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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.

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