Looking to roast somebody
From Neville de Silva in London.
There is an old saying that if God did not exist, man would have created him.
The inventive capacity of the media of the oldest test cricket playing nations is no less. When things go badly for the home side, when cricket pundits are made to eat humble pie, they look for something or somebody to roast, particularly from among the opponents.

In Australia some years ago it was Muttiah Muralitharan whose danger was spotted early enough by those Down Under and so he was made to run the gauntlet of a carping media and a handful of former cricketers with their expert opinions. Now it is the turn of left arm seamer Ruchira Perera whose three wickets in the first test proved that, novice though he may be, he was a potential danger.

So the dogs of cricketing war were let loose and among the first to howl foul was Dermot Reeve, a rather mediocre cricketer who I remember used to play for Hong Kong when I lived there and somehow managed to be chosen to represent England. Talk of English cricket scraping the bottom of the barrel.

"Thrown Away" screamed the Sunday Times in huge words stuck on a picture of a flying Perera being carried by Hashan Tillekeratne. A small headline accompanying the story said: "Perera's action under attack". Another story in the same paper read "Destroyer Perera to face trial by TV".

Next day The Times, from the same Rupert Murdoch stable, headlined its sports page splash "Sri Lanka rush to Perera's defence after trial by TV" topped by a series of pictures of Perera prior to delivery. Trial by the media in the west is a common enough practice. They seem to replace the official arbiters whose responsibility it is to pass judgement. Unfortunately what happens in everyday life including sport is that the verdict is pronounced even before a person is brought to trial instead of criticising following the verdict, if criticism is due.

So we have press box pundits with the obvious advantages of modern technology working for them, such as Dermot Reeve, pontificating: "I think that if I were an umpire I would ask to see the film and then I would report it".

This surely is a curious comment. Report what- the film, his findings or what? Asking an umpire to see the film is understandable. But to then say that he should report it seems so redundant, if the sole purpose of seeing the film is to report one way or another. But Reeve's "it" seems to suggest the umpire report the action. It is like giving a person a fair trial and hanging him the next morning.

Henry Blofeld of The Independent also goes for the umpires' jugular, pinpointing the mistakes made especially by Daryl Harper in giving two England bastmen out. Strangely he seems unconcerned about other umpire mistakes as when England batsmen luckily survived to bat on.

Some of the best writing on the first test came from Christopher Martin- Jenkins Peter Roebuck and Andrew Longmore of The Independent who saw the picture in perspective. When I wrote at the end of the second day that Sri Lanka seemed to lack confidence some over-zealous sub editor deleted it probably thinking it unpatriotic.

My observation, intended to show that Jayasuriya without his bowling resources wanted to ensure he won't lose the match, was later substantiated by Christopher Martin-Jenkins after Monday's play in his column headlined "Sri Lanka fail their test of nerve".

While those like Reeves were giving their lessons on umpiring, other commentators such as Andrew Longmore were taking the cricket establishment and England cricketers to task for their colonial Raj-like attitude toward Sri Lanka for patronisingly denying a full series earlier because Sri Lanka was not a money-spinner. Longmore's commentary titled "Rerun of arrogant history" needs to be read in full to be appreciated. Still let me quote one paragraph.

"Nobody who was at The Oval in 1998 to witness two of the most remarkable pieces of cricket-a double century of wristy and thrilling beauty by Sanath Jayasuriya and 16 wickets by the incomparable Muralitharan-would need any further persuasion of the Sri Lankan's innate quality."

More such writing will surely appear as Jayasuriya and his team adjust themselves to atrocious atmospheric conditions euphemistically called English weather.

Isipatana readies for International Sevens tourney
Isipatana College with its humble beginnings situated at Havelock Town has gone from strength to strength, since 1952. Greenlands College will be celebrating their 'Golden Jubilee' with an international rugby 7s under lights on Sept. 6 and 7, at Longden Place.

The rugby-crazy school has been one of the main nurseries in recent years, when the sport was dominated by schools like Trinity, Royal, S. Thomas', St. Peter's etc. They will celebrate their 50th anniversary in style with a 7s tournament and that, too with an international flavour. They have got the blessings from the IRB, Asian Rugby Council and the local controlling bodies, the Rugby Union and the schools RFU. The story was exclusively carried in The Sunday Times.

This will inject tremendous enthusiasm especially into the outstation schools, who will get an opportunity to scrum down in an international tournament. Sevens rugby in the country has gained international recognition for our performances. This event will be the ideal opportunity for the schoolboys to uplift the country's image. It's the first of its kind in the schools rugby calendar organised by a local school.Isipatana Rugby Committee should be lauded for taking up the gauntlet. It's going to cost Rs. 4.5 million with all facilities afforded to the foreign and local teams. It will include medical treatment and insurance, too.

The SriLankan Airlines - the national carrier has been in the forefront in promoting sports, and has decided to co-sponsor this great happening. The SriLankan-Singer Int. rugby 7s orgnaised by Kandy S.C. since its inception is one of the much looked forward to events in the Int. rugby calendar. According to its Corporate Manager Victor Abeysekera no better way to foster the national carrier's image in a sports. It will also bring about understanding among other nations and promote the country's tourist attractions. This tournament will also give an opportunity for the participants to stay back and watch the Kandy S.C's Int. 7s which will also be staged in Kandy in Sept. 2002.

According to Dilory Fernando, Isipatana with a view to promote the game among the outstation schools, the school will host students from North and East to watch and learn and give them an opportunity to understand what rugby is all about. Reconciliation via rugby. He said five internationally famed referees drawn from S. Africa, Australia, New Zealand and England will help and assist the local Refs. - B.W.

How crazy
A Rugby Club up in the hills is always making a fuss that they cannot continue playing due to lack of funds.
But one wonders, as to what happened to the funds donated by former minister Lakshman Kiriella.

No physician
With more than 3000 junior athletes participating at the recently concluded Relay Championships at Police Park, it was observed there was no physician or anybody to provide First Aid in an emergency.

There was one instance when a girl, around 15 years of age needed First Aid and her school mates (who it was obvious knew nothing on the subject) were trying their best to help her. What a callous and indifferent attitude by the officials.

Talk of the town
How come, the Cricket Board is going Bunkoloth? The talk is about the money spent from deposits to pay the salaries of those on contract while the income is falling to pieces.

Selectors err
How come Michael Vandort who scored a ton against the India's A Team, failed to be selected for the 1st unofficial Test against India concluded last Sunday?

CR and FC let off the hook
By Bernie Wijesekera
CR and FC, had to use all their resouces to get the better of the gallant Navy after being held to 5-nil at the half to win 17-5 in a rousing 'A' Division league first round match played in wet conditions at Longden Place on Friday.

The scoreline was no indication of how the game went about as the gritty sailors hammered the red shirts to a standstill in their own backyard and held them to nil-all upto the 38th minute. But off a long throw 5 metres out saw scrumhalf Champika Nishanta wriggle through the defence to ground the ball over the line. Fly-half Roshan Peiris added the extra-points to lead 7-0 at the turnaround.

Navy was on the offensive in this half and gave a harrowing time to the durable CR 'eight' in the loose with some bone - jarring tackles. This half belonged to the sailors. Despite their limited skills they had the red shirts constantly running for shelter and they were unlucky for not having scored. Ref. Mahinda Jayawardena, too was found wanting with the whistle. The sailors were at the receiving end as a result.

After the turn around CR went ahead off a ruck close to the line. Prop burly Haren Gabriel, crashed over the line for an unconverted try-12-0. Undaunted the sailors kept on the pressure and were finally rewarded. A penalty was awarded 40 yards out, but kicked to touch. Off the ensuing line out, hooker Leslie Fernando rolled over for an unconverted try 12-5.

The fitter sailors with no let up kept on attacking. CR changed their ploy and decided to run the ball to keep the maurauding Navy forwards at bay. During the dying stages of the game CR scored their third try. CR kicked ahead and charged. A Navy forward knocked on in the in-goal area. Off the ensuing five-yard scrum nippy scrumhalf Champika Nishanta scored his second try, which was converted by Roshan Peiris to win 17-5 when Ref. Jayawardena blew no sides.

Navy's No. 8, Malawana again impressed, while CR's indefatigable No. 8 Savantha De Saram, stood out among the forwards for the winners. It was the red shirts experience and knowhow that helped them to be let off the hook to maintain their unbeaten tag.

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