Well said, Minister Aluthgamage

Officials who fight for top posts must have the same energy to continue with their responsibilities--that's the challenge that new Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage threw out as he opened his innings.

The message is clear that officials will need to earn their keep and be held accountable. Otherwise the umpire will lift his fore finger.

The Minister hit out at a press briefing after assuming office at the Sports Ministry last Thursday. He becomes the 13th Minister to be appointed to this post and a lot will depend on him as to the future of sport in the country as the critical World Cup year 2011 dawns. It applies not only to cricket but to all sports.

Obviously the Minister in making that fearless statement having watched from the sidelines of how officials fight to get elected to top posts and the controversies that go on in AGMs.

But once elected these officials tend to go into slumber and more often than not come awake again only when there is a tour in the offing so that they can take wing and enjoy the perks that follow once in these posts.

No medals to show

The Minister would have noticed the calamity that was the recent Asian Games in China. Here, one can say with tongue in cheek, Sri Lanka qualified for a spot in Ripley's Believe it or not. For the first time in 28 years the Sri Lanka sportsmen came back with no medals to show.

In the past the achievements, especially by our athletes was outstanding. The names of these athletes are too numerous to mention.

But the fact remains that they did the country proud and proudly sported medals to display the talent that Sri Lanka offers.

The Minister will earn the gratitude of all sports people if he initiates an inquiry to find out as to how an athlete carried an injury with him and made it to China and then said he cannot run because he was nursing an injury.

In fact this athlete had come to the Katunayake Airport limping and it surprised all other team members to watch this incident. Some even in whispers queried as to how come an injured athlete was being taken to the Games.

Free of drugs

The Minister will do well to insist that only those medically, physically fit and only those deserving to represent the country make it to the teams. Also of paramount importance is to see that they are tested and cleared of performance enhancing drugs.

The Minister played a master stroke in visiting the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium that is nearing completion to conduct some of the 2011 World Cup matches. He was pleased with the work going on apace and was well briefed by Chairman Sri Lanka Cricket D.S. de Silva and World Cup Tournament Director Suraj Dandeniya and other officials.

We do not wish to sermonize to the new Minister, but to only ask him to see that sport is kept clean. He will be remembered if he can kick to touch those who try to use undue influence, drop names and use other under hand tactics to get into the teams.

Sri Lanka's next and most important fling is the 2011 World Cup to be conducted in the sub continent. In today's sporting context - winning is not the thing, it is the only thing. No effort should be spared to support our efforts not only in the game but also in the preparations to host the games.

The 'Ashes' are still not over

The First mythical Ashes cricket Test match between England and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, saw the glorious uncertainties of the game unwind and swing like a pendulum from side to side.

The build up to the Ashes series was terrific. Each side was claiming victory months before the umpires called 'play'. In every cricketing nook and corner the question asked and answer sought was - who will win the Ashes? The First of Five Tests ended in a draw and when this article is being read the second day the Second Test will be over.

Before going on to comment on the individual efforts that made the First Test a memorable one we would like to skin the two teams for their fielding that was to say the least, putrid.

Poor catching

Catches that are so vital in winning, as is the quality of fielding.

Both sides were guilty of butter fingered catching. Catches were dropped like hot potatoes, as the saying goes. That was mainly because the fielders were lacking in anticipation and concentration.

The fundamentals of taking a catch are taught to a cricketer at kindergarten level - when he tends to first handle a bat or a ball. He is supposed to build on the early teachings and become a brilliant fielder as his career unwinds.

A brilliant fielder is worth his weight in gold at any level of cricket. Coaches during our time would always play a brilliant fielder in the team. That was the importance they placed on fielding.

Frustrating

The Aussies and the Brits were guilty of poor catching. Catches were grassed at vital moments of the game. Not only was it annoying, but it was frustrating to watch. How come that poor fielding exists at this level was the question.

The fielders were a poor example to the youngsters watching.

Youngsters like to watch their idols in action and learn and follow them. But in this instance the sloppy catching by some fielders of both teams were a disgrace.

One can only go down memory lane and recall the fielding feats of international cricketers renowned for their fielding to name a few - Colin Bland, Jonty Rhodes, Clive Lloyd, Sam Chapped, Roy Dias, M. Davaraja, Ghulam Razik, Mahela Jayawardena and Tillekeratne Dilshan.

England after a poor first innings effort where they presented paceman Peter Siddle with a hat-trick which effort he will always treasure, fought back magnificently in their second innings after trailing by 221 runs.

An epic double century from left-hander Alastair Cook and equally well carved out centuries from skipper Andrew Strauss and Jonothan Trott saw England take final honours in the Test.

Rescue act

For Australia the rescue act performed by Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin who too made three figure scores will also be remembered and go down in the history books. This Test was one for the statisticians - Five centuries, record partnerships, a hat-trick and a record total for one wicket and many more.

Aussie critics took them to the cleaners for getting bashed and letting England run up a massive 517 for one wicket in their second innings. The Aussie media can be unforgiving like in this instance where they skinned their countrymen for the poor display.

The Brit critics were singing the praises of their performers with some even predicting that they will retain the Ashes. The glorious uncertainties of cricket will however need to be reckoned with.

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