Nishantha Sumanadasa and Omar Sheriff epitomise the spirit of the cheer squad

The tied game between Sri Lanka and India at the Adelaide Oval will be remembered for a long time. What was not noticed however was a five-ball 30th over! It did not cause controversy, but was discussed by cricket fans.

The Sri Lanka cricketers flew into Sydney and took along with them happy memories.

A large gathering of Sri Lankan supporters domiciled in Sydney rejoiced the manner in which the Sri Lankans crushed the Australians with consummate ease.

In Sydney I met former Pictures Editor of Lake House and my colleague Nishantha Sumanadasa and his lovely lady Nayana who is an accountant by profession here.

Nishantha is the son of the famous R.B.M. Sumanadasa who was the Katunayake Times Correspondent when I joined the Times, doing the Airport rounds with gusto. He later joined Lake House and continued his good work.

Camera clicks

Nishantha too joined Lake House and did camera clicks, not only news pictures, but covered all sports and had an excellent record as Pictures Editor. But greener pastures beckoned 'biscuit' because he sports a chain with a square pendant, made it to Sydney with his wife.

On Thursday, Nishantha took a 'sickie' - as sick leave is called here - and drove me a long distance to Katoomba to have a look at the Blue Mountains and the Three Sisters.

It is a wonderful tourist attraction and is a scenic beauty.

Tourists from many countries flock here to soak in the beauty that is the Blue Mountains and the Three Sisters.

Nishantha who has not completely given up photography, slung his old faithful on his shoulders and did a photo session with me, which clicks will be there for posterity.

Meeting Omar Sheriff

Then when match day dawned, my old friend of the late 1960s and '70s, the famous Omar Sheriff was there in his limousine with his nephew Duleep de Silva to drive me to the Sydney Cricket Ground and back after the match.

Now Omar was a household name in Sri Lanka when it came to the game with the oval ball - rugby. Playing for the University - he is a qualified Engineer - he also sported CH and FC, Air Force colours and his national call was not long in coming.

Before going to dwell more on Omar's rugby exploits, I was taken aback to see Omar sporting a Sri Lanka shirt like the ones the cricketers wore when they won the World Cup under Arjuna Ranatunga in 1995/96 in Lahore, Pakistan.

Autographed shirt

That shirt has been autographed by the World Cup winning cricketers and Omar preserves it and wears it only when the Sri Lanka cricketers play in Sydney. He never misses watching the cricketers when they play in Sydney.

Omar played stand off for his school Zahira, CH and Air Force and had to make way for Glen Vanlangenberg in the national team. But does not regret it. He says he enjoyed every minute of the game playing with some of the finest ruggerites the game produced at that time.

Omar also mentioned the rugby reporters of that era and recalls with some reverence names of M.B. Marjan, Austin Daniel and M.V. Muhsin, who he said were well versed in the art of rugby reporting. "They were fair in their reporting and were never afraid to call a spade a spade and not some other implement," he quipped!

Former Commander

He had a special word for former Commander of the Air Force Harry Goonetilleke, whom he described in glowing terms an officer and gentleman par excellence who gave his all to rugby.

He recalls with fondness ruggerites he played with and against, making special mention of Nimal Lewke, Malik Samarawickrema and the late Daya Jayasundera whose untimely death was mourned by his fans.

Omar had a special word for Kishin Butani, who he said proved a great benefactor and motivator in the promotion of rugby in the clubs and the country.

Rooting for victory

Omar as one of the thousands of Sri Lankans domiciled in Sydney rooting for a Sri Lankan victory was besides himself when the Lankans achieved victory. He claims that every time he watches the Lankans play at the SCG they have won. He believes therefore that his presence serves as a talisman to the Sri Lankan team! .

Cricket reporting

An article which appeared in 'The Times' of 1887, framed and hung at the media box at the Sydney Cricket Ground captioned 'Cricket Reporting' greets journalists as they enter the box and it makes interesting reading.

This is how it goes: Cricket reporters are upon their trial. It would be more healthy if there were more love for cricket and less excitement about 'results'.

Cricket is only a game, the intrinsic beauties of which deserve admiration far more than a long roll of success. In an ideal state of things score-sheets would be torn up after the match was over.

Away with tabulated returns and averages and all the rest of the paraphernalia, and let us enjoy cricket in a quiet, contemplative atmosphere.

Even among genuine cricketers the intense spirit of competition on which is the chief feature of modern cricket precipitates itself in worship of success.

To attempt to stem the tide of invidious comparison would be idle. The best thing under the circumstances is to insure that, if restless spirits insist upon knowing the truth, it shall be the whole truth.

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