umpire was criticized for been appalling for a country concrete has materialized so Provinces on Sunday. calling Muralitharan, despite the captain.’ far,” said Gunasingham. The other five provinces, ICC clearing him. Channel Nine This was also the game Just a few days ago, Western, North Central, was providing the coverage and where Ranatunga became the Gunasingham hailed the Southern, North Western and Sir Ian Botham was on air and most experienced ODI captain Volleyball Federation’s gesture Uva will conduct their finals took on the Australian umpire. surpassing Alan Border’s record of inviting Northern teams for over the coming weekend. “This bloke has taken over 200 of 178 appearances for wickets and I can’t understand Australia. the big fuss. Heard about whing- Jayawardene’s hundred was ing ing Poms, but now I see a whing- the platform for the Sri Lokuge lauds a back ing Aussie,” he said. Lankans and there were other breach Murali, Another former England cap- useful contributions from of Code of no matter tain Tony Greig, who was also Jayasuriya, who made 51 in just SL Turf Club Conduct in what the out- in the commentary panel, stood 36 balls, and Ranatunga, who writing his book come was. Murali up for the Sri Lankans. made 41. Upul Chandana and ‘The Decision Maker.’ The Adelaide Oval (FILES) had been cleared by Then during the run chase, Mahanama, who made 25 in 18 The series went the ICC and it was there were more incidents. This and 13 in 11 respectively, also on without any inci- only in Australia time between the players of the chipped in with timely efforts. dent until the Sri Lankans arrived that he had problems. Having cap- two sides and the ill-feelings Murali, however, had the last at the Adelaide Oval for their day- tained Sri Lanka for sometime, I remained for a few years. laugh, when he hit the winning night encounter against England. am glad I wasn’t put into a tough Roshan Mahanama, who was runs as Sri Lanka got home Ahead of the game, they suf- situation like that. Arjuna was told to bat at number nine with two balls and a wicket to fered severe blow when their key simply outstanding. The way ahead of Murali and Pramodaya spare. batsman Aravinda de Silva was Arjuna handled the matter sent a ruled out with a thigh injury and clear message to everyone that he was replaced by rookie Mahela there’s no messing around with Jayawardene. him…. He backed Murali putting Muralitharan was introduced his own future in danger and hats Minister Lokuge and ministry officials are seen with in the 17th over of the England off with him,” Jayasuriya wrote. Dhammika Attygalle (President, N’Eliya Turf Club), Rajah innings and three balls passed Phone calls were made to Sri Sinnathuray (Secretary), Rajan Sellamuttu (Chairman Board without any incident and when Lanka to find out what exactly of Stewards), Gamini Jayaratne (Treasurer), Devinda Murali delivered the fourth ball, needed to be done and the team Senanayake (Steward) and D. Sirimevan Senanayake umpire Emerson, at square leg was asked to go on. The Sri (Steward). shouted ‘no ball’ and indicated Lankans were later joined by that he had called the Sri Lankan Match Referee Peter van der On an official invitation by the Sri areas. for throwing. Merwe of South Africa and at Lanka Turf Club, Minister of Sports, Lokuge praised the Sri Lanka Turf And then followed one of the that point, Ranatunga showed his Gamini Lokuge, Permanent Secretary, Club and said he was impressed at the most significant moments in Sri displeasure at what was going on. Liyanagama and Sports Ministry offi- work done by them and for organising Lankan cricket history. Play was held up for 14 min- cials visited the Nuwara Eliya Race horse races in Nuwara Eliya. Ranatunga held up play, sum- utes and the question that every- course recently and met Dhammika A discussion followed at the office moned the square leg umpire and one asked was why Emerson did- Attygalle (President), Rajah Sinnathuray of the Mayor of Nuwara Eliya, confronted him and indicated that n’t call the first three balls. If the (Secretary), Rajan Sellamuttu Chandanalal Karunaratne, where sever- he was leaving the field. first delivery was good enough, (Chairman Board of Stewards), Gamini al points were discussed. Thereafter, a He later approached the two then what was the issue with the Jayaratne (Treasurer), Devinda meeting was also held at the race Sri Lanka's captain Arjuna Ranatunga (center) indicates to Match Referee Peter batsmen, Nick Knight and fourth ball? Senanayake (Steward) and D.