Sports Minister setting new standards

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage must be given a loud round of applause for ordering the Sri Lankan players figuring in the Indian Premier League to be back by May 5. Whether this will be possible given the contractual arrangements that are binding, it nonetheless sends a strong signal and a guideline for the issues that need to be weighed by potential players in the years to come.

The importance of respecting the contractual obligations of the players cannot be ignored given that cricket has also extended into international terrain. The issue is that unfortunately the Ministry in the past had not set guidelines and the players cannot be faulted at this late hour.

The Minister has taken this bold and admirable decision because there is a Test and One-Day tour of England beginning next month. Apparently he does not want the cricketers staking claims for England to be jaded playing too much cricket.

Country before self, seems to be the thinking of the Sports Minister. And that is how it should be and he will earn the encomiums of all cricket and sport lovers for acting fearlessly in this aspect; and regardless of the outcome of his instruction the Minister has laid new ground rules that should be taken into account.

Surfeit of l/o cricket

The cricketers have been playing a surfeit of limited-over cricket. There is the on-going debate on to the value added of the limited-over game. Besides the financial benefits that accrue to those who are drafted into it, and the entertainment it provides, the question is whether it does justice to the real game of cricket; and whether the "real game" in its classical form can be compromised by the spicing that limited over brings, is hotly debatable. Test cricket is what the game of cricket is all about. Disparaging as it sounds, limited-over cricket is described as cowboy cricket; even pyjama cricket!

While we have no problem with cricketers making money, after all they have forgone other opportunities for the sake of the game. And we now live in the real world where amateur sports is fast being eroded into by "pros". But cricketers they must also play fair by the country. Undoubtedly the Minister's orders will ruffle the feathers of the cricketers playing in the IPL. Given the important issue that the Minister's fearless action has raised, this is the time for a policy guideline be laid out by the authorities for the future.

Eyes on Mendis and Co.

Former Sri Lanka captain Duleep Mendis and his team, of co selectors Brendon Kuruppu, Ranjith Madurusinghe, Don Anurasiri and Chaminda Mendis have an unenviable job to perform.

But they have been in these seats before and have the experience to face the 'onkey drops' and the vicious bounces and doosras that will be bowled at them by the frustrated and the disgruntled.

But that comes with the job and as long as they play fair and both strategic and tactical in their decision-making and not swayed by emotion, they should not fear. In Minister Aluthgamage they have a Minister on whom they can rely on and perform their jobs without fear or favour.

The Selectors have a tough task ahead of them. They will have to decide whether they are going to retain Kumar Sangakkara as Test captain to England or will pick another to lead.

Test matches first

The Test matches will be contested before the Five one-dayers in England. The selectors are likely to pick the captains first. The selectors will not be faulted if they hand over the reins to one individual to captain in the three forms of the game Test, 50-over and Twenty20. If this is done, the captain elect will be able to work with the players and form a good rapport which will benefit the players and the game in the long run. And also help to recover from the upset suffered in the World Cup final.

Forget the disgrace

The selectors must also make sure that in selecting the Captain and the team, the hangover of the World Cup Final is shaken off with a cold shower! There is more important business to worry about.

They must not focus on World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand just yet. There are many tours abroad and at home and the selectors must take one series at a time. And get on the right pitch and bear in mind the strategic move they need to make to build a team, over time, for World Cup 2015.

The selectors will do well to infuse young blood for the tour of England. It's not for us to being speculation or engage in naming possibles and probables. The selectors must be having the credentials of the youngsters aspiring for selection and should give them their spurs. The key is to infuse new and young talent and use the luxury of time to take risks.

Warne and Sidhu outstanding

The Indian Premier League sans that man who made it all possible Lalit Modi is in full swing in different venues in India and is being played to full houses.

Watching the action on and off the field what caught the eye was the wonderful bowling by the leg-spinning sheik of tweak Shane Warne and the clever and witty descriptions of former Indian opening batsman Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Warne who made leg spin/googly bowling a form of art, gave up the game a few years back which was a great loss to Australian cricket which is still in a flat spin craving and searching for a spinner like the great Warne. There will never be another Shane Warne!

He was king

During his reign, he was the Duke, the King, the Sheik and the Prince of leg spin/googly bowling. He bowled the most difficult art. Off spinners came dime a dozen. But leg-spinners are rare like gems. Bowling for his team, he does not seem to have lost any of his old guile as he spun his repertoire of spinners and had the opposing batsmen all at sea. During the Ashes series in Australia there was a cry for him to make a comeback and help the struggling Aussies who were being bashed by the Brits. Had Warne done so he sure would have changed the final result and the Aussies would not have been disgraced.

Sidhu a treat

Dashing opening batsman now turned TV expert commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu is certainly adding to the large viewership of ESPN STAR SPORTS with his incisive and clever comments.

His language and presentation and reading of the game is par excellence and has put to second best the other commentators. Nattily dressed with a turban to match with his suit and tie he looks a picture. When he opened batting for India he was one batsman who had the spunk to take on the irrepressible Muttiah Muralitharan. He was a wonderful player of spin.

Spin bowling is best countered by the use of and by taking the delivery on the half volley and dispatching it to any part of the field or over it as he wished. Twinkle toed Sidhu was a treat to watch when in action. He was a dasher, in the mould of our own Sanath Jayasuriya and had modelled his batting on the fact that the ball was there to be hit and when he hit it stayed hit.

Keep the show going Sidhu. You are a treat. Star TV should be proud of you.

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