A coach with a 'Made in Australia' tag a must
The
Interim Committee of Sri Lanka are in the woods hunting for a cricket
coach. Many apparently have been called, but none have been chosen,
Obviously there is a bit of uncertainty and the IC would prolong the
agony a bit more before settling in for the best man.
It is paramount that those appointed by the IC make a careful study
of the coaches that come before them before inking the final selection.
The coach that the committee that would finally settle for must above
all have the nod from the player's, and if not from all players, at
least from the players who matter in the team and above all from captain
Mahela Jayawardena, who is the best leader in the world. What is
important is that a haphazard selection is not made.
The coach we had former Australian allrounder Tom Moody fitted the
bill and did a wonderful job with the cricketers and in taking the
Lankans to the finals of World Cup 2007 in the Caribbean, reposed the
faith and obliged the committee that gave him the onerous job.
Obviously the Interim Committee would have bent backwards in their
attempt to keep Moody with us. But that he settled to fly away and coach
Western Australia who gave him to world cricket would have been
unstoppable.
Enough and more praises have been showered on Moody and the things he
did for the player and the game here and it is this writer's intention
to say a big thank you to Moody.
Moody brought with him a refreshing attitude to the game and the
player and what he did during his tenure is history now. One hopes that
the IC would settle for a coach of the likes of Moody.
It is not the duty or the right of this writer to tell the IC who
they should select for this high profile job. But when making the final
selection, one hopes that they will settle for one with an Australian
flavour.
We say this because made in Australia coaches have been the best.
Australian coaches are in big demand, although Chappell and Bennet King
failed to deliver.
That was not because of the fault of Chappell and King, but it was
because there were camps in the two teams and the coaches could not get
them to play as a team.
Aussie coaches before taking to the job are given a good grilling and
uppermost in that grilling is the win at all costs that is injected into
them.
And, today's context it is the winning that is most important with
the time honoured adage how you played the game being bowled out.
We hope that when the final selection is made it will be a Aussie
coach. Tom Moody would probably have sounded the IC whom to go for and
in the final reckoning a coach with the tag - Made in Australia - would
be what the doctor ordered.
Afro-Asia and Twenty 20 cricket
Accepted that the International Cricket Council must spread the
gospel of cricket and develop it where it matters. But in so doing they
must not make a mockery of the game and reduce its status and value.
It was nice indeed to read what Sri Lankan Captain Mahela Jayawardena
had to say about Twenty 20 cricket.
Although he did not say it, it is apparent that Jayawardena is not in
favour of the shortened version of the game. And if that is his
assertion he is quite right.
It is not cricket in the true sense of the word.
Then there is news that the big wigs are thinking of tinkering with
the format of the 50 over game. One hopes that is not true and that they
would allow the original format to remain.
The original format is chockful of interest and let it remain that
way. The Afro-Asia cricket tournament that was played out in India to
say the least was a joke. With Africa and Asia not fielding their best,
it was apparent that the players were not playing it with any
seriousness.
This was apparent the manner in which the players were dropping
catches and playing 'come or go Chicago' strokes and laughing it out,
much to joy of the players and to the annoyance of those watching the
comedy unfolding on Television.
The ICC should not have granted international status to this
tournament, once they realised that the best players were not available.
As for the ICC money is the thing and nothing else matters. What a
shame. Pity that ESPN showed that comedy and not the England-Windies
Test.
A great full back
It was indeed sad when it was announced that Joseph Fernando one of
the best full backs in soccer had passed away.
Fernando showed his prowess when the term full back was in vogue in
football, unlike today where a full back is called a defender. Fernando
was a wall in defence and no forward or attacker could beat him in thier
endeavour to go for the goal.
A Benedictine, Fernando played when the game enjoyed its best years
in the Kotahena School. A proud product of the late great Albert
Fernando, 'Josa' as he was fondly called sported national colours and
played for several clubs and served them with great distinction.
May his soul Rest in Peace. |