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What a great start
Excitement has overflowed in the opening five days of the 8th cricket World Cup. There couldn’t have been a better opening game culminating in a tense final over victory and the margin just four. Not just that it provided the essence of one day cricket early wickets, good comeback batting, a flurry at the end of the innings, a calculated chase and death for the host nation in the final moments!

Brian Lara, Sanath Jayasuriya and Andrew Symonds have dazzled with their attacking brand of batsmanship.

Lara coming into international cricket after a lay off due to injury, showed he had not lost any of his brilliance. In fact, the will to perform, in what should be his last World Cup, seems to be at a premium. But the game is such a great leveler! Four days later he was run out going for the third run. A bulls-eye return from the boundary from Kiwi, Chris Cairns hit the stumps. Lara departed and the West Indies never recovered. A fall from grace for the great man and his team!

Sanath Jayasuriya, carries the hopes of Sri Lanka on his shoulders. The burden eased somewhat when he was able to carry the responsibly played knock that built the foundation for Sri Lanka to defeat New Zealand in a very crucial game for both teams.

Andrew Symonds, must have been feeling out of place in the Australian team, in the recent times. All around him were performing and the strongly built all rounder from Sydney, was merely making up the numbers. That day at the Wanderers (venue of the finals) came the calling. He walked in to bat at 86 for 4. The teams were minus Bevan, Lehmann and Warne, but Symonds put his hand up and made it count. His Captain Ponting departed after putting on sixty runs.

He was involved in running out Ian Harvey another sixty runs later. Nothing upset his concentration or the determination to stay until the end. Not even the beamer delivered by Waqar Younis could halt the big man, from racing to 143 runs in just 125 deliveries. It was a magnificent display of non-stop aggressive batting. It also underlined the inner strength of the Aussies who at this stage are superbly focused.

The tournament format makes it important to win as many games as possible. A win scores 4 points and these 4 points are carried into the super sixes stage. However, points scored against teams that have not qualified are reduced to one. So, points scored against opposition such as Canada, Namibia, Kenya, Holland (certain non qualifiers) will be reduced to one. It is therefore essential to beat as many of the top teams, in order not to fall back on the overall points table, after advancing to the next round.

Sri Lanka are perched on strong bark to progress in the direction of success. They play the three weaker teams Bangladesh, Canada & Kenya with four to five day breaks in-between. That will be ample preparation before meeting the West Indies and South Africa.

The current World one day international rankings has South Africa (2) New Zealand (3) Sri Lanka (4) and West Indies (5). That is based on how there recent series have gone. It also indicates that there is some equality in the strength and ability amongst those four teams bunched at the top half of the table. It promises exciting cricket when these teams meet.

Weather wise, it's the best time of year in South Africa, the pitches produced have been very good, the outfields well manicured yet fast is all promise of heaps of exciting cricket.

Dress code is very important
If you are not a cricketer at least, look like a cricketer, so goes the saying. This was the first lesson instilled in their charges by the coach and the master-in-charge in the past.

But times have changed. Standards have dropped all round including the spirit of the game. The motto is to win at all cost due to the ongoing competitive cricket at all levels among schoolboys. There is quantity but no quality.

Making my rounds especially school cricket in the ongoing season, I noticed several shortcomings prevailing among the schoolboys on and off the field. The attire was found wanting. They were mostly shabbily dressed. The cricketing gear (pads and shoes) were often not clean.

This is not confined to less affluent schools alone who are striving to keep the game alive among their charges despite limited resources.

But this drawback is even among the school boys in leading schools as well. Watching a game with a former senior Army Officer an outstanding sportsman during his day, he agreed.

Why go for expensive attire - a "David Gower Slack" and skin it to the marrow (until it turns brown). If the player is unable to go to a laundry mate, then he should do well to use an affordable attire that could be cleaned by himself. Don't emulate others.

Be happy with what you have and be cleanly attired and look like a cricketer. This is the duty of the master-in-charge. He must lead by example and command respect among his charges. But apparently he too is found wanting in some quarters. Former Nalanda cricket coach and English master, Nelson Mendis now turned a professional coach opined the same view. More than teaching the skills, he instilled on them to be disciplined on and off the field.

Always look like a cricketer and maintain the dignity of this gentleman's game. This has to be instilled at grassroots level. But sad to mention apparently it’s not happening at present times. It's not confined to the players, but those who adjudicate the matches too are found wanting in some quarters.

Believe it or not, it happened at a coaching school run by former Leicestershire and Sri Lanka cricketer, Stanley Jayasinghe. A son of former Sri Lanka skipper, attended his classes.

His father was watching from the side. Stan, noticed the boy's shoes were not clean. He admonished him over this. “Look tomorrow if your shoes are not clean no batting for you.” Apparently today the coaches and players are not playing for the right reasons, but are more concerned about material gain. -BW

NCC to prop shuttle sport
N.C.C. the century-old cricket club was mainly for cricket in the past along with neighbours, S.S.C. But it has spread its wings to other disciplines, too, to make it more a family club, for members to enjoy a pleasant evening.

Today they have a swimming pool. Kids are given an opportunity of learning and are being trained by Julian Bolling. According to a senior official of the club - they will now give a fillip to badminton to encourage the membership to indulge in the sport under lights.

Corporate membership and companies could make use of this facility besides the swimming pool. Extension to the clubhouse is in progress. Once it's completed, there will be a billiard room and a table for those interested in cue sport to indulge, he said.

The club has made a name in cricket in the past and continue to do so at present, too, producing players to the national team. They have made the grade at international level and have done proud for the club and for the country.

What made the club hierarchy go in for other disciplines unlike in the past.? We want NCC to be a family club for all to enjoy rather than confining to cricket alone.

This will bring about understanding among all. Through the efforts of the membership the club is helping the needy via community service to the less privileged sans any barriers.

The move by the Maitland Place Club headed by Leslie Hewage and his committee should be commended in their endeavour to help the less privileged besides winning trophies.

Trophies are forgotten - it's the spirit of the game that matters in the end. The club is helping the needy at grassroots level. Many outstation talented lads have been the beneficiaries. -BW

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