Leg spinning all rounder Bandara recalled but...
 The Sri Lanka Cricket selectors steered by Sanath Jayasuriya have
named a 30-member pool from which the final squad will be picked to
contest the ICC 50- over Champions Trophy in England in June.While, the
best of all players have all been picked, it was a bit of a surprise to
see the omission of Ramith Rambukwella who was named in the Twenty20
squad to play Bangladesh.
Yet it was interesting to see the name of Malinga Bandara. This
terrific leg spinning all-rounder had been off the cricketing radar for
far too long. Bandara is a leg spinner of more than ordinary class and
one who should not have been ignored.
Stinging leg spinners
In addition to his prowess at bowling stinging leg spinners and
googlies, he could use the long handle with devastating effect. As a
fielder, he was a quick mover with a safe pair of hands.
The speculation is that his name has been penciled just to make up
the 30- member squad.We hope this is proved wrong,and hopefully when the
final squad to tour is picked we hope his name will not go missing.When
Bandara played for Gloucester not so long ago, he made waves with his
variety of spin bowling and won the bowling prize for the county.
But that was it and after a brief sling for the national team, he
went off the radar screen.Bandara will have as his opponent another leg
spinning all rounder in Jeevan Mendis. Mendis has proved himself with
his big hitting and well controlled leg spinners and he will be
difficult to leave out. So for Bandara will it be another missed
opportunity?
Indian Premier League in full swing
The glamorous and money spinning Indian Premier League Twenty20
circus is in full swing in several venues in India after a marvellous
opening ceremony that put the opening ceremonies of the FIFA World Cup
and even the Olympics opening ceremonies to second best.The organizers
the Board of Control for Cricket in India left no stone unturned to see
that an amazing opening ceremony was taken to the cricketing world. Of
course the stand out on that colourful night of song and dance was the
irrepressible Sharuk Khan.Of the TV commentators describing the action
there was no touching the former dashing Indian opening batsman Navjot
Singh Sidhu. Impeccably and colourfully dressed, his style in predicting
and describing the action going to unfold was spot on.
Jayewardene hits first six and fifty
And when the action began to unfold in the middle, the honour of
hitting the first half century and six of the tournament fell to Sri
Lanka's Lion Prince of cricket, the great two times Sri Lanka skipper
Mahela Jayewardene.Jayewardene coming back from injury and missing the
entire fling against Bangladesh in the Tests, 50 and Twenty20 series,
showed that he has fully recovered from injury the easy manner in which
he executed his now famous strokes.After the IPL the Lankan cricketers
will be taking wing to England for the ICC Champions Trophy and
Jayewardene, if he continues in the same rollicking form, will be threat
to all opposing bowlers.
Exclusion of Pakistani players
But what was inexplicable in this tournament was the exclusion of
Pakistani players. All rounder Azhar Mahmood who at one time shone for
Pakistan,but who is now not wanted is playing for a franchise.Also it
was interesting to watch former Pakistan fast bowling great who along
with Wasim Akram formed the most feared fast bowling pair for Pakistan,
Waqar Younis being employed as bowling coach for Sunrisers
Hyderabad.Also making his presence felt in the IPL is the strong and big
hitting all rounder of Sri Lanka cricket Thisara 'Panda' Perera. He is
continuing with his sixer hitting like he did in the World Cup 2011
final in India and when given the ball delivers with vital wickets.Had
the top notch Pakistani cricketers been welcome and bought over by some
of the franchisers, they sure would have been great attractions,
especially 'boom, boom' Shahid Afridi who would have thrilled the crowds
with his devastating sixer hitting.
Alles the cricketer making waves
Former Josephian cricketer, the stylish left hand batsman Jonathan
Alles who put all bowlers to the sword when he was wielding the willow
for the Darley Road School is making waves in banking. Alles was
recently promoted Chief Executive Officer at Hatton National Bank.Alles
will assume responsibilities as the Chief Executive Officer of HNB
following the retirement of Rajendra Theagarajah and will be appointed
to the Board with effect from July 1, 2013. Alles has well over 25 years
of banking experience.When he sported the school colours, he was a big
attraction with his stylish and elegant stroke play. Had he given
continuity to his immense talent after leaving school he sure would have
sported Sri Lanka colours.But while he was lost to the game, it was the
banking sector - Hatton National Bank - that gained. His batsmanship was
in the class of former West Indian captain and left-hander Alvin
Kallicharan.Alles played in the company of present Chief Executive
Officer of Sri Lanka Cricket wicket keeper batsman Ashley de Silva,
Hiran Cooray, Jeevaka Candappa, Brian Rajadurai, Rohan Weerakoddy and
Mohan Ratnayake. He starred in Candappa's team that beat Royal after 32
years in 1984. Alles captained SJC in 1985.
Superb all rounder
Jonathan's father Augustine (popularly known as Augie) his mother is
Zita was a superb all rounder for the green, white and green school -
St. Benedict's College in the early 1950s. Augie was a stylish right
hand batsman and a clever bowler with the new ball.He captained SBC in
1956. In addition to his prowess with the bat and ball, he was also a
good table tennis and hockey player. When I was an under 14 cricketer at
school he was one of my coaches and later on we played for the Tamil
Union.Some of Augie's team mates at SBC were Leslie Saverimuttu,
Camillus Perera, Toto Abeydeera, Lovellyn Rayen, Neville Casiechetty,
Cecil Waidyaratne, Ranjit Jayewardene and Anslem Ludowyke whose names
come to mind.
[email protected]
|
