Warne on the wane, looking for cheap publicity
The former leg spinning Australian legend Shane Warne has fondness to
revel in controversy, which probably gives him the publicity that he is
looking for, now that it is not forthcoming from big time cricket. In
the Big Bash which probably was his last fling in the game, he was
involved in a spat with West Indian Marlon Samuels and then rubbed the
Australian Cricket selectors on the wrong side condemning their rotation
policy. Now there is no doubt that the rotation policy is a highly
controversial issue. It has a divided vote among the cricketing
fraternity in Australia. One side is in favour while the other is not.
Australian selectors
The Australian Selectors led by former Australian opener John
Inverarity reckon that with the players indulging in too much cricket,
rest is vital to avoid injury and burn out. The other school of thought
is that the rotation policy deprives the players of momentum and playing
as a team. But the selectors are convinced with their decision and are
determined to stay put with their rotation policy.
Warne also wants a change in the limited over cricket system. He
wants bowlers to be allowed five overs each in the Twenty20 format
instead of the four overs a bowler that is now the rule. He also wants
the field restrictions to be changed in the 50-over format.
The Indian cricketers who were once a team to be reckoned with in the
Test cricket scene, have now dropped form as their defeat by Alastair
Cook's England team showed by beating them in the recently concluded
Test series in India.
The defeat must certainly have been anathema to them and they must be
fine tuning and charging their batteries to fire all cylinders at the
Australians who will arrive shortly for a Test and one day series. Now
that England outplayed India in their own backyard, Michael Clarke's
Australians to would be arriving determined to put the Indians to second
best at the end of the series.
In Australia for two months
After having been in Australia for nearly two months covering the Sri
Lanka-Australia series, I can vouch for the fact that the Aussie
selectors have picked the best warriors to battle for them in India.
The Aussies are a terrific all-round side led by one of the best
captain's going in the game today in Michael Clarke and every player
respects the captain and when on the field will give their best for
captain, game and country.
In recent times the Australia-India series have evoked more than
ordinary interest. Remember the Andrew Symonds- Harbajan Singh spat, the
removing of umpire Steve Bucknor half way through the series with the
Indians refusing to play if Bucknor is not replaced?
Fight fire with fire
But in this series the two men who fight fire with fire and brings
the series alive, Symonds and Singh would be missing. But there is the
possibility of Singh returning. If he returns who would tease him would
be interesting to watch.
But the Aussies who have perfected the art of sledging, which they
term mental disintegration of their opponents, will want to give
continuity to that. But the Indians will do well to return fire, which
could see the mental disintegration of the Aussies, because when fired
back they can't take it.
From the Indian point of view the cynosure of all eyes will be the
form of that once in life time cricketer Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. He has
given up the shorter formats of the game to concentrate on the
established game.
Against England he could not put on show his usual run making act. He
will be determined to prolong his Test career by scoring heavily against
the Australians. It remains to be seen whether the Aussies would allow
him to cut loose. But one thing is certain. The series will be a no
quarter asked or given series with the Indians wanting to raise their
game and the Australians wanting to add to their stature after their
convincing series win against Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan women cricketers led by Shasi Siriwardena are crowning
themselves with glory in the Women's World Cup tournament now in
progress in India.
They produced a giant-killing performance to push aside the reigning
champions England and then proved that, that effort was no flash in the
pan when they shot down the Indians to earn a place in the final eight.
One lady who must be enjoying the success of our lasses must
certainly be former President of Women's Cricket Association Gwen Herat.
It was Herat when she was at the helm who showed women's cricket the
way. With her persuasive ways she helped the game enter the big league
and also made many tours possible. Today the game is enjoying the fruits
of her labour. Although not actively involved in the game, she keenly
follows the destinies of the game.
She was also the President of the Chilaw-Puttalam District Cricket
Association and also served on the Executive Committee of Sri Lanka
Cricket when Thilanga Sumathipala was at the helm.
Gold Coast in Brisbane was stunning
Meeting Pat Sela and his lady Maxine at the Gold Coast in Brisbane
was an interesting experience. Incidentally like I mentioned in my
'COMMENT' column on Tuesday, the Gold Coast is hurrying to have all
venues ready on time for the next Commonwealth Games in 2018. In
conversation with Sela a former Josephian athlete, he told me that he
was one of the athletes who were fortunate to come under the tutelage of
the famous coach and now legend Anthony Abeysinghe. I think it was in
the late 1950s and early 1960s that Abeysinghe took athletics at the
Darley Road School to hitherto unattained heights. It was the then
Public School Athletics Championships popular known as the 'Pubs' that
the Josephian athletes shone.
The Sir John Tarbat Trophy was their property for a record number of
years. No athletes from any school could equal or surpass their
superiority. Some of the athletes who made them undisputed champions and
whose names that come to mind are - Adolph Silva, Winslow, Priya Perera,
Tissa Zoysa and several others.
In the latter years when I was the Sports Editor of the 'Daily
Mirror' and 'Times of Ceylon' I cultivated a good rapport with
Abeysinghe, giving his achievements the publicity it richly deserved.
One day Abeyinghe walked into the office carrying a parcel and gave it
to me saying it was in appreciation of the publicity given him to him
and his achievements on track and field
Something that cheers
I took the parcel home imagining it was something that cheers. But to
my surprise when I opened it, I found find that it was a statue of Our
Lady of Lourdes.
I rang Abeysinghe the next day and thanked him profusely for the
wonderful gift. To this day the statue is in my room and I venerate it
and ask for blessings every morning and night and I must admit I have
had great blessing and reward.
Sela said he was fortunate to be a part of that Josephian athletic
history and said that he still keep himself fit by doing a lot of
marathon running in the Gold Coast. He showed me and Upula the trophies
and certificates that he won. After an enjoyable stay with the Gonsals
in Brisbane, we flew to Perth in Western Australia for a bit of leg
stretching after a strenuous tour covering the Sri Lanka-Australia
cricket series and a few days with Mahes Herath and wife Nagina in
Canning Vale.
After a visit to a Buddhist monastery which I described in detail in
a previous article, Mahesh's brother Tissa drove us to the King's Park
and Cottesloe Marine Parade. The King's Park is simply wonderful and a
walk on the Tree Top Bridge was really exciting and unforgettable. A
walk on the Marine Parade was thrilling and it was a lovely beach front
with many locals and tourists sun bathing.
It was an exciting two months in Australia covering the cricket at
the Manuka Oval in Canberra where I stayed with my niece Angela and
partner Fred Koelmeyer, Bellerive Oval in Hobart, Melbourne Cricket
Ground, Sydney Cricket Ground and the 'GABBA' in Brisbane.
Finally my grateful thanks to my sponsors EZY Racing, Dialog and
Edirisinghe Brothers for making my tour possible with their generous
co-sponsorship.
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