Aluthgamage should repose faith in his selectors

In recent weeks Minister of Sport Mahindananda Aluthgamagae has earned brownie points for his fearless work, where he put matter right at the Athletic Association of Sri Lanka and stalling the inclusion of a tennis player in the national team.

The tennis Selectors had picked the best available side and all connected with the game, applauded the Minister for not falling prey to the machinations where a favourite of someone was being planted in the squad.

As it is the Minister who appoints selectors to all national bodies, then he must have implicit faith in them and their selections. And although he is free to query their selections to keep himself informed, should refrain from changing their selections.

The Secretaries of all national bodies once the selectors make their pick send the selections to the Minister for ratification. Unless a thoroughly undeserving player is included and there is a hue and cry from the public, he must ink the selections so as to keep faith with the selectors.

Selector Silva resigns

Recently former Sri Lanka left handed opening batsman and wicket keeper and one of the rare batsmen to put together a century at the Holy Land of cricket – Lords’s Cricket Ground in England, Amal Silva resigned from the cricket Selection Committee, citing business reasons.

Now the remaining selectors from the original four-man team are Asantha de Mel, Chairman, Don Anurasiri and Hemantha Wickremaratne. Lest we be misunderstood, we are not trying to preach to the Minister as to how he should do his job, but it will be appreciated if he keeps the selectors to three.

The three-man selection committee comprises good former cricketers. We submit that they remain and not make the selection committee too cumbersome by adding a fourth. Three is an odd number and if a vote has to be taken, it will end positively and not in a stalemate.

Incidentally the other Sri Lankan batsmen to make centuries at Lord’s are Sidat Wettimuny, Duleep Mendis, Michael Van Dort, Tillakeratne Dilshan and Dinesh Chandimal

West Indies in England

The West Indies cricketers led by Darren Sammy and now in England will begin their renaissance in the game when they take on England in the First of Three Tests at Lord’s on Thursday.

During tours to England in the 1970s and ‘80s, West Indies teams led by Clive Lloyd and Vivian Richards were famous for thrashing the Brits 5-0 in the Tests and humiliating Brit cricket.

During that rampaging era, the Windies had batsmen who were thrilling to watch with their natural flair to smash every ball and bowlers who had opposing batsmen ducking their venomous bouncers and yorkers hurled at lightning speed.

Exciting stroke makers

The names of their exciting stroke makers who come to mind are – Roy Fredrickst , Cammie Smith, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Vivian Richards, Clive Lloyd, Gus Logie, Jeff Dujon, Derryck Murray, Richie Richardson, and Alvin Kallicharan.

The fast men who had batsmen knocking in their knees were - Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall, Keith Boyce, Bernard Julien, Wayne Daniel, Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose and Vanburn Holder

The above mentioned were once a life time performers and every ground on where they put their wares on display were over flowing with cricket fans, who were entertained with thrill-a-minute cricket.

Who’s groveling now?

One remembers the incident where former South African and England Captain Tony Greig was made to eat his own words and grovel in the dust. Greig, before Test series began was on record of having said that he would make the Windies grovel.

But what that Windies side did is history now. Those words annoyed the Windies and they were determined to make Greig eat his own words. They played from out of their skins and had England in shame thrashing them, 5-nil.

At the end a West Indies Calypso Band coined that famous hit – ‘Who’s groveling now’. After the series when Greig was asked, as usual unable to stomach the humiliation he said that he was misquoted. Greig must be regretting those words and always reliving that humiliation.

Bens in the scrum

St.Benedict’s College took to the game of rugby in 1964 with former Sri Lanka wicket keeper batsman Ranjit Fernando as its first captain. Thankfully he gave up this tough game and stuck to the game in which he was a natural – cricket.

Had he concentrated more on rugby and not cricket, the calamity that befell former Royal brilliant opening batsman Jagath Fernando would have followed him. Jagath was future national material has an opening batsman. A vicious tackle in a rugby match playing for CR and FC, crocked his knee, and cruelly a promising cricket career ended.

While Ranjit Fernando and his set of ruggerites lit the game, it is interesting to watch the green, white and green school continuing to keep that flame burning brightly, although being on the losing side more often than winning.

Lawrence Captain

This year the Bens led by Andrew Lawrence are playing in the Singer schools rugby tourney and although yet to show their prowess, are playing some decent rugby which is full of promise.

They are coached by former Isipatana and Havelocks full back Mahinda Jayawardena who is working hard with his chargers. Assisting him are former Ben and the first Ben to have the honour of leading the national team Rohan Gunaratne and former Air Force and Sri Lanka ruggerite Tony Wimalasuriya.

Gunaratne first played for the Air Force before crossing over to the Police where he played top class rugby to earn his spurs and end up as captain of the national team, leading them in the Asiad in Bangkok in 1986 and on a tour of Hong Kong and Taiwan in 1985. Gunaratnre played for Air Force from 1973 to 1975 and Police from 1976 to 1988.He was a No.8 and Second Rower.He Captained Police in 1983..

Gunaratne is now Administrative Secretary of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union. With his experience in the Services, the SLRFU could not have picked a better man for the job than Gunaratne. Cosmas Mahagama Perera was the first ever Ben to a captain a national team in basketball. Bens also have the honour of giving to the country the Best Shooter in Asia Percy Perera.

[email protected]