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| Sunday, 21 November 2004 |
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Straight talk by Lal Gunasekera Murali guard your tongue! Beware Muttiah Muralitharan! You have made some more enemies 'down under' by mentioning that the Australian pace trio of Glen McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee are all guilty of bowling illegal deliveries. The Aussies are not a set of people to take things lying down and when you decide to tour that country again (you pulled out of it last time) they are certainly going to wait for you. This is certain. You cannot always be without touring Australia. Sri Lanka Cricket too has stepped in and called for explanation from Murali about his outburst. However, Sri Lanka's spin wizard, seems to be in exalted company with the likes of Fred Truman of England, Dennis Lillee of Australia, Curtly Ambrose of the West Indies, Imran Khan of Pakistan, Sir Richard Hadlee of New Zealand and Ian Botham of England, who were found to have exceeded the "straightening limit" set by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Muralitharan was first called for "chucking" during Sri Lanka's tour of Australia in 1999 under Arjuna Ranatunga now a Deputy Minister in the UPFA government. A big hue and cry was made then too, but bio-mechanics found that the Sri Lankan had a deformed arm. He used to bowl his "Doosra" for quite some time, but since he openly said that he possessed a "magic ball" in his repertoire, he was closely monitored and ICC Match Referee England's Chris Broad, reported Muralitharan for a suspect action to the ICC during Australia's tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year. Subsequently, the ICC, banned Muralitharan from delivering the "Doosra" till it was cleared by experts. This was in May. The tolerance levels had been set earlier at five degrees for spinners, 7 1/2 for medium pacers and 10 for quickies. However, after extensive research by bio-mechanics, an ICC sub committee headed by ICC General Manager, Dave Richardson, which also included Michael Holding of the West Indies, Tony Lewis of England, Angus Fraser of England, Tim May of Australia and Sri Lanka's own Aravinda de Silva has recommended a change - 15 degree tolerance level for all bowlers. This is to be formally approved at the ICC Chief Executives Committee meeting at Melbourne in February next year (2005). Muralitharan will then be able to send down his "Doosra". Between May and now, has Muralitharan discovered another "magic ball" to add to his armoury? If he has, its best he keeps quiet. Talking a bit too much is also bad and Muralitharan knows it. "Chucking" has been a controversial subject since the 1963/64 Test series between Australia and South Africa when Australia's Ian Meckiff was "called" four times in an over. It is reported that 99 per cent of bowlers flex their arms when bowling, but the Australians as usual, are either mum or have reserved their expressions on the new recommendations. These include former captain Allan Border, present captain Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne (who broke Muralitharan's world record on the recent tour of India). Former England captain Geoff Boycott has come out openly against the recommendations of the ICC sub committee headed by Gavaskar who met in Dubai. He has said that it was a sad day for cricket and encourages "chucking". One cannot but forget that it was this same Mr. Boycott, who was found guilty and fined heavily a few years back in a court in France for assaulting his mistress. His contracts for giving commentaries for leading radio and TV stations too were terminated. Please Mr. Beycott, keep your gab shut as you have plenty of "worms in your can" waiting to spill over. Muralitharan does not. He is a gentleman. Ponting and Warne too have skeletons in their cupboards. They too have been found guilty of ungentlemanly conduct on tour, with the latter even been banned for a certain period for consuming "drugs". Why do these cricketers of repute want to get themselves involved in this type of controversy. Muralitharan has not brought disrepute to himself or the game of cricket. Another chucker Moving onto the current Premier League Tournament of Sri Lanka Cricket, a former umpire on the ICC panel, called a bowler representing a club in the outskirts of Colombo for "chucking". This happened last week and the umpire had cautioned the captain and is to report the incident to SLC. Revolutionary retires "Little Kalu" as Teny Greig used to describe Romesh Kaluvitharana decided to quit from all forms of cricket recently. He will be remembered by the cricketing world for revolutionising the game together with his opening partner Sanath Jayasuriya, in the limited-over version by smashing the ball to all parts of the field in the first 15 overs or so. This was during the time of Dave Whatmore, Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva. Kaluvitharana was a member of the Sri Lanka side under Ranatunga that won the World Cup at Lahore, Pakistan in 1996. Kaluvitharana formed with Jayasuriya a deadly opening combination that tore to shreds the fearsome bowling attacks that they came up against. They were a nightmare to opposing sides and captains found it impossible to set fields and stop the runs flowing off the bats of these two Lankan batsmen. Kaluvitharana is no longer there, but Jayasuriya, is still there to terrorise opposing bowlers. "Little Kalu" had his ups and downs, but many were the moments that one cherished. He was an immaculate wicket-keeper too, until Kumar Sangakkara came into the scene. This saw Kaluwitharana in and out of the national side. He could not "take it any more" when the selectors decided to keep him out from the squad to New Zealand next month (December). It was then that this "mighty atom" decided finally to call it a day. Thanks "Little Kalu" for the contributions you made to cricket. Best of luck to you in the future. Simpkin to stay George Simpkin the New Zealander, who is on the payrole of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) as the national coach, has been paid a further sum of Rs. 1.5 million, but the SLRFU yet has to pay him a tidy sum. He is been paid Rs. 200,000/= per month, but is to remain in the country. Water and electricity has been disconnected to the SLRFU for nearly three months or more. The reason - the Samurdhi Ministry had bills amounting to Rs. 11 million which were outstanding to these two State institutions. It happens that both the Samurdhi Ministry, SLRFU and some other controlling bodies who have their headquarters at the Old Race Course, have one assessment number. Now, the Samurdhi Ministry has made part payment with the SLRFU obtaining a separate assessment number too. Thus, the SLRFU, have been told by the CEB that electricity will be restored by the end of the month. Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Jeevan Kumaratunga has intervened in this matter. No EPF, ETF There are 23 technical officers attached to the SLRFU both in Colombo and the outstations. They are paid salaries ranging from Rs. 6,500 to Rs. 14,000 and five of them have been given motorcycles too. However, I understand that they are not paid EPF or ETF and that their contracts too have not been renewed in recent years. Why? |
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