Sports Letters

Changing the face of cricket

The changes in our system of cricket engagement needs amendments and break away from existing practise to retain on a new system.

Beginning from school cricket by doing away with games of two days or more and in lieu play one day games with 30 yards cricket and the next game without 30 yards rule, for enjoyment and convenience of all concerned.

This if adopted will bring in more interest and keener competition amongst school, and help the authorities to earmark those suitable for higher training.

The Division II games converted to one-day matches. The Division I for two -days and one inning for both teams.

The Test matches will be confined to one innings per team on all home games. To carry out a program of this nature for the first year and make correction when necessary. Let those who play cricket from behind the boundary lines, may be relieved from now on.
C.V. Rupesingha, Galle.

Another Murali?

According to the sports news read by me in the local newspapers, somewhere in the middle part of last year (2004), it was understood, that the officials of the Kandy District Cricket Association appeared to have found a talented, promising, young off-spinner [who is just like (a similarity) of our national champion, ace, off-spin wizard - Muralitharan (Murali) - (incidentally, he too hails from Kandy district)] - Sameera Ranatunga aged about 18 years today, student of Dharmaraja Central College, Kandy, and formerly, the real product of A. Ratnayake Central College, Walala (Kandy district), where he excelled and played in under-13, 15, 17 and 19 levels, and later played for the Kandy Youth cricket team, as well.

I wonder whether the SLC had taken any more, regarding the position of this youth. In my humble opinion, I do feel, that the time is almost getting ripe now or rather, it's high time for us (the country), to find a suitable or proper replacement, to our great match winning off-spin bowler of the national cricket Test and ODI team.

Surely I think Sameera Ranatunga will certainly be an ideal candidate or cricketer (off-spinner), to replace Murali (to fit in) in time to come.

This lad has all the talented qualities, discipline and perseverance, deserves the support, help and encouragement, by the SLC. It's fair and right to say here that he should be 'ear-marked', by the SLC, and extend all the necessary arrangements to bring him down to Colombo, and provide him all the needed facilities, comfort and the proper coaching (or training), in order to be a fully-fledged off-spinner to just walk-in proudly to the national cricket team (in stages), in place of Murali's absence in the near future (that is pretty obviously anticipated by all of us).

Let the higher authorities concerned do the very needful to this special find - a young, talented, off-spinner of good hope for our country.

S. T. Arasu, Dehiwela.

Lankan wicket-keepers

The following are some of the wicket-keepers/batsmen who had done yeomen service to the country.

1. Ben Navaratne playing for CCA team in 1947, the first official Ceylon Cricket Association team to be sent abroad after the war - captained by B.R. Heyn.

2. Brigadier (later) Dr. H.I.K. Fernando was a fine keeper (perhaps the best so far produced by Sri Lanka) led an under-25 team designated young Ceylon to tour Malaysia in 1957 and later as Test wicket-keeper for Sri Lanka.

3. E. Ranjith Fernando, present veteran versatile commentator was wicket-keeper of Sri Lanka team in 1974 tour of Pakistan, led by Anura P.B. Tennekoone.

4. Hashan Tilakaratna kept wickets on and off in matches.

5. Rumesh S. Kaluwitharana who had a long spell and in he World Cup winning team led by Arjuna Ranatunga, retired from Test cricket recently.

6. The present wicket-keeper, who is described as a fine upcoming wicket-keeper - batsman - a product of Trinity College, Kandy.

Wicket keeping is an arduous job, who has to be in the field bending low and straightening for every ball and for a number of days, and then bat. Normally wicket-keepers are sent as opening batsmen, because they have got the eye-in having been in the field for a long time. and vice - versa as wicket-keeper after batting, who had seen the ball well.

These are the wicket-keeper gentlemen who have done yeomen service for Sri lanka as wicket-keepers and they are an example to the young up-coming generation to emulate.

I have referred to S.S. Perera's "Book on Cricket", which incidentally, I won correctly forecasting Murali's 500th wicket (Victim Kosporowick of Australia) in the competition that has held in the Test with Australia.

I also must mention that one of the best schoolboy wicket-keeper opening batsmen I have seen is (Sam) Samaraweera captain of St. Servasius, Matara in the forties, who later excelled as a wicket-keeper opening batsman for Matara Sports Club.

V.K.B. Ramanayake, Maharagama.