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To
sledge or not With cricket
there is much time between play that it gives time to exchange words.
There is no doubt that since the England - Australia duels originated
some one hundred and twenty five years ago this would have been
part of the game. Then again, this is the only sport that has been
referred to as, a "gentleman's game". What happens at
international level is what filters down to the other levels of
the game. The coverage on TV and the influence on the other factions
of the media highlight every incident of the field and often it
is the conventional issues that attract the most attention. The recent
McGrath - Sarwan confrontation in Antigua has sparked discussion
on the extension of sledging that must be permitted. The incident
lasted only a few minutes. McGrath went off the handle and pitched
into Sarwan and the West Indian Vice Captain gave as good as what
he got. There were four days and just under a session on day five
of enthralling cricket, which brought a memorable win for the home
team. Australia clinched the series 3-1, underlining their superiority
in world cricket, but that incident that lasted a few moments soured
the series. The report
in the Wisden Cricket monthly magazine stated, "Commentators
in Australia were adamant that, despite their remarkable record
and the retention of the Frank Worrell trophy, Waugh's
team has sizeable chinks in its armor. But the 3-1 scoreline indicates
those shortcomings have more to do with behavior than batting or
bowling! Some past cricketers are once again coming out with the
favorite line - "Sledging is part of the game". This is
more to cover-up for their sins rather than addressing the issue.
It is definitely a cancer and it must be arrested. No doubt the
entire cricket world is addressing this issue with much concern.
So much so that in the Middlesex club league a competition is in
operation to judge the best team for "fair play". The
winners of each division will receive £ 500 at the end of
this season. Points are given or deducted based on the opinions
of the umpires. And who is
sponsoring these awards? The betting people "Ladbrokes".
"We are determined to put something back into the sport because
as bookmakers we make our money from it. We must uphold the best
traditions of the game at a time when, anecdotally at least, it
appears to be under threat." That was a statement made by the
company's Commercial Director. There is no question that the ICC must act and act fast. The yellow and red cards are being used in football and rugby. My opinion is that a similar playing condition should be introduced. Sounds drastic - yes! Such a decision is essential. The game must be played hard. No quarter asked or given. Let the actions speak and not in unacceptable language and bad behavior. This is still a gentlemen's game! Kodikara
strokes lowest score On Saturday
in a highly competitive event sponsored by DMS Garment Technologists
Ltd., whose head Michael Matthysz was a ruggerite of repute in his
youth. Priya Fernando registered a tremendous win outshining a crop
of 'A" players. Despite an enormous untidy waistline, he picked
a praiseworthy nett 70 to beat hefty Arshad Ahmed who should not
have any good reason for his bulk round the waist. Ahamed shot a
good nett 71. Rohana excels Kodikara
stuns Slow coaches Masters Poolists B.G. Lalith
Kumara struck a tremendous gross one over par 72 to prove he belongs
to our best. Disaster
zone Thrilling
fare from Rehman and Vijayakumar at Pannala The motocross
held on Sunday was the first round of the three round championships
scheduled to be held. The Indian duo of Sayed Rehman and C. Vijayakumar
of Team TVS Racing from Bangalore was the cynosure of all eyes at
the Pannala Motocross. They won four races between them, of the
12 events held on that day. Vijayakumar in particular who had a
setback in the motocross held in Kaluaggala a few days back, when
he was beaten by local rider Gayan Sandaruwan came back with vengeance
to take both the Group 'R' racing events for bikes upto 250cc. His compatriat
Seyed Rehman won both the Group 'R' racing events for bikes upto
125cc. In addition to winning their respective events the duo came
second vice a versa in both the categories. The Team TVS Racing
had a third member in their fold in G. Prasad who participated in
only one event which was the 250cc event, the last for the day,
he secured the third spot behind Vijayakumar and Rehman. Rohana
Jayaratne of Slimline Racing and Thusitha Gunasekera were the two
local riders to impress winning two events each. Rohana won
both race one and two of the Group 'P' Street Trail event for bikes
upto 125cc while Thusitha won both the 250cc event of the same category.
Up and coming motocross rider Gayan Sandaruwan who gave the Indians
a run for their money at Kaluaggala was unfortunate when his biked
skidded off the track in the first event he was participating and
was forced to refrain from taking part any further. But Sri Lanka's
motocross specialist Nalin Perera though not being successful, with
only three third placings from four outings, gave the Indians a
torrid time which had the crowds on their feet. Others to impress
at the motocross were Rehan Bultjens who won the Group 'R' event
for Racing Bikes upto 80cc but was pushed back to the second spot
by Harshana Kadearachchi in the second event of the same category. The days proceedings
began with the event for Group 'P' Street Trail Bikes upto 125cc
which was a five lap race. Old horse Rohana Jayaratne representing
Slimline Racing who has been riding in motorcross events for over
two decades took an early lead and kept improving it lap by lap
and eventually won the race with a lead of over 450 metres from
second placed Indika Gurusinghe with Dhammika Suresh in third place.
The second race of this event was also won by Rohana with Indika
coming second again and Tuan Ossen in third place. The six lap
Group 'R' Racing for bikes upto 80cc was a well contested event
with Harshana Kandearachchi taking the lead but was only able to
maintain it for two laps as Rehan Bultjens took over from there
and went on to take the race followed by Harshana and Kevin Bultjens.
But Harshana riding with much more effort took revenge when he won
the second race of this event pushing Rehan into second place and
Pasindu Peiris following them. The next event
which was the Group 'P' Street Trail for Bikes upto 250cc saw Thusitha
Gunasekera in a Honda CRM 250 cruising to win the race with Indika
Gunasinghe playing second fiddle again and Rohan Jayaratne following
him. The second event of the same category was also won by Thusitha
with Rohana coming second and Indika third. From here on
it was the Indians all the way with Saued Rehman winning both events
of the Group 'R' Racing category for bikes upro 125cc with C. Vijayakumar
in second place and local rider Nalin Perera in third place. And
it was the same outcome in the second event of this category. But India's C. Vijayakumar proved too much in the event of the Group 'R' Racing upto 250cc when he won both these events with Seyed Rehman being placed second and Nalin Perera finishing third. But in the second event of this category the three Indians took the first three placings with C. Vijayakumar winning the race followed by Rehman and G. Prasad. This being the first round of the championships, the second round is scheduled to be held in October. |
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