Kiwis need not fear bomb

We are very glad that the Kiwis - The New Zealand cricketers are in town for the triangular series which includes India and Sri Lanka, scheduled to begin on August 10 at the beautiful Rangiri Dambulu Stadium to be played under lights.

The visit is all the more welcome as when they played here some time back, the event was rocked by two bomb blasts that surely shook them. One blast was at the Pettah Bus Stand and the second opposite the Taj Hotel where they were staying.

On both occasions, some of the Kiwi players who had never before experienced such attacks, quite rightly requested to be allowed to fly back. But some of them who insisted on staying back and with replacements being flown in agreed to continue with the tours. This was truly great. On both occasions the captains were the Crowe brothers Jeff and Martin.

Fearless leadership

But now bomb blasts are things of the past, thanks to President Mahinda Rajapaksa who gave fearless leadership to quell terrorism in the country and make it a peaceful place for all. International sports teams should have no cause for concern.

When Martin captained the team and in the Test match at the SSC, a Sri Lankan player fielding "close in" took what was obviously a bump catch. But the fielder insisted that it was a clean catch, defying all reasoning.

Martin quite rightly refused to leave when the umpire, unable to stand the pressure, ruled him out. He was right in standing his ground and the poor umpire had to reverse the decision. Martin Crowe went on to make a scintillating century. That incident was a black mark on the game here and it was a shame on the perpetrators.

ICC helpless

The International Cricket Council is apparently helpless. If this is not so how come that they cannot make the Umpires Decision Referral System, a system which was first mooted by Sri Lanka's own Senaka Weeraratne a leading Attorney at Law?

The majority of Test playing countries is in agreement to play to the UDRS. But the stumbling block are the Indians who are convinced that the system is not fool proof. Hence their dislike and reluctance to play to that system.

There is of course an issue of affordability. Some countries are not in a position to afford the investment in such a system; so while some countries may be able to install such a system, yet others have to lag behind.

In England, the home team, and Pakistan have agreed to play to the UDRS, but in the series in Sri Lanka the Indians have said no. And that's it.

It's time that the ICC had the spunk and backbone to assert what is their authority. If the ICC is helpless or hesitant to do just that, then let they might as well scrap the system altogether. This will of course earn the wrath of the majority who support the UDRS.

Receiving end

Sri Lanka Cricket has been at the receiving end of some frustrated cyclops who unjustly take the SLC to task saying that they haven't the guts to force the Indians to agree to play to this system. These frustrated elements are aware that both teams have to agree to play to this system, but yet criticize the SLC.

But in their blind fury and just to sling mud they become opportunists. But the cricket loving public, however, are aware of their machinations and do not take them seriously.

To be subjective : had this system been in play in the series in Sri Lanka, vice captain Mahela Jayawardena who was going well to post another three figure score would have had the system rule in his favour after umpire Rod Tucker ruled him out LBW. TV replays showed the ball going well over the stumps and Jayawardena on his way back seemed very puzzled with the decision although he, being the sportsman he is, did not show his frustration.

It is time that the ICC stepped in and acted.

The stands at the P. Sara Stadium

Walking into the club that helped me to cut my teeth in covering big time cricket the Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club (TU and CA) now called the P. Sara Stadium, I could not help but be nostalgic. What struck me most was the imposing stands in honour of two of their greatest cricketers that the T U and CA gave to Sri Lanka cricket: Mahadevan Sathasivam and Sathi Coomaraswamy.

Sathasivam was easily the most elegant and stylish batsman that pre-Test Ceylon produced. His trade mark shot was the late cut played with rare timing and power that skidded to the boundary leaving the fielder in that position helpless, watching the ball as it kissed the turf on its way.

I had the rare honour as a schoolboy of playing with the great man during the twilight of his career and when he came back to Sri Lanka from Malaysia. Even then his batting magic had not deserted him. An incident that is still vivid in my memory and one that I had mentioned before in another column bears repetition.

The Tamil Union were playing the BRC in a PSara or Donovan Andree trophy game at the Havelock Park mat. I think it was in the early sixties. BRC had Old Thomian captain Dennis Ferdinands who was the fastest schoolboy bowler at that time.

Just out of school

Ferdinands was just out of school and was bouncing at Sathasivam with tremendous pace. Sathasivam ducked the first bouncer and told the bowler - 'son don't do that to me I am an old man'. But Ferdinands to show his prowess ran in and bounced again.

Sathasivam got under the bouncer and summoning his batting form and timing of old, hooked the ball to the Havelocks rugger ground end much to the bewilderment of the bowler and spectators. I can vouch for this because I was part of that Tamil Union team.

But what was sad was that in the return game at the P.Sara Stadium turf where the ball comes much faster than on a mat, Ferdinands bounced on Sathasivam who was slow and late on the hook shot and it struck him, but no harm was done.

From that game onwards we built a lasting friendship and in later life when I was the Sports Editor of the 'Times Group', he used to visit the office and invite Gamini Perera another competent journalist and the writer for a few 'shots', as he would call them, at the Taprobane. He was wonderful company. Gamini and I were his special guests when he played host to a few West Indian cricketers at his home at Alban's Place in Wellawatte.

Great allrounder

Sathi Coomaraswamy who also played in that era and together with Sathasivam, was a great all rounder. He was a hard hitting right hand batsman and fabulous seam and swing bowler.

Very soon it is likely that the TU and CA will name a stand in honour of the world's number one spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan who sported their colours. One hopes that the club will also honour C.T.A. Schaffter, the double international - cricket and hockey for the tremendous contributions he has made to bring the club to the five star status it now enjoys and also bringing Test cricket back once again to its picturesque ground.

There are also stands named after T. Murugesar another outstanding cricketer who was their 'Daily New' captain. In one game against Bloomfield he scored a scintillating century and I had the good fortune to capture six wickets with my leg spin, googly bowling.

I still have a newspaper cutting of that game and once when he visited me I showed it to him, to his surprise. 'Muru' as he was fondly called was the manager of the 1983 Sri Lanka World Cup cricket team to England.

There are stands also for Ranjan Chanmugam and Tryphon Mirando.