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Comment By Dr. Elmo Rodrigopulle

It is not wrong to feel and think that Cricket Australia has insulted Sri Lankan cricket. We say this after the CA has thought it fit to slate Sri Lanka's Two Tests next year in Darwin and Cairns.

True Darwin and Cairns are two new Test playing venues. But the fact is that these venues don't attract that much of a crowd and it is not wrong to think that the venues are in the woods. Why has Sri Lanka not been given the more popular Test venues? After all Sri Lanka are not new to Test cricket like the Bangladeshis nor are they in the basement of the game. Any team looks for support when playing at home or abroad. Sri Lanka has tremendous support when playing in Melbourne and Sydney. In these two venues, Sri Lankans flock in large numbers to cheer their countrymen. But who will be there in Darwin and Cairns to cheer and support the Lankans?

CA should have acted with more responsibility and slotted in the Two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney so as to allow their countrymen to be present and watch their heroes in action. By not doing this CA has not played fair by the cricketers, their supporters and the BCCSL. The BCCSL should not take these switching of venues on the bump as it were, but register their protest and force the Aussies to rethink and give us Melbourne and Sydney which are the more popular venues and which will have a lot of support for the cricketers.

Giving these venues to Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are okay. Sri lanka play the better and more attractive cricket and this must be recognised and appreciated by the Aussies who should do a rethink. The BCCSL headed by the dashing Thilanga Sumathipala should not rest till they get the Aussies to retract and slot us in better venues. The BCCSL must move in the matter immediately.

Magnificent Stephen Waugh

Sir Stephen Waugh. If his efforts in the game for Australia are accepted and recognised, then very soon he should be sporting the title. And if and when he is conferred this title it will be richly deserved.

With age catching up on him and when the selectors are toying with the idea of replacing him, Waugh hits back as if he is at war. His chances of playing in the Ashes Tests against England was in the balance.

The selectors were looking at a younger man. Finally they give him the nod and what he did in that series is history now. Then should Waugh go to the Caribbean? Again he cocks a snook at his detractors and leads and bats with distinction in the Caribbean.

The selectors then allowed him reign against Bangladesh. He grabs the opportunity, scores a century and joins Gary Kirsten of South Africa as the only two cricketers in the game to score tons against all other Test playing nations. And to add to his laurels, his side beats Bangladesh and he becomes the most successful ever Test captain. There is no doubt that Waugh is the second best Aussie cricketer to emerge after the great Sir Donald Bradman. Waugh's efforts demand that he be knighted.

Rugby commentators

Chandrishan Perera, Dr. Maiya Gunasekera and Ajit Abeyratne proved excellent commentators describing the Bradby encounter between Royal and S. Thomas at Bogambara on Saturday. In a game where the Colombo school fought back to win 13-11 after trailing 11-nil, the trio were on the ball as it were in describing to viewers the game plan the strategy, the outstanding players in each team with their superb playing background. They cut out the frills and described what was happening on the field much to the enjoyment of the viewers. Well done.

The Kandy stadium looked a beauty. Kudos for this must go to former ruggerite and President of the SLRFU Malik Samarawickrema. Not only has he done his bit for the stadium, but has helped Kandy rugby in a big way and the success they are achieving proves this.

Football House

The mention of 'Football House' makes some sports commentators go berserk, it seems. In our column last week we had spoken about the magnificent Football House and the main person behind it, Manilal Fernando. But this has stirred the ire of some critics who have gone on a tirade against us spewing out pure venom. One does not know if they have gone off the rocker, but at least one of them would have burst a blood vessel at the mention of Football House and Fernando. However what was the relevance of using a column in a respected daily newspaper to spew out personal animosities?

We would wonder whether the management knows that valuable space in its newspaper is being used to write crap. While on the subject a word of warning to those around him. Don't mention Football House and Manilal Fernando within his hearing. The man might burst an artery. What is unacceptable is that those who were nobodys and became somebodys thanks to Fernando's largesse who are the ones who are in the frontline of the attack.

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