It's open to all (age 9-13) and not confined to club member's kids alone. This programme will run in conjunction with the rugby season and commenced on Saturday June 1, at 9.30 a.m. at Maitland Crescent.

Project Director (IRB qualified) New Zealander, Matt Lee as (CH's coach) will handle the programme, assisted by former Sri Lanka players Rohan Abeykoon, Chand-rishan Perera, Nazim Mohamad, Bimal Perera, Jude Dimitri, Graham Raux and Imthi Marikar.

Gymkhana Club's Chairman and his rugby committee should be lauded for their commitment to develop the game among the juniors (Colombo) with a view to help Sri Lanka rugby to go places especially in the Asian region.

The CH-Sharp package is for three years and will be handled by Matt Lee, who will inculcate the latest skills in modern rugby. It's a catch'em young progra-mme.
- (BW)

Lalin Senadhira outstanding
This is a 2-ball better ball encounter in which 55 pairs participated. Lalin Senadhira was outstanding with Julian Dias helping substantially for the pair to collect 46 points and take the Trophy. Coming very close behind was Sarath Piyaratne and Mithun Nandasena with 45 points. Piyaratne who is steeped in official duties has found his game deserting him and it was no surprise to learn that the little fellow Mithun carried Piyaratne tirelessly through the entire 18 holes. Piyaratne was seen applauding incessantly while Mithun collected the points.

There were several excellent scores there after and those that need recognition are Chaminda Galagedera and Rajan Joseph, Usha de Silva, Gerard Fernando & 'Pacific' Nimal Perera 44 points. Doc. Thurairajah & J.K. Rajendran 43 and Bandula Weerasinghe & Adrian, Perera 42 & Elvera Merz.

Disaster zone
Trevine Fern-andopulle & Rohan Perera with 14 other pairs were disqualified for untidy negligence while Mark Silva and Sumal Perera and Rahula Seneviratne were prominent returning pauper scores. Reliable reports have it that Sunil Mendis came in after a practice round and vowed to stay seriously with the game that he relished immensely. He is under Trevine Fernandopu-lle's wing. Fernando-pulle a very out of the ordinary exponent has been identified as a knowledgeable tipster.

Home advantage and cricket that is poor
Cricketing ability is about fifty percent of the battle when playing international cricket on foreign soil. Adopting to the pitches - both for batsmen and bowlers - contributes around thirty percent, climatic conditions, spectator support and the playing arenas take up the balance twenty percent.

These factors are reduced when countries of the subcontinent play amongst themselves. It is when they tour England, Australia and South Africa that a player's overall competence is totally tested.

That makes it all the more important to eradicate the basic mistakes. Many such mistakes which amounted to poor cricket caused Sri Lanka's downfall at Birmingham.

The toss of the coin can have such a decisive effect on the game. During the days of uncovered pitches, plenty of havoc was created by bowlers operating on drying surfaces. Have batting skills deteriorated? With there being so many opportunities to get to the crease do batsmen value their wicket as much?

Covered pitches have spoilt batsmen. They are used to good surfaces, based on the preparation of course and predictability in what they receive. More attacking batsmanship has resulted and with it greater entertainment for the viewer. The stone walling determination of defining anything that is thrown at you is becoming a diminishing act. Players who used to fight as if their whole life depended on one innings are becoming extinct.

It used to be considered a crime should a batsman get past twenty runs and then throw it away. These days because there are so many opportunities regular collections of twenties and thirties are considered useful contributions.

Many of the Sri Lankan batsmen got starts in the disastrous second test against England but could not go on, with Mahela Jayawardena's 59 being the best out of nineteen dismissals. Give credit to the England bowlers who persisted with good line and length bowling and had the ability to use the conditions.

They moved the ball far more appreciably than the Sri Lankan bowlers and produced some exceptionally fine deliveries which would have dismissed most batsmen.

The Sri Lankan bowlers looked deflated. They all had long spells in the first test, then ample time to rest. They couldn't hit the straps at all. With the batsmen dismissed for a paltry 162 in under three sessions, the game was all England's from mid-way of day two.

Muttiah Muralitharan was flogged on his return to match cricket after two months and having been away due to a serious injury. He bowled sixty four overs in around three- and- a half sessions. How could he handle such a work load? Not surprisingly he did not turn up to bat in the second innings and has indicated doubt of playing in the third test commencing next week.

Getting back to the toss of the coin - although it is considered the best way to decide on the first lease, there are regular cases of distinct advantage. As it did happen, the Sri Lankans put in to bat had plenty of traumatic deliveries to face upto.

The home teams have advantages as pointed out. In international cricket, why not let the visiting country decide on who should be first, without having a toss? Sounds very revolutionary - but in a game that is experiencing regular change, it is a thought to ponder upon.

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