Singer Cup news
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AAP 08/17 CRIK: HEALY: STILL WORK TO BE DONE WITH SRI LANKA RELAT
Acting Australian cricket captain IAN HEALY has recognised the
need for diplomacy to help restore flagging relations with Sri
Lanka when his side travels to the country on Monday. HEALY is
replacing injured skipper MARK TAYLOR for the two-week tour,
which the Australian Cricket Board has given the green light to
despite ongoing safety concerns over the country's civil war.
HEALY and Sri Lankan captain ARJUNA RANATUNGA - considered
almost a god in Sri Lanka - clashed heatedly during the World
Series finals in Sydney earlier this year.
The incident angered the Sri Lankans, who nonetheless
maintained a gentle demeanour despite throwing and ball
tampering allegations, and constant media scrutiny in Australia.
HEALY says he's confident relationships with the Sri Lankan
team are nearly rebuilt - but says there could still be work to
be done with the island nation's public.
CRIK: ROOKIE HOGG WANTS TO PARTNER WARNE
By Cole Hitchcock of AAP
BRISBANE, Aug 17 AAP - Australia's new spinner Brad Hogg is
amused by the thought of bowling in tandem with Shane Warne in a
Test match - after all the Western Australian is supposed to be a
batsman.
Left-armer Hogg has replaced Warne in the Australian touring
party for next week's tour of Sri Lanka and there's every chance
he could be playing his first Test against India in October.
The retirement of Warne's long-time spin twin Tim May has left
a hole for someone to fill. Rarely does Australia enter a Test
match with a lone spinner in its 12. For Hogg the thought is so
far distant it's not worth worrying about.
"My ultimate goal now is to play a Test alongside Shane, to
bowl in tandem with him," said Hogg. "That would be my biggest
thrill."
The 25-year-old played his first two Sheffield Shield seasons
as a middle order batsmen. He is listed in last season's cricket
register as a left arm, fast/medium pace bowler.
In his debut season in 1993-94 Hogg bowled only six balls in
Shield cricket and in his second returned an average of 83.5.
Now he is in the Australian side as its sole specialist
spinner.
"This is going to be a big experience and I'm going to learn a
lot in a short time," he said.
"It was a big opportunity just getting in the squad, being
amongst the top guys and learning from them. Even going away is
going to a big learner for me.
"You are there and can only give it your best shot. If things
go right well and good but you can't do any better than your
best."
Hogg's only international experience was at last month's Super
Eights in Kuala Lumpur. The next two weeks has the potential to
shape a Test career.
08/17 HEALY ON BRIDGE BUILDING MISSION
Stand-in Australia skipper Ian Healy is confident his team can
restore good relations with Sri Lanka on their forthcoming tour.
Healy was named as replacement captain for the injured Mark
Taylor for the two-week trip to Sri Lanka when the Australian
Cricket Board confirmed the tour would go ahead, despite safety
fears.
The 32-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman believes relationships
with the Sri Lankan team are nearly rebuilt, but admits there
could still be work to be done with the nation's public.
"We've definitely got to build bridges, not only with their
team but with the public," Healy said at an Australian team
training camp today.
"We've got to be seen to be enjoying ourselves, which in the
past in Sri Lanka hasn't been a problem. There's no such thing as
a right or wrong impression, it's just the impression they gain."
Healy and Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga clashed heatedly
during the World Series finals in Sydney earlier this year.
The incident angered the Sri Lankans, who had to withstand
throwing and ball tampering allegations, a long and arduous
schedule and constant media scrutiny in three months in
Australia.
Some wounds were healed when the two teams mixed well during
the final Test in Adelaide before Sri Lanka claimed their biggest
cricketing triumph -- beating Australia to win the World Cup. AP
Rediff (India)
Healy to lead Australia in Singer Cup; Warne opts out
Our Cricket Correspondent
Australian Cricket Board officials confirmed in Brisbane on
Friday that the team would travel to Sri Lanka for the
four-nation, fortnight long Singer Cup one day competition
slated to begin in Colombo on August 24.
The visit to the island nation was in jeopardy, with the
ACB expressing security concerns following a bomb blast in
Colombo earlier this month which left 70 dead and several
dozen more injured. In February, Australia had boycotted
its league fixture in the World Cup, again in Colombo,
following a suicide bombing that killed 90 people and
injured 400 others.
ACB chairman Denis Rogers announced that after considering
all aspects of the situation, it was decided to go ahead
with the tour. The other participating nations, India and
Zimbabwe who along with hosts Sri Lanka will compete for
the Singer Cup, have already confirmed their presence.
With captain Mark Taylor having dropped out owing to a back
problem, wicketkeeper Ian Healy was named captain of the
13-member Aussie squad for the Cup. Taylor's opening slot
will be taken by South Australian southpaw Darren Lehmann,
while West Australia's Brad Hogg will replace star
leg-spinner Shane Warne, who had ruled himself out of the
tour earlier Friday.
Warne, who bowled in the nets on Thursday, decided to give
his injured finger more rest in an attempt to get fully fit
for the longer tour of India in October, which includes a
one-off Test for the newly instituted Border-Gavaskar Cup,
and a triangular series of one-dayers with South Africa
being the third team in the contest.
"Safety concerns remain'" said ACB chairman Denis Rogers.
"We still have some concerns about this particular overseas
tour, but nevertheless the advice is that things are a lot
better, significantly better, than they were in February.
"We've had extensive discussions with a significant number
of people and organisations, as we did in February, to get
the best possible information we could in order to make our
decision," the ACB boss said. "All things considered, we
finally decided to go ahead with the tour."
Captain elect Ian Healy indicated that security was
uppermost in the minds of the players as well. "I will
admit that there is some reservation about going on this
tour. True, some are more concerned than others," the
veteran keeper said, adding, "But these reservations will
never go away until we actually go on the tour. We have
supported the decision the ACB has made."
"No side is invincible, but we'd like to win" - Sachin
Tendulkar
Our Cricket Correspondent
The secret of well-being, they say, is simple - if
life hands you a lemon, make lemonade; if you find
yourself in hot water, have a good soak!
It is a philosophy that appears to animate the Indian
cricket team, now undergoing a preparatory camp at the M A
Chidambaram Stadium in Madras before the four-nation Singer
Cup tournament in Sri Lanka slated to begin on August 24.
Thus, when it rained on Friday, both manager Sandeep Patil
and captain Sachin Tendulkar saw in the interruption a
blessing in disguise. "We sat down, while it rained
outside, and brain-stormed," Patil said. "And everyone came
up with very valuable suggestions."
The interruption occured midway through the morning
practise session, while the squad was concentrating on
physical conditioning. The rain-spurred discussion over and
done with, the players took up where they had left off,
with nary a murmur when Patil extended the morning session
to make up for lost time.
In the interval between the morning and afternoon
sessions, skipper Sachin Tendulkar took time off to
share his views on the prospects for the upcoming
tournament, in which India will face World Cup winners Sri
Lanka and finalists Australia, besides Zimbabwe.
"No side is invincible," said an obviously upbeat
Tendulkar, when reminded of the strength of the opposition
his team would be facing. "We would definitely like to
win."
Reminded that it was against the Lankans that India
came aground in the semifinal of the World Cup,
Tendulkar was quick with the reply: "You forget that we
beat Sri Lanka in Singapore, when we faced them after the
World Cup. My point is precisely that, no team has been
winning always, nor can it expect to."
Least confidence be mistaken for complacence, India's
captain - the youngest, in fact, to ever lead the nation in
a one-day international - added, "In one day cricket,
nothing can be taken for granted, nothing can be predicted.
Don't think it's going to be easy, for it is not. We cannot
afford to relax for a minute against Lanka."
Sachin believes that the side he leads, with an average age
of 26 and with Azhar, at 33, the oldest member, could well
be the nucleus of the side of the future. "It is a young
outfit, and this is going to help a lot. If we stay
together as a team for a reasonable period of time, the
results will be positive."
While Sachin, perhaps for obvious reasons, did not want to
make any comments whatsoever about the recent debacle in
England, he did disagree with the perception that the
bowling was not good enough to bowl a Test side out twice.
"A couple of crucial umpiring decisions went the wrong way,
and made all the difference. Not," he added quickly, "that
I am blaming the umpires - everybody makes mistakes. I am
merely pointing out that there is always more than one
reason for success, or failure."
Given his amazingly young age, it will be Sachin's larger
brief to mould Indian cricket for the future. And it is a
responsibility he faces with confidence. "There is plenty
of talent at the grassroots level," Sachin felt. "I did not
get to play much domestic cricket last season, but in the
Liberty Cup competition in Hyderabad, I saw at least 10, 15
youngsters with good potential. The talent is there, and it
can be moulded through competition," said Tendulkar.
And then he led his 'boys' out again, this time for a
session in the nets. And perhaps to indicate that even
genius can only improve with practise, the master batsman
took a long session in the nets, thought about his
performance, then promptly asked for and got another
go-round with the bat.
Bowling to Tendulkar, ironically enough, were three Sri
Lankan boys currently training with the MRF Pace Foundation
in Madras - N Soyza, S De Silva and W Labrooy, part of a
contingent of 12 trainees honing their skills under fast
bowling great Dennis Lillee and former India Test star T A
Shekhar. "The boys have been bowling to us from the first
day," manager Sandeep Patil said. "Considering that we are
practising to play against their country, it is a great
gesture on their part. Not everyone would do this."
As for the boys, their motivation was obvious - it is
something to be able to say that they bowled to Sachin
Tendulkar, even if only in the nets.
And who knows, one of them could well be the Lankan pace
spearhead by the time the next World Cup comes around - ask
Chaminda Vaas and Ravindra Pushpakumara, Pace Foundation
alumni both...
Aussies looking to mend fences with Sri Lanka
Our Cricket Correspondent
Australia's skipper-elect Ian Healy is a man with a
mission.
"Diplomacy," says the veteran wicket-keeper, who takes the
top job as stand-in for injured skipper Mark Taylor, "is
the order of the day. The idea is to help restore relations
with Sri Lanka, which are admittedly a bit strained."
And it perhaps natural justice that Healy is in charge of
this mission, given that he himself contributed in no small
measure to that 'straining'. Earlier this year, when the
Lankans toured Australia, they stumbled from one
controversy to another.
In the first Test, the umpires replaced a ball while the
Lankans were bowling and, at the end of the day's play,
informed the media that the Lankan bowlers and fielders had
"tampered" with the ball - a serious allegation in these
times. A day later, it was officially announced that the
ball was of bad quality, and that the Lankans had nothing
to do with it's going out of shape.
Then came the second Test, and the calling of ace spinner
Muthiah Muralitharan for chucking by Australian umpire
Darrell Hair. Again, Muralitharan was subsequently
exonerated, after a study of videographic evidence, by the
ICC - but by then, the damage had been done.
Throughout, the Lankans maintained a dignified
demeanour even as the Australian press crucified
them in its columns. The final straw however came during
the Sydney Test, when Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga,
under provocation, clashed angrily with - surprise,
surprise - wicketkeeper Healy, who had reportedly kept up a
rapidfire stream of abuse directed at the Lankan while the
latter was batting.
The incidents, and the subsequent refusal by Australia to
play its scheduled World Cup league match against Lanka in
Colombo citing security reasons, left the Lankan players
embittered - and so motivated that in the final of the
World Cup, they played out of their skins to give their
rivals what many felt was a well-deserved commeuppance.
Now it is Healy's turn to effect a patchup. And the
32-year-old 'keeper says he is confident that matters have
to a considerable extent been mended. "The players are
fine, we have no problems with each other, but there is
still some work to be done with the Lankan public. We have
to build bridges, not only with the team but with the
people of Lanka," Healy said in Brisbane, where the
13-member Australian squad for the upcoming Singer Cup is
participating in a three-day preparatory camp.
"We've got to be seen to be enjoying ourselves out there,"
said Healy, responding to a question about how he was going
to go about his self-imposed task. "And that has not been a
problem in Sri Lanka, at least in the past. There is no
such thing as a right or a wrong impression, what matters
is the impression you convey..."
Indian cricket team intensifies preparations
Our Cricket Correspondent
After two days of comparative idleness, the Indian cricket
squad bound for the Singer Cup in Sri Lanka later this
month and the Sahara Cup in Canada against Pakistan in
September decided to get serious on Independence Day.
The workout, part of a 10-day preparatory camp at the M A
Chidambaram Stadium in Madras, kicked off with a very
strenuous workout and fielding practise that lasted for an
hour and a half. With new skipper Sachin Tendulkar and team
manager Sandeep Patil egging them on, the Indian team
members threw themselves around on the lush turf, their
brief being to perfect the art of the sliding stop.
"Some players, like Ajay Jadeja, have perfected the knack
of sliding before they stop the ball. We are trying to
teach the others that knack. But in any event," said Patil,
"the players have been told that their mission is to stop
the ball at all costs, sliding, falling, or otherwise. Stop
the ball, that's it!"
It is an art they will need to take full use of, when they
take on World Cup champions Sri Lanka and finalists
Australia in Sri Lanka later this month. Both teams are
known for their rapid, almost breath-taking, pace of
run-making, and the Indian fielders will need to be on
their toes to back their bowlers to the hilt - a fact
recognised, apparently, by both Tendulkar and Patil if one
is to judge from the emphasis the side is putting on
fielding.
Earlier in the day, a team of doctors flown down from
Bangalore, in tandem with team physio Ali Irani, put the
Indian players through a strenuous endurance test. And
this, apparently, is the beginning of a bid to ensure that
the players are always in fighting trim. "Such tests,"
Patil said, "will be performed once every six months, this
is something both the players and I have agreed upon. This
will, we feel, tone up our general fitness levels."
All this activity, meanwhile, is taking place under the
keen eye of national selector Anshuman Gaekwad. This is the
first time that a national selector is monitoring a
coaching camp - normally, the role of the selection
committee ends when the team for a tour is picked. However,
the Board of Control for Cricket in India has insisted that
this time round, a selector be present throughout the
duration of the coaching camp.
Chairman of the national selectors G R Vishwanath will join
Gaikwad later this week. And the two former Test stars have
been briefed by the board to keep their eyes open and, if
fitness or any other consideration demands, to make changes
in the selected squad, as they see fit.
Patil, after facing flak for the team's lackadaisical
showing in England - there was even some suggestion that he
should be sacked for failing to hold the team together -
appears to have got his second wind and is now playing a
more evident role. "I have written to each player,
personally, informing him about preparations for the tours
coming up, and for the ones to follow. And I have made it
clear that negligence, bad behaviour and such will not be
tolerated at any cost."
This military-style regime, says Patil, is how it should
be. "After all," argued the Indian manager, "they are
playing for the country, and our collective effort should
be to boost the image of Indian cricket."
Meanwhile, the Indian management has taken an interesting
decision, calculated to bring wry grins to the faces of
those who have seen, in recent times, pictures of former
India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin and other leading members
talking into cell phones, sometimes even during breaks in
the action on the field of play.
"Cellular phones have been banned," said Patil firmly,
"once the players are out of their hotel rooms." Players
would not be permitted to carry and use cell phones even
during their practise sessions, the Indian manager
clarified.
As the old saying goes, we live in interesting times...
Tin Tin
Massive security operation for Singer world series
19 August 1996
The Government has ordered a massive security operation to ensure the
security and safety of the Indian, Australian, Zimbabwe and Sri Lankan
players participating in the 4-nation singer world series and a match
between reigning world champions and a world XI at the Premadasa Stadium ,
defence sources told "The Island" yesterday.
The elite special task force (STF) the Ministerial Security Division (MSD)
and the Colombo police have pooled in their resources to mount to biggest
ever security operation in Colombo after Pope John Paul the sixth visit in
January last year.
Copyright The Island
The Sunday Times
18th August 1996
Liaison Officers for Singer Cup
The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka, has chosen the following to
be the Liaison Officers for the four nations playing in the Singer World
Series Limited overs Cricket Tournament commencing August 26.
They are Roshan Abeysinghe (Australia), Leo Wijesinghe (Zimbabwe), A. R. M.
Aroos (Sri Lanka) and Lawrence Amarasena (India).
CRIK: SLATER TO BE USED IN PRACTICE MATCHES
By Cole Hitchcock of AAP
BRISBANE, Aug 18 AAP - Australian opener Michael Slater will
be given a golden opportunity to prove himself in international
one-day cricket on the short tour of Sri Lanka.
New coach Geoff Marsh, himself on the one-day outer at times
during his distinguished career, says Slater will be used in two
practice matches before the four-nation tournament with Sri
Lanka, India and Zimbabwe.
Australia has just over a week before the Sri Lankan
tournament begins, where Marsh wants to play at least two and
possibly three practice matches before settling on a side to
play Zimbabwe at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on August 26.
Slater found himself out of the side during the World Cup
where Mark Waugh became such a huge success, opening the order
with captain and left-hander Mark Taylor who is injured for this
tour.
Another left-hander, Darren Lehmann, has been brought into the
side for Taylor with the possibility that he could begin the
innings alongside Waugh who is a certain one-day opener.
"We haven't got any preconceived ideas," Marsh said on the eve
of the side's departure today.
"Slats (Slater) does open in Test cricket, he had a bit of a
lapse last year but we are hoping he will find some form.
"He's a wonderful player and hopefully he's learnt a lot over
the last couple of months. Every cricketer goes through what he's
gone through.
"You've got to fight through that period of your career until
you get your confidence, it happens to all of us. That's when you
prove if you are a great cricketer or a good cricketer."
With the addition of Lehmann, one of the form players of the
Super Eights, Australia has an enormous amount of one-day batting
firepower in its ranks.
Lehmann joins Stuart Law, Michael Bevan, the Waugh twins and
Greg Blewett as players who can bat almost anywhere in the order
and destroy any opposition.
They all also offer plenty of bowling options.
CRIK: MARSH WON'T GAG PLAYERS AHEAD OF SRI LANKA TOUR
By Cole Hitchcock of AAP
BRISBANE, Aug 18 AAP - Australian cricket coach Geoff Marsh
has ruled out tempering his players on the potentially volatile
tour of Sri Lanka even though he acknowledges the need for an
element of diplomacy.
Australia will make its first visit to Sri Lanka since
boycotting the opening World Cup match in February for safety
reasons, and risks being lampooned by the passionate public
during the three week tour.
Marsh recognises that as much as the cricketers may try,
wounds from the past six months, which included an incident
packed summer in Australia, will take time to heal.
"That's something we have to wear," said Marsh, due to fly
with his team to Hong Kong tomorrow and onto Colombo on Tuesday.
He added that Australia would not hold back when on the field.
"That's the way it's always been. You cross the white line to
be competitive, without going over the top, but you do what you
have to to be competitive, within the rules of the game."
He said new captain Ian Healy, in particular, would not be
gagged despite his well publicised run-ins with Sri Lanka's
Arjuna Ranatunga during the domestic season.
"He's a fierce competitor and so is Ranatunga, they are two
cricketers that don't want to lose," Marsh said.
Marsh said he felt a sense of relief when the Australian
Cricket Board decided the tour would go ahead despite some
insecurities about the trip still being held by the 13-man
party.
"The players have spent quite a bit of time talking about it
but unfortunately they are going into the unknown," he said.
"You read so much in the paper but unforunately because our
guys are so popular with the public everyone is telling them
they are mad to go to Sri Lanka.
"It's a very negative situation but the board has done
everything possible. They are looking forward to going now with
just a little hesitation about what to expect.
"I think it was important for cricket for us to go and I don't
think that had anything to do with the decision.
"It's great that we are going because Sri Lanka is such a
bloody good cricket side.
"I'd hate to think something came between us and their cricket
team aside from sport - keep the politics out of it."
The Australians finished a three-day camp here today but the
weather intervened somewhat and a proposed morning net session
was cancelled. The side was able to get into the nets this
afternoon.
An old and very familiar face was invited into camp. Record-
breaking former captain Allan Border, a close friend of "Swampy"
Marsh, spent the day with the side on the coach's invitation.
"You can never speak to AB enough about the game and the
things that can be learnt. You learn every day in this game,
every single day."
Several of the Australians are suffering from a heavy flu,
which is being closely monitored by team officials.
AAP 08/19 CRIK: BIG CHANCE FOR SLATER
Australian opener MICHAEL SLATER is to be given every
opportunity to revitalise his one-day international career on the
short tour of Sri Lanka.
New coach GEOFF MARSH -- himself on the one-day outer at times
during his distinguished career - says SLATER will be used in two
practice matches before the four-nation tournament.
And MARSH wants to play at least two and possibly three
practice matches before settling on a side to play the opening
match against Zimbabwe in Colombo on August 26.
The four-nation tournament also includes India and Sri Lanka.
CRIK: HOGG'S PERFORMANCE COULD BE CRUCIAL, SAYS HEALY
By Wayne Heming of AAP
BRISBANE, Aug 19 AAP - Brad Hogg's maiden cricket tour of Sri
Lanka may be more important to Australia's immediate
international success than just filling in as back-up to the
best spinner in the world.
Two seasons ago the 25-year-old West Australian was more of a
batsman than a bowler.
But with long-serving Test spinner Tim May off the scene and
glamour tweaker Shane Warne plagued by wear and tear to his
magical spinning hand, Hogg's development from apprentice to
first-class spinner has been stepped up.
Hogg left for Sri Lanka today on a ticket originally booked
for Warne, ruled out of the four nation Singer Cup tournament on
Friday after failing a late fitness test on his over-worked
spinning finger.
Hogg bowls left arm chinamans which come off the pitch in the
opposite direction to Warne's wildly breaking leggies.
The master plan is to have the pair tossing down their turners
in tandem in Tests this summer.
Despite his latest setback, Warne remains supremely confident
his finger, operated on during the off season, will be 100 per
cent in time for Australia's six-week tour of India in October.
There are conflicting reports about how much more work and
physiotherapy Warne requires before regaining control over his
deadly bowling action.
With selectors aware of the bowling workload confronting
Australia on the tour of the sub-continent, and with little time
up their sleeve, Hogg's development is now a priority.
"It's obvious the selectors have fast-tracked him to be
Warne's back-up or replacement," said stand-in skipper Ian Healy
who, with Mark Taylor facing back surgery, may yet find himself
in charge of the Indian tour.
"It's a very important tour for Hoggie.
"If he can come out of it reasonably successful and fairly
confident of knowing international cricket is not too far off for
him then one of our objectives would be achieved."
New Australian coach Geoff Marsh believes Hogg is a big show
of playing in the four-nation tournament which also features
Zimbabwe, India and Sri Lanka.
"If Warne isn't fit (for India) then we've got to find another
spinner and find one pretty quickly so Hogg's performance on this
tour as far as that goes will be pretty important," said Marsh.
"He's got a big chance of playing, he's the number one spinner
on tour."
Meanwhile Healy expects to "cop a bit" from Sri Lankan
supporters on the short tour of the war-torn island nation.
The Queensland keeper clashed with Sri Lankan captain Arjuna
Ranatunga during the World Series finals in Sydney earlier this
year.
Sri Lanka was subjected to chucking allegations, claims of
ball tampering and constant media scrutiny during the tournament
yet for the most, managed to maintain their gentle demeanour.
"I think we'll be well looked after but maybe at the grounds
we'll cop a bit, not so much for boycotting the World Cup, but
just the normal supporter antics of any overseas crowd," said
Healy.
"We probably haven't found that in Sri Lanka before but this
could be the first time. Maybe we'll cop as much over there as
they copped from our crowds out here."
Healy said there were no last-minute reservations by players
about touring.
The tour was given the green light on Friday even though ACB
chairman Denis Rogers could not guarantee player safety.
"The board made a decision that the tour should go ahead and
then the players were canvassed and discussed it," said Healy.
"I think if the players had not wanted to go, the board's
decision could have been reversed.
"I'm sure the players still had a controlling hand in it."
08/19 TENDULKAR WORRIED BY VIOLENCE IN SRI LANKA
India's new captain Sachin Tendulkar has admitted he is worried
about ethnic violence in Sri Lanka just one week before the start
of the Singer World Series tournament.
But the 23-year-old batsman is convinced the Sri Lankans have
done all they can to protect the players of the three visiting
sides, India, Zimbabwe and Australia.
"It does worry us a bit," said Tendulkar today. "We hear so
many things. It is difficult to put them out of your mind and so
there is some pressure.
"I am confident about the security cover. The other thing I
have heard is that they (the Tamil separatist guerrillas) have
never hurt any sports person and I feel good about it."
The two-week tournament starts on August 26 in Colombo, the
capital of the Indian Ocean island which has been wracked by a
13-year Tamil separatist rebellion in which the government says
more than 50,000 people have died.
Australia face a potentially volatile reception after
boycotting a World Cup fixture there in February because of fears
of violence, heightened by a huge bomb blast in the city centre
just before the tournament.
The Australian Cricket Board have said they are satisfied with
the security arrangements, but the players still have
reservations.
Australian coach Geoff March, whose team departed for Sri
Lanka today minus injured opener Mark Taylor and leg spinner
Shane Warne, said: "The players have spent quite a bit of time
talking about it but unfortunately they are going into the
unknown." Reuter
The Sunday Times
18th August 1996
Cricket Board clamps total censorship
Manager, coach and captain told - “don’t talk to the media”
By Marlon Fernandopulle
On the eve of the Singer World Series cricket tournament the Board of
Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka yesterday clamped down on the media and
barred journalists from speaking to the cricket manager, coach or captain.
The move which is viewed as a total censorship on news related to Sri Lanka
cricket prevents Duleep Mendis, Dev Whatmore or Arjuna Ranatunge from
speaking to the press. Prior permission has to be obtained from the Cricket
Board President Upali Dharmadasa if interviews are to be given to
journalists.
“The Sunday Times” which wanted to obtain an interview, was bluntly told by
Mr. Dharmadasa that no interviews would be allowed.
Mr. Dharmadasa claimed the restrictions on the media were not new and had
been in force since 1980.
But he seems to be unaware that interviews have been given by the cricket
manager, coach or captain on a regular basis during the past.
Any restriction in the past was only for the players and not for the coach,
manager or captain.
“The Sunday Times” was told that any questions regarding the team must be
submitted to the President himself or to the Chief Executive Officer of the
Board.
Since both these officials were not involved directly in the training and
preparations of the cricketers “The Sunday Times” did not submit the
questions to them because their answers would apparently have been
superficial.
As a sop Mr. Dharmadasa said he would issue media releases and call a news
conference next week to brief the media.
Media releases and news conferences are well and good. But are Cricket Board
officials trying to act like petty dictators in muzzling the voices of the
captain, coach and manager who have in recent months played a dynamic role
in lifting Sri Lanka to be world champions.
Sri Lanka have a huge public following for the game. After winning the World
Cup the interest generated has been unprecedented. The people want to know
all about what our national cricket heroes are doing and jackbooted
officials in the Cricket Board have no authority to deny the people their
right to be informed.
Australia face uncertain Sri Lankan welcome
BRISBANE: Australia's cricketers left on Monday for a short tour of Sri
Lanka where they face a potentially volatile reception after refusing to set
foot on the island six months ago due to security fears.
Australia are making their first visit to Sri Lanka since boycotting a World
Cup fixture in February and will be without their captain and best bowler
because of injury.
``The players have spent quite a bit of time talking about it but
unfortunately they are going into the unknown,'' Australian coach Geoff
Marsh told reporters before the team's departure.
He said the 13-man squad still had reservations about playing in Sri Lanka,
which has been fighting a civil war with separatist Tamil guerrillas for the
13 years.
``It's a very negative situation, but the (Australian Cricket Board) has
done everything possible. The players are looking forward to going now with
just a little hesitation about what to expect,'' Marsh said.
Wicketkeeper Ian Healy will lead the side in the two-week Singer World
Series, starting on 26 August, against Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and India.
Both opener Mark Taylor and leg-spinner Shane Warne pulled out last week
because of back and finger injuries, respectively.
Relations between the sides were badly strained last season when the Sri
Lankans were first found guilty and then cleared of ball tampering, and
spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was called for throwing during a controversial
test series in Australia.
Marsh, who took over as coach from Bob Simpson during the off season, said
relations would take time to heal.
``That's something we will have to wear,'' Marsh said. But he ruled out any
change to Australia's traditionally aggressive approach.
``That's the way it's always been _ you cross the white line to be
competitive, without going over the top,'' he added. ``You do what you have
to to be competitive, within the rules of the game.'' _ Reuter
Steve
In article <4v6qot$3...@news.lth.se>, e9...@efd.lth.se (Tin Tin) says:
>Sri Lankan captain ARJUNA RANATUNGA - considered
>almost a god in Sri Lanka
The god of fine cuisine, perhaps? :-)
>The incident angered the Sri Lankans, who nonetheless
>maintained a gentle demeanour despite throwing and ball
>tampering allegations, and constant media scrutiny in Australia.
Gentle would not be the word I would use to describe Sri Lanka's
reaction to these controversial issues - and I hardly think that
the media scrutiny placed upon them was, shall we say, derogatory.
If anything the media seemed to be in Sri Lanka's favour, particularly
on the issue of ball-tampering, which amounted to one big stuff-up
by the umpires involved. And most cricket journalists (though not all)
believed that Muralitharan was unfairly called.
> HEALY says he's confident relationships with the Sri Lankan
>team are nearly rebuilt - but says there could still be work to
>be done with the island nation's public.
The appointment of Healy as captain does worry me somewhat, because
he is probably the most competitive player in the Australian squad,
and doesnt like backing down, either on or off the field - witness his
confrontation with Desmond Haynes some years back. Still, there were
few other options for the captaincy.
> BRISBANE, Aug 17 AAP - Australia's new spinner Brad Hogg is
>amused by the thought of bowling in tandem with Shane Warne in a
>Test match
It probably amuses him because Warne is quintillion-times the bowler
Hogg is. It amuses me because I doubt that it will ever happen, and
even if it does, it will be a short-lived marriage.
> Now he is in the Australian side as its sole specialist
>spinner.
Or should we say, back-up spinner to Mark Waugh and Michael Bevan.
> Then came the second Test, and the calling of ace spinner
> Muthiah Muralitharan for chucking by Australian umpire
> Darrell Hair. Again, Muralitharan was subsequently
> exonerated, after a study of videographic evidence, by the
> ICC - but by then, the damage had been done.
Two points here...firstly, it seems rather foolhardy to call a bowler
an "ace spinner" when at the time of the event concerned, he had taken
something like 3-300 in the Tests. Secondly, Muralitharan has not been
exonerated by the ICC...in fact the ICC has displayed its typical lack
of foresight and initiative on the matter by doing nothing. He has
been 'cleared' by human motion experts, but not by any official cricket
body.
> Throughout, the Lankans maintained a dignified
> demeanour even as the Australian press crucified
> them in its columns.
Absolute garbage. As I said, the Sri Lankans had more friends in the
press than the Australians.
> The final straw however came during
> the Sydney Test, when Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga,
> under provocation, clashed angrily with - surprise,
> surprise - wicketkeeper Healy, who had reportedly kept up a
> rapidfire stream of abuse directed at the Lankan while the
> latter was batting.
Throughout the summer the Australian players were constantly annoyed
by Ranatunga's requests for extra drinks breaks, and a runner for
himself. Healy notes the incident in his recently-released book, where
after yet another request for a runner, he turned to Ranatunga and said
"You dont get a runner for being fat, mate" Until that point he had not
spoken to the Sri Lankan captain, so if there was provocation, or a
stream of abuse, it was not coming from Healy. While sledging in its
strictest sense is unacceptable at any level, this type of by-remark
hardly constitutes a crisis. And if what Healy says is true (and Im sure
someone will have evidence to the contrary :-) then Ranatunga should not
be complaining. After all, cricket is a physical sport where one side
pits its skill, adeptness and fitness against the other - if Ranatunga's
fitness is lacking, as it almost certainly is, then he should not be
seeking concession from the umpire's or the laws of the game, and should
not be complaining when such remarks are made (as they inevitably will be)
> The incidents, and the subsequent refusal by Australia to
> play its scheduled World Cup league match against Lanka in
> Colombo citing security reasons, left the Lankan players
> embittered - and so motivated that in the final of the
> World Cup, they played out of their skins to give their
> rivals what many felt was a well-deserved commeuppance.
Ah, so it takes hatred and revenge to win a World Cup? I see. We can
thus assume that if Australia had played in Colombo, the Sri Lankans
couldn't have cared less. :-)
Steve
IRC Nick: Stemmo
Supriya Wickrematillake
As a Sri Lankan, I must admit that the standard of sports journalism is
-shall we say- 'not upto the mark' in Sri Lanka. Even San Jose Mercury
News' NFL coverage is better than this.
Reading these sl-news reports for anything other than pure entertainment
is, IMO, a waste of time.
supriya
Tin Tin
In article Supriya Wickrematillake writes:
> As a Sri Lankan, I must admit that the standard of sports journalism is
> -shall we say- 'not upto the mark' in Sri Lanka. Even San Jose Mercury
> News' NFL coverage is better than this.
> Reading these sl-news reports for anything other than pure entertainment
> is, IMO, a waste of time.
> supriya
I don't know what you are talking about? The concerned article is from
Rediff (India) and has nothing to do with Sri Lankan journalists. There
were many such instances when people misunderstood the origin of source.
One oft made mistake here is to blame Daily News even when they publish
articles fron news agencies and other newspapers. One classic example was
that one Pakistani recently got mad because the title of the article
read "World cup holders are placed in a tough group". He firmly believed
that Pakistan was placed in the tougher group. This is all fine, these are
just personal opinions. But the thing is he accused Daily News for this
article although it was a wire report from Agence France Presse (AFP). Some
do not seem to realize that newspapers carry articles originated somewhere
else and the newspaper cannot be blamed for that.
Having said that I do agree that some SL journalists had been quite
offensive against Australia in recent times. But this is to be expected
given all the controversies between two countries.
Tin Tin
Quiet arrival for Australian cricketers in Sri Lanka
AAP (Australia)
COLOMBO - "What war ?"
That could have been the question on the lips of the Australian
cricketers when they arrived in Colombo for their "Will they ?
Won't they?" tour of Sri Lanka.
After all the to-ing and fro-ing, the gut-churning anxiety, the
careful evaluation of the dangers of playing in a country beset by
civil war; their arrival was quick, quiet and low-key.
There were no throngs of cricket-mad Sri Lankans to greet them,
and those who anticipated a security operation resembling a combat
zone were mistaken.
Skipper Ian Healy said the Australians were still unsure what
lay ahead.
"But this reception has done a lot to dispel the anxiety we all
have," Healy said.
Coach Geoff Marsh said: "Security won't worry our guys. Now that
we're here we're just looking forward to playing good cricket."
The Aussies' arrival late last night had drums, thanks to a
welcoming group from the mountain town of Kandy, but no fanfare.
It wasn't that security didn't exist, it just wasn't obvious.
One hundred plain clothed officers will be guarding every
entrance to their five-star hotel night and day.
They are members of the Ministerial security division, the
branch normally assigned to protect government ministers.
Outside the hotel, unobtrusive apart from handful who were
armed, were soldiers of the Elite Special Task Force.
The Aussies may not have known it but several hours before they
arrievd the soldiers, dressed in combat camouflage, made sweeps of
the hotel with sniffer dogs and electronic scanning equipment.
It was over in a trice and they disappeared.
If the Aussies had been a couple of hours earlier they could have
had a dip in the palm-fringed hotel pool or a game on the squash
court.
Or sat among the marble and fountains in a lobby several cricket
pitches long and listened to a 12-piece philharmonic orchestra play
everything from Mozart to Chattanooga Choo Choo.
The Aussies must have wondered if they were in the right place, the
same city rocked by two huge bomb blasts this year which together
killed over 160 people.
They have a complete hotel floor to themselves.
So will the teams from Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and India when they
take up residence in the next few days. All floors are protected 24
hours a day.
The quadrangular tournament starts next Monday when Australia
meets Zimbabwe, but three of the Australians will be in action
before then.
Wicketkeeper Healy, stand-in captain on this tour, as well as
the Waugh twins are playing in a World XI team against Sri Lanka in
a pipe-opener this Friday.
Rediff (India)
Lankans looking to mend cricketing fences with Aussies
Our Cricket Correspondent
Now that the Australian Cricket Board has decided to
overlook security concerns and send its team to Sri Lanka
for the four-nation Singer Cup tournament scheduled to get
underway in the island nation on August 26, the host nation
for its part is hoping to smooth over the unpleasantness
that has marred cricketing relations between the two teams
over the earlier part of this year.
The Australians, who will be the first of the three
participating nations to arrive in Lanka, ahead of both
Zimbabwe and India, are being put up at Hotel Lanka Oberoi,
in Colombo, under conditions of luxury tempered with
absolute security.
"We aim to do everything possible to keep the Australian
team safe and happy, as also the other teams that will be
staying in our hotel," says Oberoi public relations officer
Shadhi de Silva.
Besides the hotel's own security corps, the elite Special
Task Force and units of the Colombo police force will be
deployed in and around the refurbished wing of the Lanka
Oberoi where the three visiting teams for the four-nation
tournament will will be put up.
The tournament climaxes with the final, scheduled for
September seven.
Vice-president of the Sri Lankan cricket board Thilanga
Sumathipala has meanwhile cautioned the locals to refrin
from any acts of sabotage or harm that could bring
disrepute to the country's image.
That Sumathipala had in his mind the soured relations
between Australia and Sri Lanka was underlined when board
president Upali Dharmdasa said, "All forms of
misunderstandings that may be prevailing between the two
sides can be cleared up once Australia comes here. We have
taken into account everything they (the Aussies) have shown
concern for. We will take care of them like we do all the
teams that come here," the Lankan cricket boss promised.
Relations between the two teams first soured in December
1995, when the touring Sri Lankans were accused - without
cause, as it subsequently turned out - of ball tampering.
The accusations, first levelled by the Australian umpire
doing duty in the first Test of the series, was blown up by
the media and put the Lankan tourists under severe
pressure.
Even as they were exonerated of the charge by the ICC,
another storm broke loose when Lanka's ace spinner Muttiah
Muralitharan was called for 'chucking' - again, by an
Australian umpire. Again, subsequent enquiries with the aid
of video replays by the ICC absolved Muralitharan of the
charge - but the damage had by then been done.
In the same Test, the second of the series, Australian
wicket-keeper Ian Healy's (and captain of the current
touring side) sledging finally proved too much for Sri
Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga to take, and the two were
involved in a mid pitch confrontation.
The Aussies then rubbed it in - at least, that is how the
Lankan public saw it - when they boycotted the scheduled
World Cup game in the Lankan capital, Colombo, pleading
security concerns following an attack by a suicide bomber
on the capital city in which 90 people were killed, barely
a week before the competition was slated to begin.
The Lankan team made no secret of how much the incidents
had affected them when, after defeating Australia handily
in the final of the Will World Cup, skipper Arjuna
Ranatunga smilingly said that he had his team were
motivated to prove a point to the Australians.
It is this legacy that the Lankans are now looking to
smooth over - if only to reciprocate the gesture of the
Aussie board which, despite another bomb blast, this time
in a commuter train, in the period leading up to the Singer
Cup has decided to send its team to Sri Lanka.
"We aim to ensure that the tourists are safe, and happy,
and can concentrate on playing good cricket without any
outside worries," said Lankan cricket board chief
Dharmdasa.
08/20 SRI LANKA UNCHANGED FOR WORLD SERIES TOURNAMENT
World champions Sri Lanka have made no changes to their 14-
strong squad for the forthcoming four-nation Singer World Series
tournament.
Arjuna Ranatunga will again captain the side in the one-day
international series against India, Zimbabwe and Australia, which
runs from August 26 to September 7 in Colombo.
Ranatunga will also be in charge for a two-Test series against
Zimbabwe in the Sri Lankan capital next month to be followed by a
one-day series against Kenya.
Sri Lankan squad: Arjuna Ranatunga (capt), Aravinda de Silva
(vice-capt) Roshan Mahanama, Asanka Gurusinghe, Sanath
Jayasuriya, Romesh Kaluwitharana (wicket-keeper), Hashan
Tillekeratne, Ravindra Pushpakumara, Pramodya Wickremasinghe,
Chaminda Vaas, Upul Chandana, Marvan Atapattu, Mutthiah
Muralitharan and Kumar Dharmasena. AP
Rediff (India)
Lankan security scene bothers Sachin Tendulkar
Our Cricket Correspondent
"You hear so many things, and it does worry you a bit,"
said India's cricket captain Sachin Tendulkar, reacting to
queries about the security situation in Lanka. "It is
rather difficult to shut such thoughts out of your head -
especially because we've heard of more blasts in the last
10 days. But I've heard that the militants have promised
that they will never hurt sportspeople, and I feel good
about that - I believe sports should be kept away from
politics."
The 23-year-old, on the verge of being the youngest ever
Indian to lead the national side out in a one-day
tournament, said however that despite the concerns over
continuing violence in Lanka, he and his team members were
confident that the Sri Lankans were doing everything
possible to protect the players of the three participating
nations - namely, India, Australia and Zimbabwe.
The Singer Cup series of one-dayers will be held in
Colombo, the Lankan capital which has been wracked by
unremitting violence throughout the year. A bomb blast just
a few days before the start of the Wills World Cup that
left 90 dead and over 400 injured, it will be recalled, had
sparked a boycott of scheduled Cup matches by Australia and
the West Indies.
The Australian players and the board has also, like
Tendulkar, expressed concern about the situation in the
island but at the same time professed to be satisfied that
the Lankan authorities are doing all they can to ensure
security.
In late July, such concerns were further heightened when a
bomb went off on a crowded train, killing an estimated 57
people and wounding several dozen others.
In the prevailing situation, Sri Lankan police officials
are planning a mega-tight security blanket in Colombo for
the duration of the tournament, which begins on August 26.
Commandoes, sniffer dogs and bomb disposal squads will be
part of a large security operation being planned to ensure
that the tournament goes off without incident, said Colombo
police chief D.M.T.B. Dissanayake."We are ready for every
eventuality."
All vehicles entering the precincts of the stadium will be
meticulously searched, and a security cordon thrown around
the venue and the hotel housing the players, Dissanayake
said.
Violence in Sri Lanka worries Tendulkar
NEW DELHI, Aug 19: India's new cricket captain Sachin Tendulkar said on
Monday he was worried about ethnic violence in Sri Lanka, venue for the
Singer World Series cricket tournament starting later this month. But the
23-year-old batsman said he was convinced the Sri Lankans had done all they
could to protect players of the three visiting sides — India, Zimbabwe and
Australia.
"It does worry us a bit. We hear so many things. It is difficult to put them
out of your mind and so there is some pressure," the Press Trust of India
(PTI) news agency quoted him as saying. "I am confident about the security
cover. The other thing I have heard is that (Tamil separatist guerrillas)
never hurt any sports person and I feel good about it," Tendulkar added.
The Singer World Series matches will be held in Colombo, the capital of the
Indian Ocean island which has been wracked by a 13-year minority Tamil
separatist rebellion in which the government says more than 50,000 people
have died.
Australia, who left for Sri Lanka on Monday, boycotted a World Cup fixture
there in February because of fears of violence, heightened by a huge bomb
blast in the city centre just before the tournament. The Australian Cricket
Board (ACB) said last week it was now satisfied with security arrangements
in Sri Lanka but the players still have reservations. "The players have
spent quite a bit of time talking about it but unfortunately they are going
into the unknown," Australian coach Geoff Marsh told reporters in Brisbane
before the team's departure.
Security has been stepped up in Colombo after a bomb attack on a packed
commuter train killed 57 people there last month. The government blamed the
attack on Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebels, fighting for independence
in the north and east of the island, but the guerrillas denied the charge.
Sri Lankan police said on Monday they would deploy commandos, sniffer dogs
and plainclothed officers in a bid to protect players during the
two-week-long tournament, which starts on August 26. "We've mounted a
full-scale security operation," Colombo city police chief D.M.T.B.
Dissanayake told Reuters. "We're catering for all eventualities."
Dogs trained to sniff out explosives will be deployed and vehicles entering
match venues will be searched in a security operation which local newspapers
say will involve around 2,000 personnel.
Security aside, Tendulkar said the Indians, who conceded their World Cup
semi-final to Sri Lanka after a huge crowd in Calcutta disrupted the game
with India on the verge of defeat, should prosper in Colombo. "If luck is on
our side, we should do well," Tendulkar told PTI from Madras, where his team
have been training. "I do not want to be over-confident. I can definitely
say one thing, that the team is shaping up well and are raring to
go." Reuter
No squad invincible: Tendulkar
MADRAS, Aug 18: India's 26th cricket captain since 1932, Sachin Ramesh
Tendulkar, who is out to prove his mettle as a successful leader of the
Indian team, yesterday expressed optimism that his squad would perform well
in the forthcoming Singer Cup in Sri Lanka and the Sahara Cup in Canada.
Talking to newsmen after receiving the India ka sabse bada khiladi (India's
best sportsman) award, Tendulkar said: "No side is invincible in cricket,
and we would like to win each and every match." He rated Sri Lankans high,
and said past victories over them could not be discounted and though no team
could win always, "Our effort would be to erase those statistics."
On physical conditioning and long net practice sessions, Tendulkar said:
"Practice makes one perfect and based on this theory we are confident of
showing good results." The average age of the squad is 27 and the mind of
these youngsters is attuned towards glory. "It can even be nucleus for the
future," he said.
Tendulkar was presented a car for his superlative performance in the
recently-concluded World Cup, where he scored three centuries and emerged as
the highest run getter in the competition. The award, instituted by the
Kothari Products Limited to encourage players and bring the best out of
them, was presented by the company's managing director Deepak Kothari.
India's new vice-captain, Anil Kumble, who picked up 34 points, 29 behind
Sachin, won the second prize and was awarded a Maruti 800cc car. The world's
highest wicket taker and former Indian skipper Kapil Dev, who was the guest
of honour, presented the car to Kumble. Speaking on the occasion, Kapil Dev
said: "It is a welcome sign that more companies are coming forward to
encourage players." Reuter
Dawn (Pakistan)
Aussies' tour of Lanka hanging in balance
By Ihithisham Kamardeen
BRISBANE, Aug 15: The general consensus amongst Australia's cricketers is
that they will be in Sri Lanka next week, leg spinner Shane Warne included.
The side gathered for a three-day camp here today on the eve of the
Australian Cricket Board announcing whether the tour will proceed, who the
new captain and replacement for the injured Mark Taylor will be and whether
Warne's famous finger is fit. The ACB meets in Melbourne tomorrow and Chief
Executive Graham Halbish will then fly to Brisbane to meet the players and
take a decision.
Halbish was unavailable for comment today. But new coach Geoff Marsh is as
anxious as the 1 players about his first trip to Sri Lanka. In 50 Tests over
seven years as an Australian opening batsman he never went to the island
nation. "We are planning to go to Sri Lanka and that's the attitude of the
guys" said Marsh. "The players love playing cricket and they would love to
go to Sri Lanka. It's going to be a tough series. Sri Lanka obviously won
the World Cup and it would be good to knock them off."
Marsh said he agreed with the board's decision to boycott the World Cup
opener in Colombo in the light of a massive bomb attack which killed 91 and
injured 1400. Two weeks ago 70 persons died in a train bombing on the
outskirts of Colombo. But like his players, Marsh has pinned his faith on
the decision of the board. "It's completely up to the board on whether we go
or not," he said. "They probably made the right decision before the World
Cup but we'll just wait and see what we're told."
Captain-in-waiting Ian Healy's gut feeling is that he will be in Sri Lanka
next week. Healy is expected to be formally appointed leader tomorrow night,
with South Australian left-hander Darren Lehman likely to be Taylor's
replacement in the squad. "From what I can gather from the media and the
noises that are being made regarding the incidents in Sri Lanka I'd say it
would be more yes than no," Healy said. "We all want to play cricket and if
we can be reasonably guaranteed of safety we are all ready to go. We've had
a long enough break, three months are more than enough."
Warne is an eager as any one even though he won't get Healy's blessing until
the finger which required surgery three months ago has completely healed.
The initial diagnosis on Warne was a three-to-four month rehabilitation
period. "Everybody says it's taking longer to heal but that's a good sign,"
said Warne. "You want to play in every game and be on every tour. If I break
down I break down, so be it."
Healy said Warne would be best suited to stay home and concentrate on the
upcoming Test series against the West Indies with the October tour of India
also not a necessity. "If he's not close to 100 per cent or more he
shouldn't go," he said. "This is one tour where we could afford to rest
him." But Marsh claims keeping Warne at bay is easier said than done. "Have
you ever tried giving Shane Warne two weeks off? He just loves playing
cricket and that can often be the end of the argument," Marsh said. "You
mention the words `players resting' and they all hate it. At the end of the
day if Shane's fit to go he will probably go."
Six reserves will join the squad for a 60-over practice match at the Gabba
tomorrow before two days of practice. They are scheduled to fly to Sri Lanka
from Sydney on Monday.
Reuter adds:
Lanka's optimism: World Cup champion Sri Lanka's cricket chief said on
Thursday he was "absolutely sure" Australia would take part in this month's
Singer World Series tournament on the island. "They are definitely coming. I
am absolutely sure of it," said Upali Dharmadasa, president of the Board of
Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL).
Dharmadasa said the BCCSL were having talks with the Australian Cricket
Board (ABC) and the Australian High Commissioner in Colombo and it all
pointed to a cordial tour.
ACB chief executive Graham Halbish said the board would consider the
situation in Sri Lanka at a meeting on Friday.
Dharmadasa said Colombo would provide maximum security to the tournament,
which will involve hosts Sri Lanka, Australia, India and Zimbabwe and which
begins on August 26.
Cricket relations between the two countries soured during the islanders'
tour of Australia last year, when the tourists were accused of ball
tampering and their key spinner, Muthiah Muralitharan, was called for
throwing. But the hard feelings seem to have blown over as the world
champions prepared to host the Singer World Series. "For all the wrongs they
may have done to the Sri Lankans, one thing that must be clearly understood
is that Australia has always been our ally. Without the support of the ACB,
Sri Lanka cricket would not be where it is now," the state-owned Daily News
said on Thursday.
Sri Lanka will also host a World XI in a limited-over one-day game on Aug
24, led by deposed Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin, as a curtain-raiser
for the tournament.
Dawn (Pakistan)
Australia to go ahead with Sri Lanka tour
By Ihithisham Kamardeen
SYDNEY, Aug 16: Australia's cricket tour of Sri Lanka will go ahead without
its captain and without the two players who received death threats prior to
February's boycott of the war-torn island.
Australian Cricket Board (ACB) Chairman Dennis Rogers tonight admitted
safety concerns remained even though next week's tour was given the
green-light by the ACB. The ACB decided, on advice, the tour should go ahead
but could not guarantee the 13-man squad of complete safety in the island
country which is in the 13th year of civil war. "We still have some concerns
about this particular overseas tour but nevertheless the advice is that
things are a lot better, significantly better, than they were in February,"
Rogers said. "We've had very extensive discussions with a significant number
of people and organisations, as we did in February, to get the best possible
information we could, of the highest quality, which allowed us to make a
quality decision.
"The significant thing to change from February is that the advice we
received this time clearly shows we can support the team going to Sri
Lanka." Fate again has robbed Sri Lankans of the chance to see Mark Taylor,
Shane Warne and Craig McDermott. All are victims of the back-breaking,
finger-wearing, body-sapping job of playing cricket at the elite level in
the 1990s. Taylor pulled out last week to have surgery on a painful disc.
Warne puts out: Warne withdrew today to allow full recovery from an
operation on his main spinning finger. The injury-prone McDermott was told
months ago he'd be put in moth balls to save him for more onerous duties
this summer. So Australia will be without its skipper, its biggest
individual star and its senior strike bowler.
Warne and McDermott received death threats in the lead-up to Australia's
decision to forfeit a World Cup qualifier in Colombo rather than risk the
safety of its players there.
If you have to miss a tour, better that it's a one-day affair rather than a
full Test tour and that it's to a place where security could be dodgy.
A "Yes, Minister" public servant of Sir Humphrey Appleby's class could
easily sow seeds of doubt by falsely praising as "courageous" a decision to
go. Yes, such a decision means sending the cream of the nation's cricketing
talent into a country at the height of a 13-year civil war. Yes, it's the
same country deemed too dangerous to visit just six months ago. Yes, it
means the 13-man squad stays in a city hit by two huge bomb blasts this
year, one that aborted the World Cup qualifier, the other as recently as
three weeks ago. Yes, the Foreign Affairs Department currently advises the
Australians to exercise "particular care" in Colombo, saying the possibility
of random terrorist attacks "cannot be ruled out". And yes, it's debatable
whether there has been a "discernible improvement" in security and safety,
one of the conditions set by the ACB.
Whether a bomb that kills 70 on a train on Colombo's outskirts a few weeks
before a one-day tournament is much of an improvement on a bomb that kills
90 in Colombo's centre a few days before a World Cup match is open to
question. But Australian officials in Sri Lanka as well as the cricket-mad
locals are convinced there is no major security concern.
ACB Chief Executive Graham Halbish, a recent Olympic visitor to Atlanta, saw
first-hand the reaction to the bomb blast that killed two people in
Georgia's capital.
The Games went ahead.
He would not have forgotten the storm of protest from the subcontinent
following Australia's withdrawal in February, or the need to rebuild
bridges. Halbish, according to batting star Steve Waugh's new book, told
some concerned players at the time: "I'm hearing what you're saying, but if
you do decide to pull out of that first game, it will take ten years at
least to rectify the situation."
The ACB, which has constantly monitored security in Sri Lanka, again
canvassed player opinion, and has received the latest information and advice
through diplomatic and government channels. It is contentious whether
international sportsmen make logical terrorist targets these days.
Diplomats argue that the Tamil rebels fighting for their own homeland in
north-eastern Sri Lanka against the ethnic majority Sinhalese would have too
much to lose. Like the IRA and other groups waging prolonged violent
struggles, they rely for survival on a pipeline of funds from foreign
sources, diplomats say. Any attack on cricketers would make their off-shore
backers "drop them like a hot potato", one said, adding: "Don't forget,
Tamils like cricket, too."
Australia's deputy high commissioner in Colombo, Lorraine Barker, says:
"We're still here. And we're probably more likely targets because we're
dealing with government ministers constantly.'
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, one of the harshest critics
of Australia's decision to pull out in February, doubtless has been doubly
keen for this tour to go ahead.
Now Australian cricket, after carefully evaluating the security in his
country, apparently finds itself able to say to him: Yes, Minister.
'No relaxing,' Tendulkar tells team-mates
NEW DELHI, Aug 15: Batting sensation Sachin Tendulkar settled into his new
role as India's captain on Wednesday by warning team-mates to shape up or
ship out.
The 23-year-old, who replaced the beleaguered Mohammad Azharuddin as skipper
earlier this week, cracked the whip on his first day in office.
"I will not allow anyone to relax," the tough-talking Tendulkar told his
players during a pre-season camp in Madras ahead of the four- nation Singer
Cup in Sri Lanka later this month. "I told the players what their
responsibilities are. They have to work real hard at the camp because I will
not tolerate any slackness," he said.
Tendulkar's elevation to the hot seat received nation-wide support after
embarrassing defeats in the World Cup, two other limited-overs tournaments
in Singapore and in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, and both the test
and one-day series in England. But the master batsman, who served a
three-year apprenticeship under Azharuddin, refuses to believe the
expectations will burden his captaincy — or his extraordinary skills with
the bat. "There is no pressure," he said. "You cannot perform if you get
bogged down by pressure.
"It's not that captaincy is new to me. I have led Bombay and West Zone in
domestic cricket and it has not affected my batting. "I am ready for the
job. It's a great honour to lead your country," he said. Tendulkar brushed
aside speculation that his age — he is the team's youngest player along with
Saurav Ganguly — will pose a problem with seniors like the 33-year-old
Azharuddin. "Age has got nothing to with it," he said. "I have been playing
international cricket for the last seven years and understand the
responsibilities of being captain. "There will not be any ego hassles with
Azharuddin. He is such a nice person and we get along very well. "I will
leave Azhar alone to regain his batting touch because he is such an
invaluable member of the team. Easily one of the best batsmen in the world."
Azharuddin, the target of a vicious media attack because of poor form and a
troubled personal life, responded by saying that Tendulkar "can be assured
that I will give 100 per cent." The selectors retained Azharuddin in the
14-man squad for the Singer Cup against world champions Sri Lanka, Australia
and Zimbabwe and a five-match series against Pakistan in Canada next month.
Tendulkar said both series were tough, but ideal warm-ups for the hectic
season ahead which includes home tests against Australia and South Africa
and tours to South Africa and the West Indies.
Tendulkar, whose tenure as captain is certain to be expanded beyond the Sri
Lankan and Canadian tours, predicts a brighter future for Indian cricket. "I
want to make a team capable of beating any side in the world, and this team
has the potential to do it," he said. "The Singer Cup will be very
interesting, but our real test will come when we play Pakistan in Canada.
It's always very special against Pakistan."
The baby-faced Tendulkar, who made his international debut against Pakistan
in 1989, is already a veteran of 41 tests in which he has scored 2,911 runs
with 10 centuries and 14 half-centuries. He has also played 118 one-day
internationals, scoring 4,084 runs with eight hundreds. AFP
Tin Tin
Tuesday 20, August 1996
Editorial COMMENT - Daily Observer
`Ayubowan' to the Aussies (Ayubowan = May you live long (Sinhalese))
`Potentially volatile' is how the news despatch filed from Brisbane,
Australia, describes the reception anticipated by the Australian cricket
team when they arrive in Sri Lanka. The Australian team is due to arrive in
Colombo this evening.
`Going into the unknown' is how that same despatch quotes Australian team
coach Geoff Marsh as describing the journey to Colombo.
`Very negative' says Marsh of the situation, adding that the Aussie
cricketers had "spent quite a bit of time talking about it". Furthermore,
the Aussies have "just a little hesitation about what to expect", according
to Reuters news agency, quoting Marsh.
It is easy to dismiss these fears as those of people of an isolated,
affluent culture who are uninformed about Third World situations and
consequently base their expectations on jaundiced perspectives of life in a
poor, Asian country.
While some element of such a perspective may be present among the Aussie
cricketers, there is also no doubt that the fearful anticipation revealed in
the news report quoted above is based on impressions of real Sri Lankan, if
not South Asian, behaviour.
When any Sri Lankan feels: `Jolly good. Let them feel nervous', this serves
only to confirm as legitimate the anticipation of a vengeful response at
least by some Sri Lankans.
The news report from Brisbane makes mention of the general security
situation in Sri Lanka due to the ethnic conflict. But the bigger focus is
on the sour relations between Australia and Sri Lanka arising from the
heated controversies during the Sri Lankan tour Down Under and the Sri
Lankan disappointment over the Australian failure to play their World Cup
fixtures in Sri Lanka.
Obviously, it not so much the fear of being victims of `collateral damage'
in a LTTE urban guerrilla strike that bothers the Australians. They seem to
fear more the hostile attitudes that might find expression among people in
the South directly against the Aussies during their tour here.
Sri Lankans must realise that even humorous hints about retaliation here for
the frustrations on the field during the Lankan tour of Australia should
only refer to such retaliation on the field. Any hint of retaliation off the
field, whether in the form of jeers, verbal abuse, or worse, physical
intimidation and harassment, will only confirm - and rightly so - that Sri
Lankans are prone to uncivilised behaviour despite all the claims to a
culture of ahimsa.
Hence, all such thoughts must be banished from the mind if Sri Lankans are
going to prove it to the world that the social violence and rioting Sri
Lanka has become known for are merely aberrations in a genuinely civilised
society. Any misbehaviour on the part of Sri Lankans will only serve to
strengthen whatever jaundiced perspectives of Third World societies the
visitors might harbour. There must not be a single `Hoot' let alone any sign
of physical intimidation.
As the Australians set foot on Sri Lankan soil, let this Thrice Blessed
island be the place where they will learn that Tolerance and Compassion can
indeed rule over the baser passions; that the people of today are genuine
inheritors of an ancient culture famous for its hospitality.
Tin Tin
Cricket boss with playe4rs on Sri Lankan tour
AAP (Australia)
COLOMBO - Cricket boss Graham Halbish found that he couldn't look
the Australian players in the eye and tell them they were going to Sri
Lanka unless he was going, too.
His decision to join them was made last Friday on a flight from
Melbourne to Brisbane.
The Australian Cricket Board (ACB), after months of agonising,
had just decided to press ahead with the three-week tour to the
island bedevilled by terrorist violence.
Halbish was on his way to tell the players gathered in Brisbane
when he knew he had to go with them.
"I couldn't sit in front of that group of players and ask on
behalf of the board for them to do something, not that I wasn't
prepared to do, but that I wasn't about to do myself.
"I felt it was the only thing to do.
"I'm here because it was the right thing to do," the ACB chief
executive said after the team's arrival in Colombo.
"If we're going to ask the team to come, administrators have got
to think about their own responsibilities.
"We've worked very closely with the players.
"Without wanting to be in their pocket, I think these
responsibilities must be shared jointly between players and
administrators."
ACB chairman Denis Rogers also addressed the players last
Friday, speaking "directly from the heart".
"The players also had a talk amongst themselves," said Halbish,
"and they said: 'We're all in'."
The ACB's decision may have been made at the 11th hour, and
Halbish's at the last minute, but once made there was no looking
back.
Captain Ian Healy and coach Geoff Marsh, both appearing in these
roles for the first time, had been talking of nothing since other
than preparing to win matches, Halbish said.
The mood in the team was good, and the players were not "heavily
preoccupied" with the tight security that will surround them for
the one-day series against Sri Lanka, India and Zimbabwe starting
on Monday.
Relations between Australian and Sri Lankan players soured in
Australia last summer amid controversies over chucking and alleged
ball-tampering.
Relations between officialdom of the two countries deteriorated
after Australia pulled out of a World Cup match here in February
following a massive terrorist bombing in central Colombo.
Halbish said Sri Lankan officials had made "regular and genuine
attempts" at reconciliation since then, and called on them to
"discard the baggage" of the past.
The Sri Lankan board's new president Upali Dharmadasa blamed
much of the problems on the previous administration. He suggested
that if last summer's difficulties had been handled properly, no
tensions would have existed and Australia would have appeared here
during the World Cup.
"I think it was handled in an amateurish manner," he said.
He praised Australian cricket for helping Sri Lanka "right down
the line", from gaining full ICC membership to making regular
tours.
08/21 AUSSIES READY TO ADOPT DIPLOMATIC APPROACH
Combative Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy says he is willing
to play diplomat in his role of stand-in captain to mend the
strained relations with Sri Lanka's cricketers.
Australia, making their first visit to Sri Lanka since
boycotting a World Cup fixture in February, arrived in Colombo
last night for a limited-overs tournament which also includes
India and Zimbabwe.
Healy is leading the side in place of injured captain Mark
Taylor and said, after being asked if he should adopt a
diplomatic approach: "Yes, I think I can do that without much
difficulty."
Leg-spinner Shane Warne is another Australian missing because
of injury, and Healy said: "We've got sufficient replacements,
but you can't replace these fellows overnight."
Healy said the 13-man squad still had reservations about
playing in Sri Lanka, which has been fighting a civil war with
separatist Tamil guerrillas for the past 13 years.
"I'd be lying if I said there are no worries, but the
reception we got has dispelled fears," said Healy. Reuter
Cricket-Australia ready to play despite security worries
COLOMBO, Aug 21 (Reuter) - The usually combative Australian
wicketkeeper and stand-in captain Ian Healy said on Wednesday he
was willing to play diplomat to mend the strained relations with
Sri Lanka's cricketers.
"Yes, I think I can do that without much difficulty," Healy
told a news conference after being asked if he should now be a
diplomat.
Australia, making their first visit to Sri Lanka since
boycotting a World Cup fixture in February, arrived in Colombo on
Tuesday night for a limited overs tournament which also includes
India and Zimbabwe.
Healy is leading the side in place of injured captain Mark
Taylor. Leg-spinner Shane Warne is also missing because of
injury.
"We've got sufficient replacements, but whether they got
sufficient experience to fill their hole is to be seen," Healy
said. "You can't replace these fellows overnight."
Healy said the 13-man squad still had reservations about
playing in Sri Lanka, which has been fighting a civil war with
separatist Tamil guerrillas for the past 13 years.
"I'd be lying if I said there are no worries," he said.
Colombo's police chief has said he would deploy commandoes,
sniffer dogs and plainclothed policemen in a massive security
operation to ensure the tournament was trouble-free.
Relations between the sides were badly strained last year
when the Sri Lankans were first found guilty and then cleared of
ball tampering, and spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was called for
throwing during a controversial test series in Australia.
Many Sri Lankans believe the Australians forfeited their
World Cup opener in Colombo not due to security fears but due to
fears of hostile local crowds.
"The reception we got has dispelled fears," Healy said.
Tour manager Cam Battersby said the team had been well
received.
"We've already experienced what we've experienced in the
past -- that marvellous Sri Lankan hospitality," Battersby said.
He said Australia were keen to avenge their defeat by Sri
Lanka in the final of the World Cup in Lahore in March.
The two-week, four-nation Singer World Series begins on
August 26.
CRIK: TAYLOR ON THE MEND
SYDNEY, Aug 22 AAP - Australian cricket captain Mark Taylor
was recovering in hospital today after apparently successful
surgery on his back.
Taylor underwent the operation in a Sydney hospital late
yesterday (Wednesday).
The surgery was performed on a piece of disc that had broken
away and was aggravating a nerve.
"I don't think he's got a final update from the doctor yet but
it seems as if they were pleased with everthing," a spokeswoman
for Taylor's management company said today.
"It's just a matter of his recovery taking its normal course."
A physiotherapy program is expected to be mapped out for
Taylor with the recovery process likely to take two to three
weeks.
The surgery prevented Taylor from leading Australia to Sri
Lanka for a limited overs tournament.
Wicketkeeper Ian Healy is the acting captain.
08/22 POLICE COMMANDOS ON HAND FOR AUSTRALIAN OPENING MATCH
Armed police commandos patrolled the ground when Australia
opened their short tour of Sri Lanka with a five-run win over the
country's youth team today.
Australia, in Sri Lanka for a limited overs tournament which
also includes India and Zimbabwe, have been promised the presence
of commandos, dogs and plain clothed police to ensure the
tournament is free of trouble.
They are making their first visit to the island since
boycotting a World Cup fixture in February because of fears over
ethnic violence.
Australia, batting first in Thursday's the warm-up match,
scored 251 for seven from their 50 overs. Ricky Ponting led the
way with 100 off 119 balls with two sixes and nine fours before
retiring.
The youth side went down in style as they replied with 246 for
seven impressing Australian coach Geoff Marsh with their
competitiveness. Reuter
Sri Lanka and Australia say cricket relations have healed
COLOMBO, Aug 23 (Reuter) - Sri Lanka and Australia agreed on Friday that
relations between the two teams had healed since the Sri Lankans'
acrimonious tour last year.
The Sri Lankans were first found guilty then cleared of ball tampering and
off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was called for throwing during a
controversial three-test series in Australia.
"Our concern is to get out there and play proper cricket," Sri Lanka captain
Arjuna Ranatunga told a news conference on the eve of a warmup match between
the World Cup champions and a World XI team scheduled for Saturday.
"What happened is history."
Australian team manager Cam Battersby said he agreed with Ranatunga.
"I believe relations between the two teams will be excellent," Batterby
said.
The Australians are making their first visit to the Indian Ocean island
since boycotting a World Cup fixture in February after a terrorist bomb in
Colombo.
Australia have been promised the presence of commandos, sniffer dogs and
plainclothes policemen to ensure a limited overs tournament is trouble-free.
The tournament, starting on August 26, also includes India and Zimbabwe.
Battersby said he was satisfied with the security arrangements.
Sri Lankan officials said they expected heavy rain which washed out a warmup
match on Friday should cease by Saturday.
Australia, led by wicketkeeper Ian Healy, opened their short tour of Sri
Lanka with a five-run win over the country's youth team on Thursday.
Rediff (India)
Gun-toting security, hard-hitting media headlines greet
Aussies in Lanka
Guarded by machinegun-carrying soldiers, watched by less
than 1,000 spectators, the Australian cricket team
warmed-up for the upcoming Singer Cup competiton by
defeating the Sri Lankan colts by a margin of five runs.
On their way to the ground, the Aussies would have been
reading a scathing attack aimed at them, and carried in Sri
Lanka's oldest daily, The Observer
"Imperialist running dogs," the newspaper called the
Aussies, borrowing the term from the jargon of the Mao-ist
revolutionaries of China. And the paper, in a scathing
article, justified the use of the term to describe the
Aussie cricketers, pointing out that "When the Chinese
revolutionaries coined the term, they were referring not
only to the aggressiveness of the Western invaders, but
also to the cowardliness and uncouthness that hid behind
the brute force by the powerful over the weak."
The edit piece, carried prominently on the front page of
Friday's issue of the paper, was a direct assault on the
conduct of Australian cricket team manager Cam Battersby
during a news conference in Colombo.
The hard-hitting piece, unusual by the normally sedate
standards of the paper, was sparked by Battersby's remark
at a press conference in Colombo when he said that he would
not entertain any questions about the past - an obvious bid
to prevent questions relating to Sri Lanka's contentious
tour of Australia earlier this year, or Australia's boycott
of the league match in Colombo during the Wills World Cup.
"What kind of decent chaps will enter someone else's home
and arbitrarily impose conditions on his host?" the paper
asked.
Battersby was not available for comment.
Meanwhile, the Australians had reason to be less than
pleased about their performance in the field. In the warm
up game against the Lankan colts, the Aussies could manage
only 251 for seven in fifty overs, while just managing to
restrict the Colts to 246 for seven in the same number of
overs.
The only silver lining came from Ricky Ponting, who blasted
103 not out off 199 balls with two sixes and nine fours
before retiring. Ian Healy, taking over as Aussie skipper
following a back injury to Mark Taylor, scored 47 to help
lend respectability to the Aussie total.
The Sri Lankan Colts, the second best national team, made
the Aussies sweat with a run chase that saw them fall just
five short of the target.
The match was played inside a top security police complex
in Colombo. As many as 500 policemen, aided by the
military, were deployed to prevent any Tamil rebel attack
on the players. There were hardly 1,000 spectators, and
most of them were believed to be policemen in plain
clothes.
The bad news for the tourists was that Brad Hogg, picked to
replace injured leg-spinner Shane Warne, proved a dismal
failure while conceeding 33 runs in four overs before being
removed from the attack.
Though Australia would prefer to concentrate on the
forthcoming five-Test series against the West Indies, and
on the tours of England and South Africa to follow, a
defeat in the Singer Cup - and that too to Lanka - could
have a damaging effect on the team's morale.
Australia is scheduled to play its first game of the
tournament on August 26, when it takes on Zimbabwe. They
will face Sri Lanka on August 30, and India on September
five.
As per the tournament format, all four teams will play each
other once, and the two top teams at the end of this round
robin will contest the final on September seven.
Rediff (India)
Indian team arrives in Lanka; rains threaten start of
tournament
The Indian cricekt team led by Sachin Tendulkar arrived in
Colombo on Friday for the four-nation, $100,000 dollar
prize money Singer Cup tournament.
The arrival of the Indians coincided with heavy rains in
Colombo. Organisers of the tournament fear that if the
downpour continues, the first fixture - an exhibition match
between the World Cup winning Sri Lankan team and a World
XI led by former India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin - might
have to be postponed.
The Indian team was greeted with a heavy security net
around Colombo International Airport, 27 km from the hotel
where all the four teams will stay during the
fortnight-long competition.
Army soldiers guarded the route from airport to hotel,
checking vehicles at random.
India plays its first game against Sri Lanka on August 28,
followed by one against Zimbabwe on September 1 and against
Australia on September 5.
Even if the rains stop, the conditions are likely to be
humid, extremely so. But the Indian skipper, who has led
the team in practise sessions in Madras, the south Indian
city that has weather conditions similar to those in Lanka,
said this would not be a problem.
"The weather conditions are tough, but having practised
here in Madras, we will be ready for Colombo's humidity,"
the Indian skipper said, before boarding the flight for
Lanka.
Rediff (India)
Zimbabwe hope to disprove 'underdog' tag
Zimbabwean cricketers, fresh from a two-month training
camp, are capable of surprising their formidable rivals in
the four nation Singer Cup tournament beginning in Colombo
on Monday August 25.
"We have a very good side," 23-year-old skipper Alistair
Campbell said on Friday. And with two months of tough
conditioning and coaching behind them, they certainly have
the best prepared side in the four-nation tournament.
"The team has put up a lot of hard work after a
disappointing season, and inducted some new faces," said
Campbell, who will be captaining for the first time in a
major tournament.
Zimbabwe will take on Australia on Monday in the opening
match of the two-week championship. World champions Sri
Lanka, and India are the other contenders for the title.
"Captaining a side for the first time against three top
cricket playing nations is going to be a dificult task,"
Campbell admitted. He was all praise for 22-year-old
off-spinner Andrew Whittal, who is making his one-day debut
after captaining the Cambridge University team, and Craig
Wishart, 22, an all-rounder.
Zimbabwe will however miss Dave Houghton, though the team
does have the services of veterans Andy Flower, Heath
Streak and Paul Strang for the battle ahead.
"However, cricket is a team game and we have done a lot of
work as a team and are working very hard," Campbell said.
"We might have a few surprises in store for the other
sides."
Rediff (India)
Vengeance is our goal, says Ian Healy
Our Cricket Correspondent
Australian skipper Ian Healy, on arrival in Colombo for the
four-nation Singer Cup one-day competition, indicated that
his side was looking to avenge the humiliating defeat
inflicted by Sri Lanka in the final of the Wills World Cup
earlier this year.
"We will be looking to knock Sri Lanka off its perch," said
Healy, who took over from the injured Mark Taylor as
skipper of the side for this tournament. "We are looking to
win!"
Australia, which had delayed confirming its presence in the
tournament till almost the last moment due to security
concerns, appears to have arrived in a much happier frame
of mind. "The hospitality, the reception we have received
so far has gone a long way to dispel our fears," said
Healy. "I would be lying if I said there were no fears
whatsoever. Security has been a concern to the Australian
Cricket Board, and the administrators.
"But after arriving here," the ace wicketkeeper admitted,
"our anxiety has been put into the background... we are
well and thoroughly on the way for a happy tour."
Security has been tightened in the Lankan capital, Colombo,
for the one-day series beginning next week and involving,
besides the host country, Australia, India and Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwe team, skippered by left-hand batsman Alaistair
Campbell, also arrived in Colombo on Wednesday. India,
under Sachin Tendulkar, are expected to arrive on Friday.
Healy, meanwhile, said that Australia were not discounting
the challenge of the other two sides in the tournament.
"India and Zimbabwe are not going to be easy either," he
admitted.
ACB chief executive Graham Halbish, meanwhile, indicated
that the side was happy to be in Colombo. "We are renewing
a lot of old friendships," said the ACB boss. "We have come
here to play good cricket, and to enjoy ourselves."
Cricket brings rain to drought-hit Lanka
COLOMBO, Aug 23: Heavy rains on Friday ended a six-month drought in Sri
Lanka, which overjoyed economists and farmers but left thousands of cricket
fans rueing their luck.
The torrid downpour drenched the venue of Saturday's charity match between
World Cup champions Sri Lanka and a world II, which precedes the four-nation
Singer limited-overs tournament from Monday. As rain continued to lash
Colombo through the day, tournament organisers and the cricketers joined the
fans in wondering whether they will get much play over the next two weeks.
Australia, making their first tour of the island since boycotting their
World Cup tie here in March for security reasons, play India, Zimbabwe and
the hosts in the 500,000-dollar tournament which runs till September 7. "I
know the rain is good for the country, but it came at the wrong time," a
spokesman for the sponsors said. "Hope we get some cricket in."
Ground staff at the water-logged Premadasa stadium, the venue of Saturday's
fixture and four tournament matches, said repair work could start only when
the rain stopped. "If it stays like this, I don't think we can have any play
on Saturday and probably a few days after that," admitted Sri Lankan manager
Duleep Mendis. "It's a pity because the players and everyone else I know
were looking forward to the cricket."
An area just north of the capital received some 200 milimeters (eight
inches) of rain overnight. Attendance at schools and offices dropped due the
heavy downpour on Friday. The inclement weather would hardly have surprised
the Australian and Indian teams, who experienced similar conditions when the
inaugural Singer Cup was held in September 1994. The game between India and
Pakistan had to be abandoned without a ball being bowled and the final
between eventual winners India and Sri Lanka was reduced to 25-overs-a-side.
This year, organisers have earmarked a reserve day for each of the eight
matches, including Saturday's charity game in aid of a social foundation
named after an assassinated former cabinet minister and cricket chief Gamini
Dassanayake.
International cricket in Sri Lanka is confined to July, August and September
since it is either too hot or too wet at other times. AFP
Lanka's biggest cricket carnival from Saturday
COLOMBO, Aug 22: Drought-hit Sri Lankans are performing a different rain
dance these days to keep the rains away for at least the next two weeks.
No one here wants the weather to ruin Sri Lanka's biggest cricket carnival,
starting on Saturday, which features Arjuna Ranatunga's World Cup heroes for
the first time on home soil.
Cricket took centre stage in this strife-hit island when Ranatunga's
unfancied, but hugely talented side fought off their eternal underdog status
to win the coveted World Cup last March. That the memorable win was achieved
by defeating arch-enemies Australia in the final was the icing on the cake.
Few Sri Lankans have forgotten last year's acrimonious tour of Australia,
where Ranatunga's boys were first accused of ball tampering — cricket's
version of cheating — before front-line spinner Muttiah Murlitharan was
branded a chucker. Then came the ultimate humiliation as the Australians
boycotted their World Cup match in Sri Lanka fearing the safety of their
players after a bomb in central Colombo killed 91 people.
For a while, the Australians upstaged the separatist Tamil tigers as the
country's enemy number one. Now, the Australians are finally here to play in
the four-nation Singer limited-overs tournament which also features India,
Zimbabwe and the hosts — and an entire nation is agog with excitement.
Sri Lankan fans are, however, not so diplomatic. Said collegian Roushan
Wickremetunga: "The Australians need to be told that Sri Lanka is a safe
place to play cricket and our guys are the best in the world.
When the inaugural Singer Cup was played during the same period in 1994,
heavy rain almost ruined the competition and the final had to be shifted
away from the water-logged Premadasa stadium. The rains usually set in by
the end of August, and the present tournament runs till September 7. Ominous
clouds hung over Colombo through Thursday, and the weatherman sees rain on
the horizon.
Thoughtful organisers have kept a reserve day for each match in case the
weather intervenes and have ordered fresh covers for the two venues, the
Premadasa stadium and the Sinhalese sports club.
Sri Lanka, who take on a world 11 in an exhibition match on Saturday before
the serious work starts on Monday, have expectedly kept faith in their
triumphant World Cup squad. But Australia are without their injured captain
Mark Taylor and spin sensation Shane Warne, who opted to rest his spinning
finger after off-season surgery.
Wicket-keeper Ian Healy leads the Australians, while both India and Zimbabwe
also have new captains — but for different reasons. Batting superstar Sachin
Tendulkar replaced the beleaguered Mohammad Azharuddin as Indian captain
after a disastrous tour of England where they lost both the test and one-day
series. Alistair Campbell takes over for Zimbabwe after World Cup skipper
Andy Flower stepped down voluntarily to concentrate on his batting.
The pragmatic Ranatunga, a regular part of Sri Lankan cricket since they
attained test baptism in 1981, however refuses to take victory for granted.
"The onus is on us to maintain the high standards we set last season," he
says. "And that is never an easy task." AFP
Australia ready to play despite security fears
COLOMBO, Aug 21: The usually combative Australian wicketkeeper and stand-in
captain Ian Healy said on Wednesday he was willing to play diplomat to mend
the strained relations with Sri Lanka's cricketers. "Yes, I think I can do
that without much difficulty," Healy told a news conference after being
asked if he should now be a diplomat.
Australia, making their first visit to Sri Lanka since boycotting a World
Cup fixture in February, arrived in Colombo on Tuesday night for a limited
overs tournament which also includes India and Zimbabwe.
Healy is leading the side in place of injured captain Mark Taylor.
Leg-spinner Shane Warne is also missing because of injury. "We've got
sufficient replacements, but whether they got sufficient experience to fill
their hole is to be seen," Healy said. "You can't replace these fellows
overnight."
Healy said the 13-man squad still had reservations about playing in Sri
Lanka, which has been fighting a civil war with separatist Tamil guerrillas
for the past 13 years. "I'd be lying if I said there are no worries," he
said. Colombo's police chief has said he would deploy commandos, sniffer
dogs and plainclothed policemen in a massive security operation to ensure
the tournament was trouble-free.
Relations between the sides were badly strained last year when the Sri
Lankans were first found guilty and then cleared of ball tampering, and
spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was called for throwing during a controversial
test series in Australia.
Many Sri Lankans believe the Australians forfeited their World Cup opener in
Colombo not due to security fears but due to fears of hostile local crowds.
"The reception we got has dispelled fears," Healy said.
Tour manager Cam Battersby said the team had been well received. "We've
already experienced what we've experienced in the past — that marvellous Sri
Lankan hospitality," Battersby said. He said Australia were keen to avenge
their defeat by Sri Lanka in the final of the World Cup in Lahore in March.
The two-week, four-nation Singer World Series begins on August 26. Reuter
SL tighten security ahead of tournament
COLOMBO, Aug 20: Sri Lanka has tightened security at cricket grounds and
assigned elite police commandos to guard visiting teams competing in the
four-nation cricket series beginning here Saturday, officials said.
The Special Task Force (STF) commandos will protect players while other
police units have been brought under a deputy Inspector-General to accord
security normally reserved for visiting heads of state, officials said. "All
arrangements are in place to receive the players from Australia, India and
Zimbabwe," a spokesman for the Board of Control for Cricket said, adding
that the government had assured top security at all venues.
Australia boycotted its World Cup match here in February, citing fears of
bomb attacks after Tamil Tiger guerrillas bombed the Central Bank building
in down town Colombo, killing 91 people and wounding 1,400.
Police said all spectators will be body-searched by commandos and no parking
will be allowed along the approach roads to the venues during the nearly
three-week long tournament. AFP
Tin Tin
Rediff (India)
Cricket stars find Lanka one big yawn
Swimming pools with inviting blue water, coconut palms
waving gently in the breeze, waiters plying you with
cocktails...
Does all this add up to the high life?
Not, say the stars from Australia, India and Zimbabwe, now
in Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital, for a four-nation
one-day competition for the Singer Cup. Thanks to the fear
of security problems posed by rebels fighting for a Tamil
homeland, the cricket stars have all been confined to the
five-star Hotel Lanka Oberoi - while the palm trees wave
seductively outside.
As per the rules imposed by the security officials, the
cricketers are constrained to remain in their rooms, or at
best the hotel compound, after dusk. And morning or night,
the street outside the hotel is crammed with armed soldiers
in olive green fatigues.
The situation is equally nerve-wracking when the players go
to the nets - they are accompanied there, and back, by more
troops. And when Australia played a warm-up match against
the Lankan colts the other day, the spectators in the
stadium were, for the most part, securitymen - in uniform,
and out.
"We do not want to embarrass our hosts, so we accept the
conditions," said Zimbabwe's captain Alistair campbell.
Inside the hotel, the players discuss the Tamil separatist
war that has left more than 45,000 people dead so far.
The hotel is barely a kilometre away from the busy
commercial city center where the rebels rammed an
explosive-laden truck into a building and killed 88 people
in January.
That attack ruined the Sri Lankan leg of the Wills World
Cup, with both Australia and the West Indies forfeiting
scheduled games citing security considerations.
Last month, a bomb blast at a railroad station near Colombo
killed 57 people. Yet, the cricketers have come to Sri
Lanka to play the international one-day series.
"We have nothing to complain about," said India's captain
Sachin Tendulkar. "You get everything that you need to stay
comfortably."
"We are here to take part in a tournament - and that is
it,"added Samiran Chakraborty, who is manager for the
Indian team here.
For players such as Australia's Steve Waugh, who loves to
explore foreign lands, the restriction is however a
disappointment.
Waugh cannot ride the three-wheeled motor scooters or hop
on to an ox-cart hauling lumber. He can't haggle over
precious stones, which sell for one-quarter of the price
obtaining in Australia.
But then, he'll also not have to answer queries from people
about the ball-tampering controversy that strained
relations between Australia and Sri Lanka earlier this
year.
Thursday 22, August 1996
Editorial COMMENT - Daily Observer (Sri Lanka)
Aussies duck the issue
When the Chinese revolutionaries coined the term `imperialist running dogs'
they were referring not only to the aggressiveness of the western invaders
but also to the cowardliness and uncouthness that hide behind the brute use
of force by the powerful over the weak. `Might is right' is a softer, more
abstract, British aphorism implying something similar.
The Australian cricket team made such a fuss and bother about coming to play
here that one was left with the impression that those decent civilised chaps
feared the worst in entering a `savage' or `undeveloped' society like Sri
Lanka. It seemed clear that they felt that Sri Lankans would wreak vengeance
off the playing field or in unsporting ways, for the frustrations and
controversies experienced on the playing field by the Lankan team in
Australia.
It was in this light that this newspaper editorialised twice on the need for
proper behaviour by Sri Lankans when the Australians arrived here. Editorial
comments stressed the need to restrict any Sri Lankan response to what
happened in Australia to responses within civilised frameworks; that is, the
complete unacceptability or unjustifiability of any hooliganism or physical
intimidation.
Public discussion and debate, even repartee, of course, is what is
desirable.
But now what do we have? Those fair dinkum Aussies, in condescending to
visit, have the effrontery to impose a censorship on the media. "No
questions on anything except the present tour and the future," says the
Australian manager and that's that.
Anyone has the right to refuse to answer questions. Likewise a member of a
team or an organisation may be instructed not to disclose information or
viewpoints on a certain matter. But to tell someone else what he or she
should or should not say or ask is to impose conditions on that person.
What kind of `decent chap' will enter someone else's home and arbitrarily
impose conditions on his host?
Or, are we once again in that colonially familiar inferior position of
needing this visit by an Australian cricket team so much that we have to
acquiesce to conditions imposed by them?
That kind of condition immediately imposes a shamefully neo- colonial,
unequal flavour to Sri Lanka-Australia sports ties.
What more does it say of the Australians? Are they `guilty' of some
misdemeanours that they must resort to such arm-twisting in order that they
can dodge probing questions?
Not at all cricket, what?
But even though such civilised and democratic channels as the mass media are
being blocked (by those `civilised', `democratic' Aussies), we still call on
Sri Lankans not to take their response to what happened in Australia to
actions beyond the playing field or outside decent norms of behaviour.
Our spiritual heritage teaches us that `might' is not `right'. `Might'
cannot even `save face'!
THE HINDU (India)
We're looking to win: Ian Healy
By Amit Baruah
COLOMBO, Aug. 21.
``We're looking to win,'' Australia's new cricket captain Ian
Healy said at a press conference today, adding that both Sri
Lanka and India were capable of ``murder'' if his team was ``not
right on the ball''.
Healy said that Sri Lanka started as the ``favourite'' for the
four-nation Singer world series tournament, but that Australia
would use its ``underdog status'' to come out on top.
Asked about security concerns, the captain said he would be
``lying'' if he did not concede that there was a level of
reservation about coming to Sri Lanka and playing here.
``We're very satisfied with the security arrangements,'' Healy
told correspondents before turning his attention back to
cricketing matters.
Asked if the replacements for Mark Taylor, Craig McDermott and
Shane Warne were up to the mark, Healy said obviously substitutes
could not be found overnight. The Aussie captain said it was a
good opportunity for the newcomers.
Healy said that though they could lose individual games, their
objective was to win series and tournaments. Asked if he could
reconcile his role as a tough competitor with the diplomacy
required of a campaign, the wicket-keeper said he wouldn't find
it a problem. He conceded that there had been some ``cranky''
behaviour between the two sides during the Sri Lankan tour last
summer.
Dr. Cam Battersby, Aussie tour manager, who was present at the
press conference, added that his team would be looking to
``avenge'' the defeat suffered at the hands of the Sri Lankans in
the recent World Cup final.
The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) chief executive, Graham
Halbish, said that they were ``pleased to be here (in Colombo)''.
The new Sri Lankan Cricket Board, he said, had been extremely
positive on the tour.
Asked what was the criteria that were adopted for not playing the
World Cup game in February and coming on this tour, Mr. Halbish
said that such decisions were taken after the ``deepest
consideration''.
According to Mr. Halbish, the fact that Australia cried off in
February and was in Colombo in August showed that they were
``prepared to look at every tour on its merits''.
Sri Lankans set to prove a point
By R. Mohan
COLOMBO, Aug. 23.
The one thing Sri Lankans appreciate the most is international
cricket teams willing to visit the island to play. The other
thing they have been forced to relish, at least temporarily, is
rain because they have not had enough of it this year. With any
cricket under the banner `Singer's certain to bring rain, all
this may have been pre-planned. Cricket is the best antidote to
drought.
Cricket and rain do not go together. But it is with such
dichotomies that the nation with the nation with a troubled
recent past and present have learnt to live with. The cricketers
are welcome. So, too, probably rain because it comes to the
relief of a power starved country which is dependent for its
electricity on its hydel resources.
The streets were flooded as the Indian team's convoy raced
through to the city from the airport to complete the trio of
visiting teams who will be landing Sri Lanka an acceptance in the
world's eyes as it recovers from just another crisis brought
about by terrosism, but this one a serious one because the
Aussies had boycotted the World Cup and triggered a similar
boycott by the West Indians.
Closely guarded secret
The route of the Indian team's convoy was a closely guarded
secret. There were four alternatives lined up with the actual
route to be chosen by the Inspector-General of Police only
moments before the team was ready to leave the airport where it
received a very warm and courtaeous welcome from representatives
of the progressive sponsor, Singer Sri Lanka, Limited, and the
ubiquitous security personnel.
No one can take enough precautions against terrorism,
particularly those who have to live or work or play in the public
eye. And the world knows there is no place that can be wholly
secured from a random or planned strike simply because one is a
potential victim and the other as desperado to whom the laws of
the world mean nothing.
It was with some sense of apprehension that the Indian cricketers
came here. But seeing the relaxed atmosphere in the lanka Oberoi
Hotel, they must have felt reassured that they are not under
threat. To begin with, it must have been worse for the
Australians with their recent record of mistrust and suspicion
with the Sri Lankans but they too are fairly relaxed.
``It's a bit like going in to bat. You feel a little
apprehensive. But once you get in there and face a few balls,
most of the apprehension goes away,'' said the Australian team
manager, Dr. Cam Battersby, at the press conference at which the
Singer trophy was unveiled. The cricket for such a cup and
various other attractive prizes ($50,000 to the winner and $
25,000 to the runner-up) including a Korean KiA Aephia car or KiA
Sportage jeep for the `Player of the Series' is, perhaps, just
the balm Sri Lanka needs at the moment.
``We have been here a couple of times. We have not had any
problem,'' said Sachin Tendulkar with that decisiveness which
comes better to youth. He simply brushed aside any concerns over
security he himself may have harboured while his team was going
through the nine-day preparatory camp at Chepauk. The view from
afar is somehow always different.
As the Air Lanka airbus 320 began swaying in the air through
thick clouds and much turbulence, Sandip Patel was made to
wonder, quite in jest of course, whether the fight was over
Jaffna. But then planes do not overfly Jaffna anymore, their path
from Madras taking them a bit west and then south over Negombo
and straight down to Colombo. Such are the precautions that have
had to be taken to avoid what history will merely record as
disturbed zones.
Delayed flight
The delayed flight was uneventful except for the bumpiness but
then the Indian Manager of Air Lanka, Mr. Rienzie De Silva and
his colleague Mr. P. K. Kamalanathan had taken every step to see
that the Indian team was comfortable while at the international
airport in Madras. The point about this Singer World Series is
all about hospitality. Sri Lanka is making a gesture to the world
that things are fairly normal here and who better than popular
cricketers to prove the point.
Sport has always had this capacity to distance itself from
political and allied problems. It is no different this time
except, of course, that the Aussies are here although Ian Healy
plumb forgot to attend the press conference at which the other
three captains were present and at which all the regular nice
things were said about the coming Singer series which actually
begins on Monday, Aug. 26.
The match scheduled for tomorrow may be under threat from the
weather. But given the lesson of experience, a reserve day has
also been marked in the programme for the memorial match to a
victim of terrorism. Mr. Gamini Dissanayake was a politician who
could take a non-partisan view even on a complicated and
sensitive subject like the Tamils problem.
He was gunned down when he was a presidential candidate slated to
run against the current Head of State, Mrs. Chandrika
Kumaratunga. His connection with cricket used to run deep. He was
president of the Sri Lankan Cricket Board and he played a major
role in bringing the World Cup to the sub-continent and out of
England for the first time in 1987.
The match between the World XI to be led by the former Indian
skipper M. Azharuddin and Sri Lanka led by Arjuna Ranatunga is
tentatively scheduled to be a day-night match at the Premadasa
Stadium on Saturday afternoon. But only in the morning will the
committee concerned decide whether the match will be possible at
all or whether it should be put off straightway to the reserve
day which is Sunday.
Improved power situation
The power situation has improved so much in the island that
crippling cuts were called off only last week. In fact, so
desperate was the power situation not so long ago that the
concept of daylight saving time was also introduced and the
nation's clocks now tick an hour ahead of Indian Standard Time.
When this Indian team was chosen, it was believed there would be
no day-night matches, such belief being reinforced by the thought
that security precautions would preclude matches under lights.
But now India will play one game under lights, on Aug. 28 against
Sri Lanka. Not that the selectors may have had any particular
night cricket specialist to include in the squad but it is just
that they were not aware of the playing conditions.
Mr. Hemaka Amarasuriya, Chairman, Sri Lanka Singer, released an
impressive list of officials for the series. While John Reid of
New Zealand will be the match referee, the umpires will be picked
from a panel of Messrs Steve Bucknor, Cyril Mitchley, B. C.
Cooray, K. T. Francis, Udaya Wickremasinghe, T. M. Samarasinghe,
I. Anandappa, Peter Manual and D. N. Pathirana.
Matches schedule
The schedule of matches in the Singer World Series is:
Aug. 26: Australia v Zimbabwe _ Premadasa Stadium (D/N).
Aug. 28: India v Sri Lanka _ Premadasa Statium (D/N).
Aug. 30: Sri Lanka v Australia _ Premadasa Stadium (D/N).
Sept. 1: India v Zimbabwe _ Sinhalese SC.
Sept. 3: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe _ Sinhalese SC.
Sept. 5: India v Australia _ Sinhalese SC.
Sept. 7: Final _ Premadasa Stadium (day game).
(All matches have a reserve day marked for them which are the
ones following the scheduled playing day).
Rain may affect exhibition match
By P. V. Vaidyanathan
COLOMBO, Aug. 23.
Rain, which is synonymous with the Singer Cup cricket tournament,
made its presence felt, making it a very wet Colombo on Friday.
In the evening, with rain still pouring doubts persist whether
the exhibition match slated for tomorrow would be possible. But
Mr. H. Amarasuriya, Chairman, Singer, sounded quite optimistic
when he said during the press conference this evening that
according to his information weather conditions would improve and
that another edition of Singer Cup would commence as scheduled.
At the press conference the stress was mainly on the security
arrangement for the championship. In his speech, Mr. Upali
Dharmadasa, President, Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka
(BCCSL), thanked the men who were in charge of the security
arrangements for the championship. With Australia and India in
the fray nothing can move an inch without the consent of the
securitymen. Despite landing more than two hours behind schedule,
Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar and Manager Sandip Patil arrived
in time for the press conference with the former handling a few
questions posed to him with the same aplomb that he so often
displayed while batting.
``Yes we do carry the tag. The tag of World champion though I
would have preferred to remain the underdog,'' remarked the Sri
Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga. He said ``since winning the
World Cup, we played in the Singer Cup at Singapore and just a
match in the West Indies.'' Ranatunga was, however, quick to add
``we have been practising for the last 2-1/2 months with the
first four weeks devoted to physical training. The juniors in the
side may find the pressure a bit difficult.'' He had a word of
praise for Upul Chandana ``who has shown a lot of promise during
training.''
The Singer Cup winner will take home $ 50,000. The runner-up will
receive $ 25,000. The man of the final will receive $ 3,000. Two
gleaming cars on either side of the dais invited the attention of
the persons attending the press conference. The player of the
series will have the option, either to take the KIA Sephia Luxury
car or the KIA Sportage Four-wheel drive jeep. There are other
prizes too, apart from prizemoney for other teams. The batsman
who hits a 6 to the hoarding will be awarded the Akai mini-compo
system. The batsman who hits most number of sixes in the
preliminary round will get a BMW bicycle.
The Lankan captain Ranatunga felt India would be the most
difficult opponent. ``It has got a very good batting side. Maybe
the pressure may tell on Sachin's batting. Let me hope Sachin
feels the pressure at least for Sri Lanka's sake,'' Ranatunga
said in a jocular way.
08/23 AUSSIES AND SRI LANKANS SAY RIFT HAS HEALED
Sri Lanka and Australia agreed today that relations between the
two teams have improved since the Sri Lankans' acrimonious tour
last year.
The Sri Lankans were first found guilty then cleared of ball
tampering and off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was called for
throwing during a controversial three-test series in Australia.
"Our concern is to get out there and play proper cricket," Sri
Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga told a news conference on the eve
of a warm-up match between the World Cup champions and a World XI
team scheduled for Saturday. "What happened is history."
Australian team manager Cam Battersby added: "I believe
relations between the two teams will be excellent." The
Australians are making their first visit to the island since
boycotting a World Cup fixture in February after a terrorist bomb
in Colombo.
Australia have been promised the presence of commandos, dogs
and plain-clothed police to ensure the limited overs tournament
starting on August 26, and which also includes India and
Zimbabwe, is free of trouble. Battersby said he was satisfied
with the security arrangements. Reuter
CRIK: HOGG HAS BIG BOOTS TO FILL
By Doug Conway of AAP
COLOMBO, Aug 24 AAP - Brad Hogg has no illusions about the
size of the task facing him in trying to fill the boots of world
cricket's top spin bowler.
But the young West Australian is a risk-taker and if, as
expected, he hears a knock on the door of opportunity in Sri
Lanka he is ready to kick it down.
Replacing the injured Shane Warne is no small task.
But as the only spin specialist in the 13-man squad for the
international one-day series starting on Monday, he is a prime
candidate to get the nod for his Australian debut.
"I'm me, I bowl what I bowl," he said.
"If risks have to be taken, I take them.
"And if I get a chance I take it."
Such an opportunity is something he could scarcely have
dreamed of two years ago, when he was a batsman who got bored in
the nets one day and started "just mucking around" with his
left-arm chinamen.
"I knew if I wanted to make it at this level I had to do
something," he said.
"I knew I wasn't going to make it as a batsman."
Fortunately, his success at the mysterious art of spin bowling
coincides not only with Warne's injury but the retirement of
off-spinner Tim May.
The 25-year-old from Williams, 200 kms south of Perth, needs
plenty of work following a long winter lay-off and won't get as
much as he wants.
He turned out for the Australians in a warm-up match against a
Colts XI in Colombo on Thursday, and had 33 runs taken off four
overs, including seven fours.
A second scheduled warm-up match the following day was
cancelled because of a sustained downpour, and the Australians
had to settle for an indoor nets session instead.
Skipper Ian Healy described Hogg as "a very good star on our
horizon".
"He was fast-tracked by the selection panel because he has
very good potential.
"He is also a good batsman who fields brilliantly."
Healy said it was impossible to replace players like Warne
overnight.
Whether Hogg had sufficient experience to fill the vacancy
immediately "is what we are interested to find out on this tour".
Australia's first match in the four-nation Singer Cup
tournament is a day-night encounter with Zimbabwe on Monday.
Four of the Australian squad, however, will be in action
tonight for a World XI in an exhibition match for charity
against World Cup champions Sri Lanka.
Healy and the Waugh twins, Steve and Mark, will join a
selection which includes Indian stars Mohammed Azharuddin and
Sachin Tendulkar, Zimbabwe's Andy Flower and former Pakistani
leg-spinner Abdul Qadir.
Pace bowler Glenn McGrath became the fourth Australian in the
side when a replacement was needed for South African Meryck
Pringle, who couldn't get to Sri Lanka in time.
Coach Geoff Marsh had no hesitation in allowing McGrath to
play.
West Indies fast bowler Kenny Benjamin also comes into the
world side to replace his injured countryman Ian Bishop.
CRIK: TAYLOR RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL
SYDNEY, Aug 24 AAP - Australian cricket captain Mark Taylor
was released from hospital today after successful surgery on his
back.
Taylor had surgery in Sydney last Wednesday on a piece of disc
that had broken away and was aggravating a nerve.
A spokesman for the cricketer said today Taylor was no longer
in any discomfort and that the pain in his leg was gone.
"Mark is in good spirits. The operation has been successful,"
he said.
"Mark will spend the next couple of weeks recouperating and
there is good chance he could be ready for the tour of India."
Taylor's surgery prevented him from leading Australia to Sri
Tin Tin
The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)
25th August 1996
Until cricket matches are over
LTTE ban postponed
An impending legal ban on the LTTE scheduled to have taken place this week
was indefinitely postponed at the last minute owing to the ongoing cricket
matches in Colombo, The Sunday Times learns.
A national security council decision to proscribe the LTTE was to be
implemented on Friday but a stormy sports lobby, urged the government to
re-consider the move citing the possibility of the four nation Singer
limited over cricket tournament being disrupted in the event of an immediate
LTTE backlash following the ban.
A senior government source explained that the arrival of national cricket
teams of Australia, India and Zimbabwe was viewed as a positive signal
overseas for the fast declining tourist industry.
"If the LTTE struck during the cricket tournament everyone would have blamed
the government for provoking the LTTE. If they strike nevertheless (in
Colombo) they have only themselves, to be faulted",, the source added.
The ban was to have been discussed at Wednesday's regular cabinet meeting
but had been put off following the Attorney general's advice.
A special cabinet meeting was summoned on Thursday evening again to discuss
the ban, but by the time the ministers had assembled, the President had
decided to postpone the ban owing to the cricket matches. The Zimbabwe team
will be in Sri Lanka till mid-September.
The decision to ban the LTTE this week coincided with a visit by the
7-member US counter terrorism team led by Ambassador Philip Wilco of the US
State department. It was the first time the US has sent a delegation to Sri
Lanka to discuss steps to counter terrorism.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sachin, Mark shine despite bad weather
By Marlon Fernandopulle
Rain proved to be the spoiler of the one day charity game between
World Champions Sri Lanka and a World XI team. The game was
called-off in the 22nd over.
After heavy rain on Friday and on early Saturday, the Premadasa Stadium
ground staff did a splendid job getting the match started at 5.05 p.m.
The game was reduced to 45 overs a side and commenced in front of an
appreciative crowd. However, the players were forced off the field when a
heavy shower came down around 6.40 p.m.
According to informed sources the benefit game will not be played today.
World XI Skipper Mohamed Azharrudin won the toss and had no hesitation in
taking first lease of the wicket.
Openers Mark Waugh and Sachin Tendulkar started off cautiously playing the
bowling on merits. However with Pramodaya Wickremasinghe and Ravindra
Pushpakumara not being able to maintain an accurate line, both the World XI
openers got into top gear executing some delightful strokes.
Tendulkar with some lovely strokes raised to his half century, lofting leg
spinner Upul Chandana for a six.
Mark Waugh was in his inimitable style driving and cutting with power and
precision.
Waugh's stylish knock included four boundaries and a towering six over
mid-wicket.
Tendulkar chisled his runs off 71 balls which contained one six and five
hits to the ropes.
When the heavens opened up the World XI were 101 without loss. Tendulkar was
on 56 and Waugh on 39.
Score Board
World XI
Mark Waugh not out 39
Sachin Tendulkar not out 56
Extras - (o3 LB 04w) 07
Total (for no loss) 102
Bowling
Wickremasinghe 6-0-29-0,
Pushpakumara 7-0-31-0,
Dharmasena 5-0-20-0,
Upul Chandana 3.2-0-16-0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Truant Aussies captain angers Sri Lankans
Australia's stand-in captain Ian Healy almost ruined his team's peace
mission in Sri Lanka by failing to attend an official function on Friday
night.
Healy, deputising for the injured Mark Taylor in the four-nation Singer Cup
starting here on Monday, preferred to work out in the hotel gymnasium while
officials gathered for a press briefing called by the sponsors.
Healy's absence was conspicuous at the function, attended by the managers
and captains of the rival teams from India. Zimbabwe and hosts Sri Lanka.
Healy is in the gym. Australian manager Cam Battersby told reporters at the
briefing. But I am here to answer any questions you may have for him or the
Australian team.
The manager's pleadings failed to appease reporters and officials from the
Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka.
I thought the Australians were here to make friends, an official said. I
doubt if Healy did himself a favour there.
The Australians are keen to mend strained relations with their hosts after
Sri Lanka's acrimonious tour down under last year and Australia's refusal to
play their World Cup match here in March for security reasons.
The Australian high commissioner in Sri Lanka helped ease the tension
between the two nations by hosting a lunch for both teams on Wednesday.
What happened was in the past, we are going to concentrate only on the
cricket, Sri Lanka's World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga said.
Sri Lankan officials were amused at discovering a badly-guarded secret that
an Australian federal security officer Reg Dickson was travelling with the
team in the guise of assistant manager.
They are obviously not convinced that we can look after them here, a local
official said. I am confident that no team will face problems here.
The hotel where the four teams have been lodged resembles a fortress with
gun-toting commandos having taken up positions both inside and outside the
premises.
Heavy security is also in place on the approach roads to the well-guarded
match venues.
I am not worried about the security. Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar said.
We have been here in the past and there have been no problems. I look
forward to playing here now and again in the future.
Few Sri Lankans have forgotten last year's troubled tour of Australia, where
Arjuna Ranatunga's boys were first accused of ball tampering before
frontline spinner Muttiah Murlitharan was branded a chucker.
Then came the ultimate humiliation as the Australians boycotted their World
Cup match in Sri Lanka fearing the safety of their players after a bomb in
central Colombo killed 91 people.
Sri Lanka took revenge by defeating Australia in the World Cup final in
Pakistan on March 17.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Azhar praises new captain
Deposed Indian captain Mohammad Azaharuddin openly backed Sachin Tendulkar
the man who got him the sack.
Azaharuddin India's most successful captain with 11 wins, but who was
bitterly criticised after the team's semi-final exit from the World Cup this
year, said of his successor: He has a very good cricketing brain. I hope he
carries on and on.
Sachin is like my younger brother. I really admire the way he carries
himself. He is such a nice bloke. he told a television channel.
The right-handed batsman, whose fate was sealed by further defeats in two
limited over tournaments in Singapore and Sharjah as well as Test and
one-day series defeat to England has been dogged by scandal this year
divorcing his wife Naureen earlier this month after a romance with film star
and former Miss India, Sangeeta Bijlani.
But Azaharuddin (33) who asked to be judged only as a cricketer said: I have
come out well. Whatever I have done is of my own free will.
He added his commitment to Indian cricket was total.
Tendulkar is leading the Indian squad which includes Azaharuddin, on a
four-nation limited over tournament in Sri Lanka which begins on Monday. The
team then flies on to Canada next month to take on Pakistan in a five-match
head-to-head.
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Struggle for Singer surpremacy starts
By Marlon Fernandopulle
An absorbing contest, unleashing the thrills and spills of one day cricket
by a galaxy of stars, awaits the Singer 4 nation tournament when it opens
tomorrow at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
World champions Sri Lanka, two former world champions Australia, India and
an emerging force Zimbabwe will battle for supremacy during the next two
weeks.
All preparations have been finalised for the four nation tournament which
will see a galaxy of world stars in action.
Reigning champions India will be hardpressed to repeat their success again
as they confront the mighty Aussies and the World Champions Sri Lanka.
All in all the next two weeks is bound to provide exhilarating entertainment
for the eagerly awaiting large crowds that are expected at the venues to
catch the action of this tournament.
Sri Lanka
A rousing welcome awaits the Sri Lanka team as they take the field for the
first time on home soil after winning the world cup earlier this year.
Arjuna Ranatunge, one of the most experienced one day cricketers in the
world (who has over 180 one day games under his belt) is determined to
stretch his team's winning streak and maintain the status of world
champions.
Sri Lanka is today the most experienced one day team in the world with six
of their players recording over 100 one dayers. In addition they posses two
lethal openers in the calibre of Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana
both capable of sending shivers down the spine of any bowler with their
cavalier approach.
They have taken the one day game to a new dimension and will hold the key to
Lanka's success at the singer tournament. With Asanka Gurusinha, Aravinda de
Silva Arjuna Ranatunge, Roshan Mahanama and Hashan Tilekaratne to follow
Lanka's batting looks formidable as ever.
Chaminda Vaas will once again be the home side's main strike bowler. Vaas
has got the ability to get his line and length right from the beginning,
which should help the home side to contain their opposition. However he will
have to be well supported by his new ball partners Wickramasinghe or
Pushpakumara.
Spinners Muralitharan and Dharmasena should find the tracks at home in their
favour. Together with part timers Jayasuriya and Aravinda de Silva Lanka's
bowling department has a good variety that should restrict their opponents,
from piling huge totals.
India
India under new captain Sachin Tendulkar will be looking to redeem lost
prestige. After their poor show at the World Cup and the England tour,
Indian cricket has reached a low ebb.
According to skipper Tendulkar all these are history and the team is keen to
perform and restore their rightful place in the game. The tournament will
also be a big challenge for Tendulkar himself. Sachin who had carried
India's batting on his shoulders in the past is out to prove that the
additional pressure of captaincy will not effect his batting talents.
India have a host of new faces in their side. However some have already
proved their class with Ganguly and Dravid coming out on top in the recent
England tour. Once the side settles in they are sure to give their opponents
a good run.
Deposed skipper Mohamed Azharuddin will be all out to silence his critics.
The wristy right hander who is ranked among the best in the world will be
looking to regain his lost touch. The return of Vinod Kambli will also
strenghten the batting.
Once again the Indians will rely on their new ball bowlers Javagal Srinath
and Venkatesh Prasad do bear the brunt of the attack.
Australia
Australia's decision to go ahead and came to Colombo is a welcome sign.
Authorities down under and in Colombo must be congratulated for all the
efforts done to persuade the Aussies to take part in the tournament.
The kangaroos will have an old score to settle when they take on the home
side. Led by wicket keeper Ian Healy Australia are determined to avenge
their defeat in the World Cup. Coach Geoff Marsh has already stated that it
will be nice to beat Sri Lanka as they are the world champions.
No doubt the Australians have a well balanced and talented side that is
capable of beating any country, although they are minus two of their key
players, Shane Warne and Mark Taylor. Taylor in particular will be missed as
he is an aggressive opening batsmen and also an experienced and astute
leader.
Apart from the Waugh twins the Australian batting lacks experience at the
highest level. However the talents of Michael Slater, Michael Bevan, Ricky
Ponting and Steuart Law, should overcome this problem. Bevan and Law are
fresh from the county season where they had a field day with the bat.
Zimbabwe
Twenty four year old Alastair Campbell will lead a relatively young Zimbabwe
side. A stylish left handed batsmen Campbell is well remembered by cricket
fans in Sri Lanka for his top score of 75 in the world cup game at the SSC
grounds.
The Zimbabwe side comprises a couple of stylish and hard hitting batsmen in
the calibre of Andy and Grant Flower, Eddo Brandes and Guy Whittal. Although
lacking in experience Zimbabwe will be looking at turning tables on their
more fancied opponents. Lumelelo Mbangwa, will be the second black to be
playing for Zimbabwe. Henry Olonga who was the first is also included in the
Zimbabwe Squad.
Kumar Venkataraman
Says the sagacious R.Mohan:
: Sport has always had this capacity to distance itself from
: political and allied problems. It is no different this time
: except, of course, that the Aussies are here although Ian Healy
Was he hibernating in the 70s and 80s?
Tin Tin
Sri Lankan visit a tour of "firsts" for Australians
AAP (Australia)
COLOMBO - Half of the Australian cricket party in Sri Lanka, from
coach Geoff Marsh and captain Ian Healy to newest recruit Brad
Hogg, are combining to make this a tour of "firsts".
It is Marsh's first serious venture in his new role since taking over from
Bob Simpson, not counting a low-key winter visit to Kuala Lumpur for
the new eights tournament.
Despite his tenure as an opening batsman for his country, it is also
the doughty West Australian's first trip to Sri Lanka in any capacity.
Healy is making his debut in his new, if temporary, position of
Australian captain.
The fiercely competitive wicketkeeper, standing in for the injured
Mark Taylor, also becomes the first player born and bred in
Queensland to hold the post.
At least three others among the 13-man squad are also set to make
important additions to their cricketing CVs.
The most significant could well turn out to be Hogg, the 25-year-old
West Australian chosen to replace injured star Shane Warne.
The left-arm chinaman bowler, drafted in as a replacement at the last
minute, is the only specialist spinner in the squad and could find himself
making his debut for Australia against Zimbabwe next Monday in the
opening match of a quadrangular one-day series.
Darren Lehmann could also get a chance to open his account.
His Test career consists of carrying drinks once six years ago
and although he has played in an Australian A team, the solid left-
hander has not yet made it to the top side in the one-day game.
Jason Gillespie is in a similar situation.
The lanky, pony-tailed speedster was called in as a replacement
for the injured Craig McDermott at the World Cup earlier this year,
but did not play.
He, too, waits in the wings for his first chance.
There is another, more important "first" for the Australians.
It is their first match since defeat in the World Cup final against Sri
Lanka
and their first visit here since boycotting a qualifying match in Colombo
because of a terrorist bombing.
Their concerns about coming to the war-torn country have eased
in the few days they have been here.
Security is tight but unobtrusive, apart from a metal detector
at their hotel entrance and a handful of soldiers with
semi-automatics slung over their shoulders.
Security inside the hotel is being handled by Sri Lanka's
Ministerial Security Division, normally responsible for protecting
government ministers.
They are not visibly armed and are adept at melting into the
background.
The Australians had their first warm-up match yesterday,
defeating a Sri Lankan colts outfit by five runs.
Australia made 7-251 from its 50 overs, Tasmanian Ricky Ponting
leading with 100 off 119 balls with two sixes and nine fours before
retiring.
The colts replied with 7-246.
Today the Australians have another warm-up against a Sri Lankan
Cricket Board XI. After that it's down to business in the one-day
series against Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and India.
Australia's main concern is to get the bowlers into stride after
a winter lay-off.
Batsmen Michael Bevan and Stuart Law have been playing English
county cricket with Yorkshire and Essex respectively, but the rest
of the squad has had no proper match practice since the World Cup.
Hogg on track for debut as new Australian spin bowler
AAP (Australia)
COLOMBO - Brad Hogg's cricketing fairytale kept getting better when
he was chosen to make his Australian debut in the opening match of a
four-nation limited overs tournament against Zimbabwe here tonight.
Two years ago Hogg wasn't even bowling the left-arm chinamen which
won him his ticket to Sri Lanka.
Two weeks ago he had no idea he would be called on to make the trip.
But when Shane Warne's main spinning finger still had not fully
recovered from surgery, Hogg was plucked out at the last minute to fill
the void.
Getting into the 13-man touring squad was one thing.
But to march straight into the starting line-up was another.
That's what captain Ian Healy meant when he said this week that Hogg
had been "fast-tracked" by selectors.
The 25-year-old West Australian says being picked to tour Sri Lanka is
like a "dream come true", and he has to keep pinching himself to make
sure it's real.
Opportunities like his don't come along often in international cricket.
While he is keenly aware of the need to seize the chance with both
hands, he must not let the occasion overawe him.
The Australian selectors don't view Hogg merely as a fill-in for Warne.
If Hogg shows sufficient promise at international level the grand vision is
for him to be able to operate in tandem with Warne in a spin attack at
both ends.
That's some way off, perhaps, but Hogg can get the plan rolling by
strutting his stuff in Colombo in the Singer Cup series against Zimbabwe,
Sri Lanka and India.
Tim May's recent retirement, coupled with Warne's injury, left
the Australian spin cupboard looking bare, and this is Hogg's
chance to announce himself.
Healy, who will be making his debut as Australian captain
tonight, has described Hogg as a "star on the horizon".
Hogg's good news meant more disappointment for two other
Australians on the verge of getting their first chance in the big
time.
Speedster Jason Gillespie, who replaced the injured Craig
McDermott in Australia's World Cup squad earlier this year but did
not end up getting a match, again just misses out and has been
named 12th man.
Darren Lehmann, picked to shore up the squad's batting lineup as
a replacement for injured skipper Mark Taylor, will be sitting this
match out.
Ideally the Australians want to see Gillespie and Lehmann, as
well as Hogg, all make their Australian debuts on this tour.
But Hogg has been given the nod for what should be Australia's
easiest match of the tournament. Reigning World Cup champs Sri
Lanka and former champions India are still to come.
Hogg says he began bowling seriously when he realised he wasn't
going to make it to international level as a batsman.
But the fact that he is useful with the bat, too, is not going
to harm his cause, especially in the limited overs game.
Healy is a great believer in having good batsmen in the final
stages of a one-day innings, when the opposition's best bowlers are
coming back on.
One batsman who gets a chance to reclaim his one-day spot is New
South Wales Test star Michael Slater, who is likely to open the
innings with Mark Waugh.
Healy was given the honour of speaking on behalf of players from
all four countries at a lavish official dinner last night to launch
the tournament.
Teams for tonight's match:
Australia: Ian Healy (c), Steve Waugh (vc), Michael Slater, Mark
Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Stuart Law, Michael Bevan, Paul Reiffel,
Damien Fleming, Brad Hogg, Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie (12th).
Zimbabwe: (from) Alistair Campbell (c), Andy Flower (vc), Mark
Dekker, Craig Evans, Eddo Brandes, Grant Flower, Wayne James,
Andrew Whittall, Guy Whittall, Ali Shah, Henry Olonga, Brian
Strang, Paul Strang, Heath Streak, Craig Wishart.
The match is scheduled to start at 3pm (1830 AEST) at Colombo's
Premadasa Stadium.
Hogg on song as Aussies crush Zimbabwe
AAP (Australia)
COLOMBO - Australia's cricketers, from debut wicket-taker Brad
Hogg to successful first-up captain Ian Healy, had plenty to smile
about as they steamrollered Zimbabwe by 125 runs in the opening
match of the four-nation Singer Cup series.
Hogg, the 25-year-old spinner making his international debut,
bowled impressively to finish with 1-26 from nine overs, despite the
fact that the match was over as a contest by the time he came on.
His beaming face as his teammates rushed to congratulate him on
capturing his first wicket for Australia will be a lasting memory of a
lopsided encounter.
He could have finished with two wickets if a simple chance hadn't
been grassed.
Healy took two smart catches behind the stumps and had an armchair
ride after winning the toss in his first match as skipper. "This is easy,"
he quipped as he came back from the middle after deciding to bat.
The Australians, led by Steve Waugh's man-of-the-match innings of 82
from just 70 balls, plundered the Zimbabwe attack to amass 7-263 from
their 50 overs at a near-deserted Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Fans stayed away in droves from last night's match, wary of
paying steep prices to watch lightweights Zimbabwe.
Ticket prices ranged from 75 rupees ($A2), almost half a week's
wages for a menial worker here, to over ten times that amount.
Spectators could well have been outnumbered by the Sri Lankan
soldiers and police whose rigid security included body searches of
everyone entering the ground.
They were certainly outnumbered by the swarms of small insects
that drove the players mad and prompted ground staff to spray huge
jets of insecticide over the field during the match.
The insects may have given Australia's batsmen as much trouble
as Zimbabwe's bowlers.
Apart from Waugh's knock, which included five fours and three
sixes, Michael Slater and Ricky Ponting also helped themselves to
runs.
Ponting made 53 off 82 deliveries before he skyed a return catch
to medium pacer Guy Whittall, and Slater notched up an even 50 from
69 balls before he square cut straight to Paul Strang, also off
Whittall.
Slater, getting another chance to open in the one-day side
because of the back surgery which kept Mark Taylor at home, was
clearly annoyed with himself at getting out.
But at least he had a half century to his name following five
previous one-day failures and his inability to force his way into
the Australian team at this year's World Cup.
Whittall took 3-53 from 10 overs to be Zimbabwe's leading
wicket-taker, and opening bowler Eddo Brandes captured 2-47 from
10.
Leg-spinner Paul Strang had a dream start when he captured the
prized scalp of opener Mark Waugh with his second ball.
Waugh played over a delivery from around the wicket and was
bowled for 18 after an opening stand of 48.
But that was as good as it got for Strang, who finished with
1-41 from nine overs.
Zimbabwe always looked to be struggling in the run chase, and it
was well and truly sunk at 5-56 in the 20th over.
The damage was done firstly by Damien Fleming, who dismissed the
Flower brothers Grant and Andy within three balls to have Zimbabwe
reeling at 2-16.
His opening partner Glenn McGrath chipped in with the important
wicket of Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell, out lbw for nine.
Paul Reiffel added to Zimbabwe's misery with two wickets at a
cost of 23 from six overs.
Mark Waugh ended up with most wickets by cleaning up the tail -
at one stage he was on a hat-trick after bowling Strang and Heath
Streak.
He also took the catch that got Hogg's international career off
the ground, a simple chance which came when Hogg enticed top-scorer
Ali Shah down the pitch, deceived him with spin and found a leading
edge.
Hogg should have finished with two wickets. He got Mark Dekker
to sky one over Healy's head only for Fleming to run in and drop a
catch that he had both hands on.
Hogg started nervously, bowling a wide and a no-ball in his
first four deliveries.
But once he settled down he looked the goods, extracting plenty
of turn with his left-arm chinamen and causing plenty of trouble
with his wrong'uns.
Zimbabwe could muster only 138 in reply and was all out with
nine overs still left.
India and Sri Lanka meet on Wednesday, with Australia's next
match due on Friday against the host.
Rediff (India)
Australia start Singer campaign with clinical win
Australia 263 for seven in 50 overs. Zimbabwe 138 all out
in 41 overs. Australia won the match by 125 runs.
Tells the story, really, of the inaugural match of the
Singer World Series competition, played at the R Premadasa
Stadium (formerly Khettarama Stadium) at Colombo on Monday.
The Australian innings was powered by a sparkling 82 by
Steve Waugh, after opener and twin brother Mark Waugh
departed early when he failed to connect with a short arm
pull off right arm leg spinner Paul Strang, to be bowled
for 18 (off 27 deliveries) in the 10th over.
Steve's Waugh's big hitting was complimented by half
centuries from Michael Slater, back in the side after a
back injury forced captain and opening batsman Mark Taylor
to drop out, and Ricky Ponting.
The Australian score, its highest in the Singer Cup thus
far, would have been larger by 50-odd runs but for a wet
outfield and some sensational ground fielding by Zimbabwe.
Ian Healy, leading his side for the first time in
international cricket, won the toss and elected to bat.
Mark Waugh and Michael Slater negotiated the pace of Heath
Streak and Eddo Brandes with ease, bringing up 48 runs in
just 9.2 overs before Waugh committed hara kiri.
That brought Ponting out to join his fellow Australian
Cricket Academy alumnus, and the two too the total to 92
before Slater failed to keep down a powerful cut off
Whittall to give Strang a catch at point. Just a ball
earlier, the Aussie opener had registered his 50 off 67
balls, with four well timed fours.
In came Steve Waugh, and while he got his eye in, Zimbabwe
had its best point of the match, restricting the scoring
rate to just three runs an over for a period of 10 overs
between the 21st and 31st over.
A torrential downpour added to the confusion, stopping play
for 55 minutes at this stage.
Ponting was another to go after crossing the 50 run mark,
attempting a big hit to give Whittall a well-judged return
catch off a ballooning stroke.
At this juncture, Steve Waugh cut loose. Five fours and
four effortless sixes, two of them in succession off
Strang, powered him to 82 off just 70 deliveries, before
skying a catch to Campbell at short midwicket off Whittall.
This was in the 44th over, and the remaining Australian
batsmen failed to capitalise on the platform thanks to some
injudicious hitting that saw Stuart Law (19), Michael Bevan
(8) and Ian Healey (8) give up their wickets cheaply. The
total - 263 for seven in 50 overs) was however good enough,
on a wicket with low bounce, to be a winning one against
any but the very best sides - and Zimbabwe, with the bat,
does not qualify as a top notch side.
The Australian bowlers bowled a superb line and length, to
take wickets at regular intervals. Grant Flower left at 16,
, brother Andy Flower - who had abdicated the captaincy
saying he wanted to concentrate on his batting, failed to
trouble the scorers and departed at the same score... and
from then on, it was a regular procession as the Zimababwe
batsmen tried, and failed miserably, to counter the pace,
swing and cut of the Australian bowlers.
The only resistance came from opener Ali Shah, who was
seventh out for 41 (off 75 deliveries) with the total at 99
while, for Australia, Glenn McGrath claimed one for 13 in
seven overs, Damien Fleming two for 24 in seven, Paul
Reiffel two for 23 in six, Mark Waugh a surprising three
for 24 in five, and Steve Waugh and debutant Brad Hogg,
filling in for the injured Shane Warne, grabbed a wicket
each for 21 and 26 runs respectively.
All in all, a clinical performance. Zimbabwe, with the bat,
packed too little firepower to permit a proper assessment
of the Australian strength in the field. And their bowlers
were not quite up to the standard needed to contain
Australia's array of strokeplayers, either.
The real fireworks, thus, will begin on Wednesday, when
India under Sachin Tendulkar take on Sri Lanka in a match
that will remind many - not least the players themselves -
of the famous semifinal of the Wills World Cup earlier this
year at the Eden Gardens in Calcutta.
Wednesday's rematch could well be one for the books...
THE HINDU
The minnows want more exposure
By P. V. Vaidyanathan
COLOMBO, Aug. 25.
The Zimbabweans, the babes among the Test playing
countries, is yearning for more international expsoure.
Both Mr. Malcolm Jarvis, the coach and Mr. Denis Streak,
team manager minced no words while speaking to The Hindu
stressing that their country's need of the hour is play
more and more international cricket.
On the eve of Zimbabwe's first match in the Singer Cup
tournament here against Australia on Monday, Jarvis, who
played Tests for his country, said, ``Zimbabwe has
adapted itself well in the recent times. From a few
first class matches to Test games... well, it has been a
fantastic jump. In David Houghton, we have a world class
bat while new ball bowler Heath Streak pitchforked
himself into Tests with remarkable consistency. With
more Tests we are sure to go up the ladder.''
``In the last four years of Test cricket, there were
only two occasions when our opponent passed the 300-run
mark. That is a very rich tribute to our bowlers. Heath
Streak had been magnificent. But the fact remains he
didn't have good support at the other end. Unfortunately
Brandes has been injury prone and has not performed to
the level he is capable of. That is our misfortune,'' he
said.
``The participation of Zimbabwe in the recent World
under-15 competition in England must have done a world
of good to the junior cricketers. The concept of `A'
tours is a move in the right direction. We would like
ourselves to be busy in the international scheme of
things,'' he added.
Zimbabawe's performance in the 1996 World Cup fell below
expectations. The team, which knocked Australia out on
its debut (1983) and laid England low in the 1992
edition was a mere shadow of itself in the last World
Cup. Jarvis' answer was, ``the injury to Houghton was a
blow to our preparations. Houghton's mere presence would
have been enough for us to be in the right spirits. Paul
Strang, the leg spinner, was superb but that alone was
not enough.''
``Mr. Denis Streak, the manager, chipped in, ``we had
too many commitments prior to the World Cup. We should
have gone back home and rested for a while before
playing in the tournament.''
How does Jarvis fancy his team's chances in the
four-nation competition? ``We have beaten all the three
at one time or the other. Our side is a mix of youth and
experience. The one day match is a funny game and we are
capable of causing an upset though I must admit Sri
Lanka, India and Australia are very tough opponents.
Some of the players in the side, Craig Evans, Brain
Wishart and Andy Flower, have shown encouraging form.''
As for Zimbabwe's future cricket, Jarvis' reply was,
``England will visit Zimbabwe for a short Test-cum-one
day series. We are keenly looking forward the triangular
one-dayers involving Zimbabwe, South Africa and India
later in the year. We have plenty of talent and, what we
need is more international competition. Then more
Houghtons, Flowers and Streaks can be unearthed.''
THE HINDU
All eyes to keenly monitor the `climate'
By R. Mohan
COLOMBO, Aug. 25.
There is only one word for the two things that are
causing the most concern on the eve of the Singer world
series _ climate. The first definition of the word has
to do with the prevailing weather condition of the
region. It appears cricket is a sure- fire shot when it
comes to providing drought relief and it is only natural
that Singer, the host and sponsor of the event, is most
concerned.
There is good news on the weather front. There are signs
that the depression that brought all the rain in the
last few days has cleared and it is possible to look
forward to good weather and good cricket. It might just
be a stroke of great fortune for cricket in Sri Lanka
that the weather ahead is a lot more promising than it
was when the damp fund-raising curtain raiser got washed
out on Saturday.
What the International Cricket Council is most worried
about also is the climate. Not the weather but the
atmosphere on the playing fields of the international
game. John Reid's policy statement this morning at the
match referee's meeting spelt out clearly and loudly
that the ICC is not going to tolerate dissent and
demonstrativeness. The world governing body is going to
crack down on bad behaviour. The whip is out.
Reid of New Zealand has often been the tough-talking
representative from among the panel of match referees.
He has said all this before but has not always followed
it up with stringent action. Now, it is apparent that
the ICC has asked all its referees to come down hard on
dissent. Reid is probably going to be the first to
enforce the more stringent code of conduct for players
the ICC is looking at.
Code of conduct
``To avoid the suggestion of inconsistency with my
interpretation and application of the ICC Code of
Conduct, I have set out some non-negotiable breaches
that are not acceptable but still arise. The breaches
have been as follows, which I do not want repeated on
this tour _ (1) Gesturing to a dismissed batsman. (2)
Excessive appealing or charging an umpire for a
decision. (3) Using advertising/sponsors logos on arm
guards, wristlets, head bands, etc. (4) Excessive
anything, bad language, intimidation or abuse and (5)
And, of course, sledging.''
Reid has also spelt out that the ICC has come to the
conclusion that the fines system is not having the
desired effect in discouraging transgressions and so
sterner measures like a three- Test match suspension
plus all matches in between and a 75 per cent fine for
offenders are being envisaged. ``The referee is not on a
holiday. The Code of Conduct is jut not another set of
rules that can be got around _ It is a serious
business,'' is what Reid had to say to the captains and
managers of Sri Lanka, India, Australia and Zimbabwe
this morning.
In the `Thou shall not' list of actions that will be
frowned upon, Reid tells that players should `not utter
words or actions that can be construed as dissent with
the umpire's decision'. The operative word is construed
which means action can be taken even on an assumption of
questionable behaviour. This may be useful because often
players get away by using language that the umpires
cannot obviously understand. The ground rules have been
spelt out. It is up to the players to follow the code
religiously since it is a trial by television out there
with their actions likely to be copied by millions of
kids who play the game in the region.
It is obvious that Reid has been given a special brief
for this tournament the smooth conduct of which is of
vital significance to cricket in Sri Lanka. The island
is just limping back to normality in the cricketing
sense of hosting a major international event which
cannot obviously be spoilt by any vestige of the bad
blood that may have spoiled relations between the host
Sri Lanka and the visiting Australian team.
The long running controversies of the Sri Lankan tour of
Australia last season, of which the row over the bowling
action of Muthiah Muralitharan was the most prominent,
had hardly died down when the Aussie boycott of this
country in the World Cup further soured relations. The
meeting in the summit of the World Cup which went off
without a hitch may have helped cool things down. But
there is always an undercurrent which can rise to the
surface and spoil relations that are being rebuilt with
such care.
Ian Healy, the non-compromising sort who has had his own
brushes with many a Sri Lankan player, is now in charge
of the Australian team. This means he has a sort of
double duty to handle, the first part of which is not to
stir up anything from behind the stumps. The second part
is, of course, to ensure no one flies off the handle
just because it still is thought fashionable to play the
game very hard on the field as the Aussies do.
By skipping the press conference on Friday evening at
which the Singer Trophy was unveiled, Healy did not make
too many friends in Colombo. They have begun to look at
Healy with suspicion in this country. But then the
Queensland 'keeper is such a professional that despite
having a tough assignment on hand he will probably come
through with his reputation enhanced. He set the record
straight by saying his absence came about because of a
lapse in the lines of communications. ``The crowd will
probably give us a hard time when we play Sri Lanka. But
that is probably appropriate. It is only to be expected
and we are prepared to play the match under any
conditions,'' Healy said.
Aussies open campaign
Healy's Australians will open their Singer Cup campaign
against Alistair Campbell's Zimbabweans on Monday in a
day-night game at the Premadasa Stadium where, as we
know, insects can be a bit of a problem but only if the
weather threatens to turn wet. The pitch is so sluggish
there that what is required in batsmen is a lot of
experience. The manner in which Mark Waugh and Sachin
Tendulkar watchfully gathered their runs in the Gamini
Dissanyake memorial match merely reinforces the point.
Darren Lehmann still has to wait to make his debut while
Brad Hogg, left hand batsman and chinaman bowler will
make his appearance.
``Anything can happen in cricket. That is one of its
greatnesses,'' said Campbell, the attractive left handed
bat who finds himself in the captaincy seat. Andy Flower
did not want to continue in the job and although Dave
Houghton was willing to bear the burden the Zimbabwe
Cricket Union was not keen. So the baton has been passed
on to Campbell who is hoping his side will pull off as
big an upset as his nation once did in the World Cup of
1983 in beating Australia.
Malcolm Jarvis is presently the coach of the side. In a
chat with the press at which he was quite frank about
anything and everything, Campbell suggested that John
Hampshire did not have the heart for the job of coach
anymore. The English Test umpire, who was Zimbabwe's
coach for the five years since the nation played its
first Test against India in Harare, has not had his
contract renewed. So, many things have changed in
Zimbabwe cricket and it might be up to Campbell to try
and prove that many of those changes are for the better.
India-Lanka clash on Wednesday
The Sri Lankans and the Indians will meet on Wednesday.
While the host team's skipper accepts that playing at
home is going to be full of pressure, India has a new
skipper who has been entrusted with the job of putting
the team back on the rails. They have been busy trying
to find ways to spend time usefully, as at indoor nets,
the hotel gymnasium and at physical training in order to
get battle-fit.
The remarkably refreshing thing about a new season is it
holds hope for so many. While in the case of the winners
of the last season like the Lankans the new season bring
renewal of hope, those who have not fared so well last
season have the chance to set things right. Even as
Pakistan and England are playing in a Test match in the
English summer, cricket's new season begins in the
sub-continent. Cricket is not a truly global sport but
it does fill the calendar more than it used to. The
Singer series promises to lead us into a new era of
perfectly acceptable behaviour and hard and entertaining
cricket.
The teams for the Singer world series:
Australia: Ian Healy (captain), Mark Waugh, Michael
Slater, Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, Stuwart Law, Michael
Bevan, Darren Lehmann, Paul Reiffel, Damien Fleming,
Glenn McGrath, Brad Hogg and Jason Gillespie.
India: Sachin Tendulkar (captain), Ajay Jadeja, Saurav
Ganguly, M. Azharuddin, Vinod Kambli, Rahul Dravid,
Sunil Joshi, Nayan Mongia, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath,
Venkatesh Prasad, Aasish Kapoor, Vikram Rathore and
David Johnson.
Sri Lanka: Arjuna Ranatunga (captain), Sanath
Jayasuriya, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Asanka Gurusinha,
Aravinda de Silva, Hashan Tillekartane, Roshan Mahanama,
Kumara Dharmasena, Muthiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas,
Pramodya Wickremasinghe, Ravindra Pushpakumara, Maravan
Atapattu and Upul Chandana.
Zimbabwe: Alistair Campbell (captain), Andy Flower,
Hamilton Dekker, Neil Evans, Eddo Brandes, Grant Flower,
Robert James, Andrew Whitall, Ali Shah, Khabba Olonga,
Bryan Strang, Paul Strang, Heath Streak, James Whittall
and Craig Wishart.
The hours of play in the day-night matches at the
Premadasa Stadium _ Australia v Zimbabwe on Aug. 26,
India v Sri Lanka on Aug. 28 and Australia v Sri Lanka
on Aug. 30 _ will be (in Indian Standard Time) 2-30 p.m.
to 6-00 p.m. and 6-45 p.m. to 10-15 p.m.
Australia's emphatic win over Zimbabwe in Colombo
COLOMBO, Aug 26: Australia finally made a long-awaited appearance on a Sri
Lankan cricket field Monday to launch the four-nation Singer Cup with an
emphatic 125-run victory over Zimbabwe.
The Australians, who refused to play their World Cup match here in February
due to security fears and dilly-dallied till the last minute before making
the current trip, appeared to enjoy the outing. Steve Waugh stroked a
majestic 82 off 70 balls and both Michael Slater and Ricky Ponting slammed
half-centuries as the Australians piled up 263 for seven batting first on an
easy-paced wicket.
Zimbabwe, whose only victory over the Australians came way back in the 1983
World Cup, managed only 138 in reply after losing four top batsmen,
including new captain Alistair Campbell, by the 12th over.
It was an ideal morale booster for the Australians ahead of the tougher ties
against India and hosts Sri Lanka, their conquerors in the memorable World
Cup final in Pakistan in March.
Barely 1,000 Sri Lankan fans turned up at the 25,000-capacity Premadasa
stadium for the day-night international played under the watchful eyes of
gun-toting commandos who ringed the venue. Organisers however expect packed
houses when the hosts clash with India on Wednesday and Australia on Friday
under lights at the same venue.
Each team plays the other once in the league before the top two advance to
the final on September 7.
The Australians, playing their first international since the World Cup
final, gained useful batting practice against the limited Zimbabwe attack.
Mark Waugh (18) and Michael Slater put on 48 for the first wicket by the
10th over when Waugh was bowled in leg-spinner Paul Strang's first over
attempting to pull a short ball. Slater, sidelined during the World Cup,
grabbed the opportunity to cement his place in the side with a polished 50
before becoming the first of Guy Whittall's three victims.
Ponting, the rising Australian star, and the experienced Steve Waugh
provided the best entertainment of the night during their 75-run partnership
for the third wicket. Ponting made 53 while Waugh hammered five boundaries
and three sixes before both batsmen fell to Whittall's gentle medium pace
while trying to step up the scoring.
Australia, who were cruising at 230 for three in the 45th over, lost four
wickets in the last five overs for the addition of 43 runs.
Zimbabwe's reply was set back by seamer Damien Fleming, who snapped up the
Flower brothers, Grant and Andy, in the space of three deliveries in his
third over. New ball partner Glenn McGrath trapped Campbell leg-before in
the 11th over, before first-change Paul Reiffel had Craig Wishart caught
behind by the new Australian captain Ian Healy. Opener Ali Shah was the only
Zimbabwe batsman to offer resistance, scoring 41 before he was seventh out
giving debutant left-arm spinner Brad Hogg his first international wicket.
AFP/Reuter
Traunt Australian captain angers Sri Lankans
COLOMBO, Aug 24: Australia's stand-in captain Ian Healy almost ruined his
team's peace mission in Sri Lanka by failing to attend an official function
on Friday night.
Healy, deputising for the injured Mark Taylor in the four-nation Singer Cup
starting here on Monday, preferred to work out in the hotel gymnasium while
officials gathered for a press briefing called by the sponsors. Healy's
absence was conspicuous at the function, attended by the managers and
captains of the rival teams from India, Zimbabwe and hosts Sri Lanka. "Healy
is in the gym," Australian manager Cam Battersby told reporters at the
briefing. "But I am here to answer any questions you may have for him or the
Australian team."
The manager's pleadings failed to appease reporters and officials from the
Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka. "I thought the Australians were
here to make friends," an official said. "I doubt if Healy did himself a
favour there."
The Australians are keen to mend strained relations with their hosts after
Sri Lanka's acrimonious tour 'down under' last year and Australia's refusal
to play their World Cup match here in March for security reasons. The
Australian high commissioner in Sri Lanka helped ease the tension between
the two nations by hosting a lunch for both teams on Wednesday.
Sri Lankan officials were amused at discovering a badly-guarded secret that
an Australian federal security officer Reg Dickson was travelling with the
team in the guise of assistant manager. The Sri Lankan government, however,
is not taking any chances. The hotel where the four teams have been lodged
resembles a fortress with gun-toting commandos having taken up positions
both inside and outside the premises. Heavy security is also in place on the
approach roads to the well-guarded match venues.
The Australians are, however, unlikely to receive much support in the stands
when the tournament starts. Few Sri Lankans have forgotten last year's
troubled tour of Australia, where Arjuna Ranatunga's boys were first accused
of ball tampering before front-line spinner Muttiah Murlitharan was branded
a chucker. Then came the ultimate humiliation as the Australians boycotted
their World Cup match in Sri Lanka fearing the safety of their players after
a bomb in central Colombo killed 91 people.
Sri Lanka took revenge by defeating Australia in the World Cup final in
Pakistan on March 17. AFP
4-nation cricket starts in Sri Lanka today
COLOMBO (Sri Lanka), Aug 25: When Australia's Ian Healy and Zimbabwe's
Alistair Campbell go for the toss Monday, they will be doing something for
the first time in their cricketing career -captaining their sides in an
international tournament.
The Australia Vs. Zimbabwe day-and-night match will launch the 4-nation,
50-over a side, $100,000 prize money tournament in this Indian Ocean
republic. "I am not nervous, in fact I am looking forward to the match,"
said Campbell, who donned the skipper's cap after regular captain Andy
Flower opted out to concentrate on his batting. Healy, the fiercely
competitive wicketkeeper from Queensland, was the last minute choice after
Mark Taylor opted out because of injury.
The Australians look more relaxed with every passing day, as they see no
sign of any security threat in a country where they refused to come to play
their World Cup matches. "I won't feel good until they come home," said
Australian Cricket Board chief executive Graham Halbish, who flew out Sunday
after spending the first week of the three-week tour with the players. "I
don't think I will ever feel good about the team being in an area where
there is a concern for their safety," he said. Halbish, however, said he
believed the Australians were in safe hands and that Sri Lankan officials
had been extremely thorough with their security arrangements.
This tour is the tour of "firsts" for half of the Australian cricket team,
from coach Geoff Marsh to newest recruit Brad Hogg.
For Zimbabwe as well there are some "firsts." The trip here is Marsh's first
serious attempt as coach since taking over from Bob Simpson, not counting a
minor winter visit to Kuala Lumpur. The most determining of the "firsts"
could well turn out to be Hogg, the 25-year-old West Australian chosen in
place of injured leg-spinner Shane Warne. The left-arm chinaman bowler, a
last minute replacement, is the only specialist spinner and most likely to
make his debut against Zimbabwe Monday. Hogg, however, did not impress in a
practice match against Sri Lanka Colts on Thursday when he gave away 33 runs
in his four overs without a wicket.
Darren Lehmann, whose Test career consists of carrying drinks once six years
ago, could also get a chance to open his account. Lehmann has, however,
played in an Australian A team, but the left-hander has not yet made it to
the top side in the one-day game.
The lanky, pony-tailed speedster, Jason Gillespie, is in a similar
situation. Gillespie was called in as a replacement for the injured Craig
McDermott during the World Cup earlier this year, but did not play.
Australia's main concern is to get the bowlers into stride after a winter
layoff. Batsmen Michael Bevan and Stuart Law have been playing English
county cricket with Yorkshire and Essex respectively, but the rest of the
squad has had no proper match practice since the World Cup.
For Healy, Monday's match is of great importance as it will test his
leadership skill and he is happy to face Zimbabwe in the first encounter.
All the four teams - Australia, Zimbabwe, India and Sri Lanka - will play
each other and two top leaders will clash in the finals on Sept. 7.
"It is better than getting India or Sri Lanka first-up," Healy said about
Monday's match. "We can use the Zimbabwe match as an enthusiasm test, and to
get our game going. They're like us - they'll be trying as hard as hell to
win."
For Zimbabwe, the match is equally important. But they are not the favourite
and the tension is less. Zimbabwe's cricket team has had a 2-month training
camp and appears fit. Zimbabwe have shown one-day international pedigree
with victories over Pakistan and Sri Lanka and Kenya in the past 1 1/2
years, and Campbell believes Zimbabwe's increased participation since
achieving test status has made the team more formidable. "We've been playing
a lot more cricket and this is going to do a lot of good," Campbell said.
Among the big hopes in the Zimbabwe team is fast bowler Heath Streak, who
will turn from big game hunter to big name hunter as he seeks cricketing
scalps. A season of county cricket with Hampshire, plus a formidable list of
test wickets since bursting into the Zimbabwe team four years ago, makes
Streak a potential match-winner. APA
Rain washes out charity tie in Colombo
COLOMBO, Aug 25: Bad weather ruined the one-day charity match between World
Cup champions Sri Lanka and the Rest of World eleven here on Saturday.
World eleven openers Sachin Tendulkar of India and Mark Waugh of Australia
rattled up 101 for no loss by the 22nd over before heavy rain washed out
play in the day-night fixture.
The charity match at the 25,000-capacity Premadasa Stadium was put together
to raise funds for a social foundation named after the assassinated cabinet
minister and former Sri Lanka cricket chief Gamini Dassanayake. It was
billed as the forerunner to the four-nation Singer Cup tournament, featuring
World Cup champions Sri Lanka, Australia, India and Zimbabwe, which starts
on Monday.
The world eleven, led by former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin, included
players from Australia, Zimbabwe India and the West Indies, besides
ex-Pakistani leg spinner Abdul Qadir.
Tendulkar and Waugh launched a blistering attack on the Sri Lankan bowlers
after Azharuddin won the toss and elected to take first strike under an
overcast sky. Tendulkar outscored his partner, knocking up 56 not out to
Waugh's unbeaten 39, before the rains came. The monsoon rain was good news
for farmers in Sri Lanka, which is going through a drought. But it
infuriated cricket fans.
Saturday's match, held ahead of the 4-nation cricket championship beginning
Monday, was to honour a slain Sri Lankan leader credited with laying the
foundation for the country's rise in international cricket. Proceeds from
the match will go to the Gamini Dissanayake Foundation, said Sirima
Dissanayake, widow of the slain leader. Gamini was the chairman of the Asian
Cricket Conference, which trains poor students. He did not live to see his
Indian Ocean republic waltz undefeated to take the World Cup in March. A
Tamil rebel suicide bomber killed him at an election rally in Colombo on
Oct. 24, 1994. AFP
AAP 08/25 CRIK: HALBISH WON'T REST EASY UNTIL AUSSIES ARE HOME
Australian Cricket Board chief executive GRAHAM HALBISH says
he won't rest easy until his players arrive home safely from
war-hit Sri Lanka, preferably with the Singer Cup trophy.
HALBISH flew back from Colombo today after spending the first
week of the three-week tour with the players.
He believes the Australians are in safe hands but it would be
foolhardy to forget about the need for protection in a city where
two terrorist bombs this year have killed 160 people.
Soldiers, police and metal detectors have become part of the
scenery at the team hotel but safety concerns among the players
have eased considerably since they arrived last Tuesday.
ACB chairman DENIS ROGERS is preparing to fly into Sri Lanka
on Tuesday.
CRIK: TAMIL BAN POSTPONED BY WORRY OVER CRICKET SERIES
By Doug Conway of AAP
COLOMBO, Aug 25 AAP - Sri Lanka's government reportedly has
postponed a legal ban on the country's Tamil separatist rebels
because of worries that it might provoke a violent backlash
during the cricket series here involving Australia.
The ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who
have waged a bloody 13-year struggle for their own homeland, was
to have taken place this week but was postponed indefinitely,
Colombo's Sunday Times said.
A "stormy" sports lobby urged the government to reconsider the
move in case it prompted an LTTE backlash which could disrupt the
Singer Cup one-day tournament involving Australia, India,
Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.
"If the LTTE struck during the cricket tournament everyone
would have blamed the government for provoking the LTTE," a
senior government source said.
"If they strike nevertheless they have only themselves to be
faulted."
A huge bomb blast in central Colombo which killed 90 and
injured over 1,000 forced Australia to boycott a World Cup match
here in February.
The boycott on safety grounds was seen here as a humiliation.
The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) agonised over whether to
come to Sri Lanka this time and finally gave the go-ahead
despite a bomb explosion on a train which killed 70 people on
Colombo's outskirts last month.
Tamil political spokesman G.G.Ponnambalan said this week the
cricket tourists had nothing to fear from the Tamils because they
were civilians, and not economic or military targets.
Tight security has surrounded the Australian cricketers in
Colombo, but concerns about their safety have eased considerably
since they arrived last Tuesday.
They play their first match of the tournament tomorrow against
Zimbabwe.
INTERVIEW-Singer links success with cricket
By Prithi Kodagoda
COLOMBO, Aug 25 (Reuter) - Singer (Sri Lanka) <SINS.CM>, the
leading seller of consumer durables in the cricket-crazy country,
believes the sport is vital in the success of its business,
company chairman Hemaka Amarasuriya said.
Singer has put its money where its mouth is by sponsoring
world one-day cricket champions, Sri Lanka.
"Singer is the leading brand name in the country. Cricket is
the most popular sport in Sri Lanka with everyone following the
fate of their heroes either on TV, or the radio," said
Amarasuriya.
"So, isn't it the obvious sport for a company selling
televisions and radios to sponsor."
Singer (Sri Lanka) appointed as its public relations manager
Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka's prolific opening batsman who holds
the records for the fastest 100 runs and 50 runs in one day
cricket, shortly after his team won World Cup cricket tournament
early this year.
The appointment followed the company's decision last year to
sponsor the Sri Lankan national team until 1998. The company
spends "a substantial sum" on sponsoring the Sri Lankans, which
comes out of its advertising budget, Amarasuriya said.
"Our advertising budget, which now stands at around 100
million rupees ($1.8 million), has grown over the years along
with turnover," he said.
Company turnover rose to 2.5 billion rupees in calendar 1995
from 2.1 billion the previous year.
Singer (Sri Lanka) uses sponsorship as a marketing tool to
maintain brand leadership, Amarasuriya said.
Singer (Sri Lanka), which is a subsidiary of the multi-
national Singer Co <SEW.N>, is also sponsoring the second Singer
World Series cricket tournament now in progress in Colombo among
Australia, India, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
It sells and distributes consumer durables and household
products on behalf of associates Singer Industries Ceylon
<SINI.CM> and Regnis (Lanka) <REG.CM>, through an exclusive
distribution network of over 200 stores.
The company also manufactures water pumps and furniture,
assembles tractors and paddy threshers and sells imported
audio/video equipment, kitchen appliances, household goods and
bicycles.
Singer Industries makes sewing machines, video/audio
equipment and furniture, while Regnis manufactures refrigerators,
freezers, fans and washing machines.
Over the years the company has also sponsored many television
programmes, stage plays and other sports events.
Company officials say they have no regrets since company cash
registers have not stopped ringing. Its turnover rose five-fold
in the past 10 years.
Sponsorship of the Singer World Series is costing the company
nearly $1 million, along with $140,000 each in guarantee money
for the four participating teams, $50,000 for the winner, $25,000
for the runner-up and $3,000 for the man of the finals.
Player of the series gets the option of choosing between a
luxury car or a four-wheel drive.
"It is the price you have to pay to keep your brand paramount
in the mind of the consumer," said Amarasuriya.
($1=55 rupees)
08/26 AUSTRALIA CRUISE TO VICTORY
Australia outclassed an inexperienced Zimbabwe team to win the
opening match in the four-nation Singer World Series by 125 runs
in Colombo today.
Steve Waugh hit a quickfire 82 as Australia scored 263 for
seven off 50 overs and Zimbabwe were then dismissed for 138 in 41
overs with only four of their players reaching double figures.
Veteran opening batsman Ali Shah was the only man to make an
impression for Zimbabwe with a top score of 41 off 78 balls.
Mark Waugh wrapped up the Zimbabwe innings by claiming the
last three wickets, including two off successive balls.
But it was his twin brother Steve who took the man of the
match award after he launched a late assault on the Zimbabwe
bowlers which saw 144 runs coming from the last 20 overs. He hit
three sixes and five fours in his 70-ball innings.
The other main contributions came from Michael Slater, with 50
off 69 balls, and Ricky Ponting who hit 53 from 82 deliveries
without once reaching the boundary.
Medium-pacer Guy Whittall was the pick of the Zimbabwean
bowlers taking three for 53 off his 10 overs. Reuter
Cricket-Australia crush inexperienced Zimbabwe
COLOMBO, Aug 26 (Reuter) - Australia totally outclassed an
inexperienced Zimbabwe to win the opening match in the four-
nation Singer World Series cricket tournament by 125 runs on
Monday.
Steve Waugh hit a rapid 82 as Australia scored 263 for seven
off 50 overs and Zimbabwe were then dismissed for 138 in 41 overs
with only four of their players reaching double figures.
Only veteran opening batsman Ali Shah making any sort of
impression for Zimbabwe with a top score of 41 off 78 balls.
Australian off-spinner Mark Waugh wrapped up the Zimbabwe
innings by claiming the last three wickets, including two off
successive balls.
However, it was twin brother Steve Waugh who took the man of
the match award after he launched a late assault on the Zimbabwe
bowlers which saw 144 runs coming from the last 20 overs. He hit
three sixes and five fours in his 70-ball innings.
The other main contributions came from Michael Slater, with
50 off 69 balls, and Ricky Ponting who hit 53 from 82 deliveries
without once reaching the boundary.
Medium-pacer Guy Whittall was the pick of the Zimbabwean
bowlers taking three for 53 off his 10 overs.
India and hosts Sri Lanka are the other teams in the
tournament.
Krishna Kumar
In article <4vv5oh$q...@hpscit.sc.hp.com> ku...@scd.hp.com (Kumar Venkataraman) writes:
>Says the sagacious R.Mohan:
>
>: Sport has always had this capacity to distance itself from
>: political and allied problems. It is no different this time
>: except, of course, that the Aussies are here although Ian Healy
>
You can't really hibernate in Madras, can you?:-)
-Krishna.
--
Rubbish! There's no such thing as reverse swing. It's either
inswing or outswing. They can't reverse outswing it, can they?
-Alec Bedser.
Tin Tin
The Hindu
Tendulkar scores century: Jayasuriya's century helps Sri
Lanka win
By R. Mohan
COLOMBO, Aug. 28.
As the drums beat a tattoo all evening, it was a
rambunctious night at the Premadasa Stadium. The big
guns of Sri Lankan batting artillery were booming and a
capacity crowd had a whale of a time celebrating the
World Cup champion's first home win after Arjuna
Ranatunga's men climbed the summit of world cricket in
March. What a homecoming this was in the cricketing
sense as a champion team displayed its prowess to an
adulatory audience. It was such a night that the light
of the full moon seemed to be drowned by the bright
lights of the stadium which themselves paled before the
even more incandescent batting of Sanath Jayasuriya. The
man from Matara was the lord of all the bowlers he came
up against, his brand of aggression being one of those
uncontrollable forces which made watching an unalloyed
pleasure even if he made it in a more leisurely style to
his third one-day century (103 balls, 8 x 4, 3 x 6)
after a typically boisterous 50 of different strokes
played as the mood caught him.
India was pummelled into submisison. But it was not a
pointlessly bad day after all even if the initiation
rites of the Indian captaincy may have brought both
pleasure and pain for Sachin Tendulkar who becomes the
first Indian to score a century in his first
international match as skipper. Later, he was introduced
to the enormity of the burdens of his job as his bowlers
were clueless as to how to contain the rampaging Lankan
openers who put on a century stand in double quick time.
Defies definition
There is something to Jayasuriya's methods which seem to
beat definition. His daring ways defied whatever plans
the bowlers may have had for him and they could not have
had too many since they gave him width or pitched short.
And, having learnt their lessons, they tried to pitch up
and he swung them over wide long on or drove them back
spectacularly over their heads. His first boundary hit
was a slash over backward point for six. How do you
bridle a batsman of such brilliance?
The seemingly carefree striker has failed to touch 40
only thrice in the last 10 innings in some of which he
has helped redefine the very nature of the limited-overs
game even as he spearheaded Lanka's World Cup campaign.
So, he is not mercurial or overly flighty or capricious
or so giddy with success that he can get carried away.
He is simply too good.
His well planned assault on the Indian bowling made a
mockery of a contest which Tendulkar and Azharuddin
tried to convert the match into after they cautiously
worked their way past some inspired Sri Lankan bowling.
It must be dawning on Jayasuriya that after the initial
conquest, all he has to do to make the most of his
domination is to settle down to a less taxing tempo and
complete the destruction he himself begins with his
daringly experimental play against the new ball.
As he picked and swung for sixes over wide long on and
in front of square leg in his own flowing style,
Jayasuriya looked a class or two better than
Kaluwitharana who can look like a crude slogger when he
does not find his striking rhythm. The stocky opener did
find sufficient fodder in the Indian attack to make his
half century before gifting his wicket to Sachin.
Exasperating task
On his first day at the job, the Indian captain may have
been given the impression that, maybe, he would have to
bat at both ends, bowl all the overs and keep wickets,
too. The scene in his team is not all that gloomy and
yet leading a tactically wooden side can be an
exasperating task. The problem is rather more easily
explained this way _ India must excel itself in order to
beat Sri Lanka at the limited-overs game today.
Today was not such a day for India to find any
inspiration but there is no denying that the Lankan
opening bowlers were so full of life and commitment that
they pushed India back at the start. The spinners were
particularly good on a pitch which seemed to lose its
pace rather quickly. Muralitharan teased as he sometimes
tossed the ball. Dharmasena was adequate until the slog
cost him runs. So well did things go despite Tendulkar's
century that Ranatunga used 35 overs of spin. There has
always been a major place for spin in his regime.
Sachin and Azhar sparkle
Things are going to be different in this regime. And
Indian cricket can only be grateful for the positive
decision on the Tendulkar succession if runs are going
to come like this for both the new skipper and his
predecessor. Sachin made his ninth one- day hundred (in
his 119th appearance) while Azharuddin made his 33rd
half century (in his 217th appearance).
The congratulatory pat on Azhar's back from Sachin when
the former skipper got to his 50 was, perhaps, the
moment of the innings. It told a whole tale of feeling
for fellow players and a line of communications the
youngster will be leaving open while in the job. The
intuitive understanding with which the two batted
through the time when the Sri Lankan bowlers were on top
and in the smooth way in which they achieved the
acceleration are pointers to how Indian cricket has got
its top priorities right.
The total, despite the two most accomplished batsmen in
the team making runs, may not have amounted to as much
as India may have liked to have after winning the toss
and doing the predictable and right thing in choosing to
bat. But the air was so relaxed in the middle in the
course of the century stand it augurs well for the team.
At the start, Sachin may have needed much luck to make a
century in his first match. But it was a sort of
landmark he was always likely to get in his career. Had
he hit the stumps, Jayasuriya would have caught him
yards short of the crease twice and Kaluwitharana may
have caught and/or stumped him off Muralitharan when he
had made 37. In getting on to maximise the score against
an attack well run and backed up by keen fielding, what
Sachin has established is the approach is going to be
different in his term as captain.
Sachin did not attempt the fancy shots early but then
the Sri Lankan opening bowlers bowled first rate opening
spells, coaxing extra bounce out of a pitch which was
hard to begin with. In fact, the pitch looked good
enough for both sides to leave out the option of the
additional spinner they were thinking of including and
Lanka chose Pushpakumara over Wickremasinghe, a decision
perhaps not wholly vindicated on the day's showing.
In fact, Sachin did not attempt anything fancy in the
whole course of his innings, right to the moment he
sneaked a single off an edged sweep to behind the
'keeper to get to his hundred. There is a whole new look
of determination to him. He had already told his team in
Madras that working the singles is far more important
and that the flamboyant shots are not to be played just
because pressure builds up through good bowling or a
series of dot balls.
Divested of the cares of captaincy, Azhar batted with a
freedom that has not been his for a long while now.
Beginning with shots off his legs with a stamp of
elegance to them, Azhar played the role of the senior
pro, working the bowling with an elan that is so
natural. He never seemed likely to throw it in trying
some desperate stroke as used to be often the case when
he was at the helm even if he did finally fall in
stepping way down and missing.
Initial crisis
With the skipper batting at the other end, Azhar was
never short of a man to guide the innings. Dropping all
innovations and sticking to the safest mode of making
runs, Sachin (138 balls, 5x4, 1x6) was on hand to
dictate the course of the innings, through the initial
crisis of losing an ambling Jadeja to a direct hit and
Ganguly, who had looked most impressive against the
spinners, to a committed drive which scooped the ball
which did not come on and which Aravinda caught
splendidly.
Sachin was there to see his mate Kambli play the cameo
role of a striker in the slog. To that extent, much of
what he has planned so far as skipper has come through
and that should only do his confidence a world of good
even if Sri Lanka were to get to this mid-sized target
under lights. This Indian team is, after all, still
feeling its way after the disasters of England.
The Hindu
Ranatunga all praise for his team's bowling, batting
By Our Special Correspondent
COLOMBO, Aug. 28.
Arjuna Ranatunga, the Sri Lankan captain, said
``combination of two factors'' contributed to the home
side's resounding win over India in the Singer cricket
series this night.
Arjuna said ``first we bowled really well in the initial
stages. Giving away only 20-odd runs in the first 10
overs was a splendid achievement. Then the batting of
Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharna was another plus factor''.
Arjuna was happy for the manner in which Pushpakumara
bowled. He said it was after long deliberation in the
team meeting that it was decided to include Pushpakumara
ahead of Wickramasinghe. ``The move paid dividends. I am
also happy Kaluwitharna broke from a lean patch to bat
in a fluent manner.''
Sachin Tendulkar, the Indian captain, praised the
batting efforts of both Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharna.
When asked about Jayasuriya's injury, Ranaunga said ``he
had cramps, but only slightly. He will be allright for
the Friday's match''.
The Hindu
Cheer-squad, part and parcel of Sri Lankan cricket
By P. V. Vaidyanathan
COLOMBO, Aug. 28.
Whether Sanath Jayasuriya sparkles or not; whether
Aravinda de Silva gets going or not with all those
daring strokes only he is capable of, there can never be
a dull moment in a cricket match featuring Sri Lanka.
The flag-waving, high-spirited cheer band of Sri Lanka,
is a sight to watch. Full-throated support, supplemented
by deafening sounds of ringing of bells, blowing the
bugles and what not, keep the Sri Lankan cricketers on
their toes. Not only that their act add much to the
competitive nature of the contest. The cheer band is
determined to go wherever Sri Lanka plays, with the main
objective of providing inspiration to its national
stars.
The cheer-squad is led by the ebullient Mr. N. Lionel
who has taken over from Mr. Percy Abeyasekhara. Mr.
Percy was known for his dash and exuberance. Mr. Lionel
falls no way behind Mr. Percy.
The novel job had taken Mr. Lionel to India, Australia,
Pakistan, Singapore and many places. He was there,
lending high pitched cheers, that grand night in Lahore
last March when the cricketers from Island crowned
themselves the World champion. ``A memorable day in my
life,'' says Mr. Lionel.
Mr. Lionel's cricket tours are being sponsored by
Ceylinco Insurance. Previously another insurance company
used to take care of his tours. ``My job is to pick
young and energetic fans, teach them catchy slogans and
keep them busy right through the day. Our work would
certainly boost the spirit of Lankan cricketers. This
apart, boredom, if any on the field, is widely
minimised.'' Mr. Lionel (38) and his band have clear
access to any enclosure in the stands. Mr. Lionel says
the Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga and other players in
the Sri Lankan side have admiration for his work.
Mr. Lionel often carries the national flag, with him,
wherever he goes. Once, he presented the flag to the
Adelaide administration as a souvenir, ``a gesture that
was well received.''
Mementoes for Azhar & Greig
Come next week, Mr. Lionel and his cheerful band of hard
core supporters of Sri Lankan cricket, who have pooled
money, will present silver plaques to former Indian
captain Mohammed Azharuddin and ex-England skipper Tony
Greig. ``Both have contributed much to the cause of
cricket. Hence the mementoes.''
Such enthusiastic men enliven the proceedings and add
character to the game, don't they?
The Hindu (India)
Another interesting tussle on the cards
By R. Mohan
COLOMBO, Aug. 29.
There is already a spring in his step. This signals a
sort of rejuvenation. Only hours before, with the
decorative Singer `man of the match' cheque in hand, he
had been limping in the lobby of the team hotel. The
steps came in agony. He had bad cramps towards the end
of his innings of 120 and his back was threatening to
give away. Such exertions Sanath Jayasuriya, the toast
of Sri Lanka, had undergone at the batting crease.
``There was a little pressure,'' he said in the early
hours of Thursday. He had just destroyed India; not only
with his bludgeoning style against the new ball but also
with a new found maturity which promises to propel him
further towards greatness.
``It was a home match. There were so many people who
wanted us to win. I found it was not easy to get the
bowlers away in the early overs. But once I played my
shots and got on top, I knew I had to shift gears down
again,'' he explained.
The two defeats in the chase in the Singer series in
Singapore soon after the World Cup were on his mind.
``It is not easy to chase. So many things can go wrong.
I played like this only because of what happened in
Singapore,'' said the opening batsman who had a strike
rate of around 150 per cent in the World Cup and whose
rate of 93.75 pales in comparison. He remembers acutely
the loss in the final in Singapore in which he had made
the world's fastest 50 _ off a mere 17 balls _ and his
side still ended up losing the cup against a target in
the low 200's.
Wiser by experience
Wiser by the experience, the Sri Lankans are aiming to
play a more professional brand of the game. They would
not like to allow such things as slip-ups happening to
them again if they can help it. They are not going to
lose in the mind games that are often being played in
the middle. If they cannot get Jayasuriya out, the
Australians are quite capable of trying to psyche him
out. With their aggressive postures on the field, they
are capable of trying to play more mind games.
The way Jayasuriya is batting these days when his
performances are not far below that of the great
strikers in the history of the one-day game like Viv
Richards, Clive Lloyd and Gordon Greenidge, teams will
pay a heavy price if they merely try to contain him.
They must aim to get him out but if they fail to try
this, they will find themselves in a hopeless tangle in
the limited-overs game.
Arjuna Ranatunga will have none of this psyching out
stuff. He is not going to bother about what the Aussies
may be trying in their key clash with Sri Lanka at the
Premadasa Stadium on Friday. The victorious skipper of
the World Cup has other things on his mind including, it
seems, stepping down from the captaincy and/or
retirement from the game in which he has played for 14
long years and ever since Sri Lanka played its first
official Test way back in 1982 at the P. Sara Stadium.
Rumours are rife about how Ranatunga is aiming at
stepping down because he has fitness problems. At least
this is what the western media, with its proclivity for
peculiar interpretations of events on other parts of the
world, is saying. The BBC aired the rumour in its sports
roundup that worried by his fitness problems, Ranatunga
wants to step down and call it a day.
Ranatunga has no plans to retire
Ranatunga laughs at yet another twist given by the media
to some statements he may have made when asked about his
plans for retirement. He says right now retirement is
far away. ``All players must retire some day. But I am
not going to do it just to suit anyone's editorial
policies,'' he says with that biting sarcasm which grips
him when he comes across such attitudes. He is no great
lover of the western media, perhaps less so after the
turmoil in Australia and during the World Cup.
He has his problems to sort out with Ian Healy. The
wicket-keeper who is also his country's stand-in skipper
had many a run-in with Ranatunga during the Benson &
Hedges triangular early this year. It is thought Healy
was hinting that Ranatunga was seeking the services of a
runner often not because he was injured but simply
because he was unfit. Ranatunga laughed it off but he
has not really forgiven the Aussies for all they did in
their acrimonious series down under last season.
He has shed a few kilograms and he is certainly looking
fitter than he used to. His diving saves from a very
short point to cut off Sachin Tendulkar's early shots
were a pointer to how serious the Sri Lankan skipper is
about his own performances on the field. ``You cannot
afford to relax,'' he says.
``No one can. What we are playing is high pressure
cricket in front of a big audience. There are such
expectations to fulfil for my people. So, you cannot let
little things like how other people view you to get to
you,'' says the strong man of Sri Lankan cricket.
Clearing the point about his ``impending retirement,''
Ranatunga says _ ``I will be around till the next World
Cup. May be, not as captain. But as a batsman I will
certainly be in the team.'' He intends to be leading Sri
Lanka in the next couple of seasons at least and any
decision on his standing down from the captaincy is
still some time a way.
``I thought Mark Taylor and Shane Warne are super fit
men. They are not here. I don't remember missing any
tour owing to injury and I have been playing 14 years,''
he says with reference to comments on his fitness made
over the radio.
Healy has written in his book that he was loath to visit
Sri Lanka because Ranatunga refused to make a public
statement that the Australians were welcome to the
island for their World Cup league match. Healy records
that as the most influential figure in the island's
cricket, they expected Ranatunga to clear the air and
their own misgivings about visiting here last February.
It is obvious that Ranatunga has not yet forgiven the
Aussies although he has been perfectly happy to play
against them as he did in Lahore and as he is preparing
to do here, in his own lair of Colombo.
More than what meets eye
The Lankan skipper is still most contemptuous of Shane
Warne. He hints that there is more to it than a mere
injury which is keeping the leg spinner away from Sri
Lanka. He has always maintained that the Australian
leggie is over-rated and it is actually western media
hype which has given him a larger-than- life image.
There is a sense of pride in Ranatunga when he declares
that Asia has great cricketers and that many of them do
not get such halos built around them.
It is possible that Ranatunga's bitterness over the
treatment meted out to his team in Australia where a
ham-handed ICC panel umpire even reported them for ball
tampering (but forgetting so much as to confiscate the
ball and keep it in custody) is spilling over into his
assessment of Warne. The leggie won the World Cup
semi-final for his team against the West Indies but on
running into a super charged Ranatunga in the final was
blitzed out by some huge blows from a broad blade which
seemed to have been reserved for him.
Warne is not around to resume battle with Ranatunga who
only today declared that he will be playing for some
years yet. It is unlikely that he is going to allow
Healy or the BBC to get to him as he keeps his date with
cricketing days beyond the World Cup in which his men
turned the cricket world upside down, going down from
66-1 outsiders to being the favourites for the final
against Australia.
It will be interesting to see what game-plan the Aussies
have for the opening strike force of Jayasuriya and
Kaluwitharana. It was not apparent if the Indians quite
had a plan to get them in any specific way. If the
strike force so much as occupies 20 overs, it can change
a game around or take it away from any team in the world
today. That is the kind of confidence the openers are
rolling on and their approach to the game is really
worth savouring. Another interesting battle is on the
cards.
The Hindu
Security beefed up
By P. V. Vaidyanathan
COLOMBO, Aug. 29.
The second `big' match in the Singer cricket series will
come off tomorrow. Having crossed a stiff hurdle
yesterday, Sri Lanka will be looking for a win against
Australia on Friday to strengthen its chances of a place
in the final.
One of the organising committee members told The Hindu
two days ago that the aftermath of the World Cup
(Australia pulling out of its matches in Colombo) had
resulted in tremendous interest being generated for the
match involving Australia and the home team.
The security will be tight as never before even as the
Kettarama stadium will be filled to capacity.
Not a grudge match
``But this is not a grudge match, I assure you,'' the
Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga told the press today.
``It is another day, another game.'' Ranatunga said both
India and Australia were tough opponents.
``I frankly did not expect to win against India in the
manner we did. I consider Indians to be a shade tougher
than Aussies.''
Ranatunga particularly mentioned Pushpakumara's bowling
and Kaluwitharana's batting in Sri Lanka's success over
India.
``I am glad these two played vital roles in our
comfortable success on Wednesday. Kaluwitharana got runs
after a long gap. Pushpakumara's bowling was commendable
because he had not played recently.''
Ranatunga said the playing XI had not been finalised
though he was toying with the idea of including leg
spinner Upul Chandana in place of Pushpakumara. Sanath
Jayasuriya, hero of Sri Lanka's success over India, who
suffered cramps while batting, is fit for tomorrow's
action.
50-50, says Healy
``It's 50-50'' says Ian Healy, the Aussie skipper, on
Friday's match. ``It's not for nothing that the Lankans
are world champions. Playing at home should give them
tremendous advantage.''
Healy was quick to add ``but having said about the
opponent, I must say we are a young and fighting side
capable of rising to the occasion.
We have experience in the form of Mark Waugh, Steve
Waugh, Michael Slater and Glen McGrath. Against Zimbabwe
Bred Hogg bowled his left-arm slows in an impressive
way, I thought. It should be keen, competitive,
interesting cricket on Friday.''
Healy added ``though I would like to bat first on
winning the toss it doesn't really matter if Australians
were to bat second.
``We have played a number of matches under light in
different situations and as such winning the toss would
not make any meaningful difference.''
08/28 WORLD CHAMPIONS CRUISE TO VICTORY
Sanath Jayasuriya scored an unbeaten century as world champions
Sri Lanka powered to a nine-wicket victory over India in the
four-nation Singer World Series in Colombo.
Sachin Tendulkar also reached three figures as India posted a
respectable 226 for five. But Jayasuriya made 120 and Aravinda De
Silva 49 as Sri Lanka reached 230 for one with Romesh
Kaluwitharana (53) the only man out.
Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana put on 129 runs in 24 overs for
the first wicket and set the foundation for Sri Lanka's victory.
Indian skipper Sachin Tendulkar marked his first match as
captain by winning the toss, electing to bat, scoring a classy
110 and taking the only wicket that fell.
Also involved in the tournament are Australia and Zimbabwe,
with the top two teams after a round-robin format meeting in the
final on September 7. AP
08/29 CRIK: ACB CHAIRMAN STRESSES NEED FOR CONTINUING TIGHT ..
Australian Cricket Board chairman DENIS ROGERS has ruled out
any chance of downgrading security for the Australian team in
Sri Lanka.
ROGERS says he's happy with existing top-level security but
stresses it must be maintained for the duration of the tour.
He also expects a pretty lively reception for the Australian
team from the crowd at tomorrow's eagerly anticipated match
against host and World Cup champion Sri Lanka.
A huge explosion which killed 90 people and injured over 1,000
forced Australia to boycott its World Cup opener in Colombo in
February.
Australia trounced Zimbabwe by 125 runs in their opening match
last Monday, while Sri Lanka thrashed India by nine wickets last
night. AAP
New captain Tendulkar upstaged by 120 from Jayasuriya
COLOMBO, Aug 28 (Reuter) - Sachin Tendulkar marked his debut
as Indian captain with a patient 110 on Wednesday, but was
upstaged by dashing Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya whose 120
steered the world champions to a nine-wicket Singer Cup win.
Sri Lanka, playing in front of their home crowd for the
first time since winning the World Cup last March, comfortably
passed India's modest 226-5 from 50 overs in 44.2 overs.
The devastating opening pair of Jayasuriya and Romesh
Kaluwitharana shared a fine first wicket stand of 129 to the
delight of the 25,000 fans.
Jayasuriya, whose first 50 included three sixes and three
fours, went on to an unbeaten 120 and the man-of-the-match award.
Kaluwitharana, slow in comparison, was bowled by Tendulkar
for 53, but Aravinda de Silva with 49 not out helped see Sri
Lanka home.
Earlier, Tendulkar completed his ninth century in one-day
cricket, taking 138 balls to do it before being run out.
The rest of the Indian batting was generally tied down by
brilliant fielding and some fairly tight bowling, although ex-
captain Mohamed Azharuddin chipped in with 58, adding 129 with
Tendulkar off 28 overs, before being stumped.
The next match in the four-nation tournament is on Friday
when Sri Lanka play Australia in a repeat of the World Cup final
in Lahore where Sri Lanka won by seven wickets.
Rediff (India)
The smiling assassin
Harsha Bhogle
It is not too difficult to see why, if
Sanath Jayasuriya had not been a
cricketer, he would have been an accomplished fencer -
sallying forth towards his opponent, like he does when he
dances down the wicket, with nimbleness of foot and
alertness of eye.
You can visualise the epee twirling dexterously in his quick
hands and sense the swordman's acceptance of having his life
hang by a string. The qualities of skill and daring form a
rare combination, perhaps suited more to a gambler than a
top order batsman and yet, to see Jayasuriya bat is to see a
finely crafted gambler at work; sensing an opportunity and
thriving on it.
Over the last sixteen months, Jayasuriya has made the leap
that so many cricketers aspire to but rarely can achieve;
from being an exciting scene-stealer to playing the lead
role. Even before that, you could sense something was going
to happen when he walked out to bat, but you could be sure
there would be just a few flashes of lighting.
The promise of a storm, without the dense cloud to back it.
Though he was talked about as a one-day specialist then, he
only had a batting average of about thirteen and certainly
didn't have enough wickets to justify his presence as a
bowler even though he held the best bowling figures by a Sri
Lankan in one-day cricket. It was tempting to label
Jayasuriya as someone who could neither bat nor bowl well
enough. Or at any rate, consistently enough.
Unlike men of destiny who make their future, Jayasurya
seemed to wait for fortune to stop by. As any sportsman will
tell you, it only happens rarely and while he waited,
crucial years of youth passed by, taking away opportunity
and a fair chunk of hair. Then suddenly, the wheel of
fortune stopped alongside him. At Bloemfontein, the heart of
right-wing Afrikaaner territory, Jayasuriya first rode the
crest of a new revolution. Opening the batting against New
Zealand, he scored 140, his first limited overs century.
It also made him the record holder for the highest
individual score in a one-day international by a Sri Lankan,
and while that didn't make him a great batsman overnight, it
meant that he was up above such outstanding talents as Roy
Dias and Aravinda d'Silva. A wanderer in search of home had
found it; at the top of the order.
In the next few months, Jayasuriya waded into opposition
attacks not with the fluency of the swordsman but with the
bluntness of a battle tank. The guns boomed for a while, but
he was also an easy target and the opposition waited for him
to shoot himself. Invariably he did.
Until the tour of Australia late last year, that is. On the
bouncy tracks that had exposed so many before him,
Jayasuriya discovered that he loved the ball coming onto
him. Better sitll, he relished the challenge of aggressive
cricketers and hostile officials, and his century in the
last Test at Perth was a wonderul innings studded with bold
shots and marked by a refreshing absence of orthodoxy.
Too often, batsmen tend to be predictable, playing a ball as
the manual suggests. Bowlers don't mind bowling to such
batsmen because they can work out the best way to attack
them. But here was a batsman who believed strokes were meant
to be played even in the Test match theatre, and who was
just as much at home driving through cover on the rise as he
was pulling in front of square. He had begun to like fast
bowlers, and they had started discovering a distaste for
him. Subtly, quite unlike the manner in which he plays his
cricket, the balance was tilting.
And then came the World Cup. And Delhi. And the more perceptive
realised that something new and drastic was coming their
way. Jayasuriya made 79 from 76 balls, a pedestrian pace by
recent standards - but his partnership with Kaluwitharana
had redefined the way the early overs would be played in
one-day cricket.
Ironically, their batting averages only added up to around
35, the figure you would want a good top order batsman to
have.
With batting records falling like rain in a Bombay monsoon,
Jayasuriya took on England, a side whose defeats bring a
totally inexplicable but perverse joy to most cricket
playing countries. His 82 from 43 balls brought him instant
international attention, for he was now playing innings that
were long enough to win matches on their own.
And then came the crucial spell at Calcutta that destroyed
India and showed up the Eden Gardens as just another fair
weather crowd. That was one of the outstanding bowling
performances of the tournament, because he bowled the
perfect line on a helpful wicket; the sign of a shrewd,
thinking cricketer.
The World Cup made him a star - but there were many,
including me, who remained a bit sceptical of the Player of
the Tournament award. Did he have the substance, one
wondered, to win it ahead of Tendulkar or Waugh? Did he have
the statesmanship to play the kind of inings Mark Waugh
played at Madras: surely one of the great innings of limited
overs cricket? Did he evoke the same awe as those two?
If the end of the World Cup, a stunning success for him,
still evoked an uncertain response, the picturesque Padang
in Singapore provided convincing proof. A century from 48
balls against one of the best attacks in the world had to be
something special, irrespective of the length of the
boundary. The world record had gone by fourteen balls; a bit
like a young upstart coming up and doing seven metres
against Sergei Bubka.
Jayasuriya is now writing a new chapter in the short history
of the one-day game,perfecting a style that is radically
different from anything that has come before; a lot more
revolutionary than Martin Crowe's use of Dipak Patel with
the new ball in the 1992 World Cup. There is now a new
grammar to cricket, for underneath this carnage lies a
definite pattern.
Even as the fastest fifty appears in the record books, what
is most awesome is not the power behind the shots but the
sense of predictability around the obvious danger of his
approach. That is because he picks his spot to hit, sees the
ball very early and has the divine ability to find spaces
rather than fielders.
As he drives his Audi down past Galle on the road to Matara,
Jayasuriya will be aware, being a shrewd cricketer, that
cricketing brains around the world will be working on how to
stop him. At 26, that is a great reputation to have.
If I was Jayasuriya, I'd turn the music on and watch the
beautiful palms of Sri Lanka.
Our Correspondent adds:
Sanath Jayasuriya, cricket's hardest hitting batsman, has
one ambition: to trounce Australia and let his bat do the
talking when the two squads meet on Friday in the Singer Cup
competition.
Jayasuriya, 27, already holds the world record for the
fastest one day half century, made on April 7 this year in
Singapore when he hammered 53 off 17 balls, going on to make
76 off 28 balls with five sixes and eight fours.
The left-hander also made the fastest century in one-day
cricket on April two in Singapore, when he reached his 100
off 48 balls to eclipse former India skipper Mohammad
Azharuddin's 100 in 62 deliveries.
Jayasuriya's record-breaking spree has also brought the most
runs scored in one over - 30, against Pakistan in Singapore
in April.
In that same innings, he also cleared the fence 11 times,
the highest number of sixes hit by a batsman in a one-day
game.
Interestingly, Jayasuriya is not from the traiditional
Lankan cricketing crucible of Colombo, but from a fishing
village near Matara in southern Sri Lanka.
His father is a government health inspector who earns Rs
10,000 (200 dollars) a month. Jayasuriya did not go to
university but, after completing high school, came to
Colombo in 1989 to work as an insurance agent at a starting
salary of Rs 3,000 ($60) per month.
The same year, he travelled to Pakistan with a Sri Lanka B
team, and scored two successive hundreds in unofficial
Tests. From 1990 until the end of the 1996 World Cup, he
worked as a welfare officer in a sewing machine company. His
performance in the World Cup earlier this year, when he was
named Player of the Tournament, won him a management
position in the company.
It is Jayasuriya who will lead Sri Lanka's assault against
Australia, notwithstanding a severe leg cramp that saw him
hobble off the field after leading the winning charge
against India at the Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday.
"He will be fit to play, come what may," said Lankan skipper
Arjuna Ranatunga.
And addicts of the Lankan southpaw's explosive batting style
will be keeping their fingers crossed, hoping for the
trademark pyrotechnics...
Rediff (India)
Umpires in the dock
V Gangadhar
I can hear sniggers from the tabloid press of the UK and
Australia. Pakistan to axe their 'bad' umpires? Then they
will have to axe every single one of the Pakistan umpires -
so will go the comment.
This is the normal reaction from the Western media, as also
from their cricket players and officials. Yet, the fact
remains that Pakistan has been the pioneers in several
issues related to umpires. In the mid-Eighties, for
instance, the then Pakistani cricket captain Imran Khan
Niazi insisted that neutral umpires be appointed for the
home series against the powerful West Indians. John Holder
from England and V.K. Ramaswamy from India officiated in the
series, which ended in a draw.
Imran Khan, at that point, was sick and tired of accusations
of biased umpiring whenever Pakistan won a cricket series at
home. So, while the rest of the cricketing world pussyfooted
around, he had neutral umpires for the home series. That
year, there were no derisive comments when Pakistan held its
own against the mighty West Indies. The other countries then
followed Pakistan's example.
The Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) decision to axe umpires
'with bad reports has come not a day too soon. Such a move
should be introduced in other countries as well. Internal
umpiring, despite the functioning of neutral umpires, is on
the decline. If left unchecked, the game will be seriously
affected.
Take the cricket series in England this year. In the six
Test matches against India and then Pakistan, both English
umpires and the neutral ones came out with several doubtful
decisions which were roundly criticised in the media.
The worst offender was the notorious Darryl Hair of
Australia. Now, Australian umpires do not enjoy a high
international reputation and Hair, it was felt, had been
included in the international panel only because he had
godfathers on the Australian Cricket Board.
It was Hair who unjustly called Sri Lankan offspinner
Muthiah Muralitharan for chucking, and was also involved in
several controversial decisions against the visiting Sri
Lankans. Unfortunately, his performance had not improved by
the time he came to England, and he was responsible for
several bad decisions in the two Tests he umpired against
India.
The Test matches and one-day international in England this
summer proved that big names are no guarantee of
infallibility. Dickie Bird, in his last Test appearance at
Lord's, and the ebullient Steve Bucknor of the West Indies
are well-known umpires. Yet, both of them were involved in
controversial decisions in the matches they officiated in.
This was particularly true with reference to deciding lbw
victims. There was no rhyme or reason in judging appeals for
lbw, particularly when batsmen padded up and did not offer a
stroke to balls which came into them from outside the off
stump.
Cricket commentators, mostly former Test players, are now
openly criticising what they felt were 'bad' decisions. Of
course, the commentators had the benefit of slow-motion
action replays involving high tech equipment, a facility
denied to the umpires.
Thus in the Oval Test between England and Pakistan,
commentators criticised the lbw decisions against English
batsmen Nasser Hussain (given by umpire Cooray of Sri Lanka)
and John Crawley (by Mervyn Kitchen of England - in this
case, the appeal was turned down when the England batsman
was plumb in front to Wasim Akram). Even though some of the
cricketers-turned-commentators such as Ian Botham and Allan
Lamb were heavily biased against the visitors, their
observations on the umpiring decisions merited attention.
At present, the rules in most games were quite strict on the
issue of indiscipline by players. This is more so in tennis
where swear words, gestures and talking back to referees are
punished with heavy fines. Cricket continues to be a
gentelman's game, and players do not flout rules so
regularly. Yet, both in tennis and cricket, it is the
players who have to pay for the incompetence of the
officials. The 1996 Wimbledon was marred by numerous bad
decisions by linesmen and referees. Players who questioned
these were summarily punished, but what about the errant
officials? Should they continue to operate and make a
mockery of the game?
Under such circumstances, I fully support the decision of
the Pakistan Cricket Board to keep a watch on umpiring
decisions and weed out the bad ones. Today, much depends on
the captains' reports at the end of the match - but the time
has now come to appoint an independent body which would
study controversial decisions and judge the performance of
various umpires. A bad umpire, despite being on the
international panel, can ruin a good cricket match.
Of course, there are also umpires of the ilk of David
Shepherd or Srinivasan Venkataraghavan - people who are
always in control of the game and who can be expected to
come out with fair decisions. But several others on the
panel are not of the same calibre. If players who stand to
lose most from poor umpiring can be punsihed for registering
protest, the men in white who give such decisions should not
be allowed to go scot free. The stakes in international
cricket are high. Can we estimate, for instance, how much
the Sri Lankans lost out in the triangular series against
the West Indies and Australia last year Down Under? With
better umpiring, they would have walked away with the trophy
and the winners' cheque. But thanks to Hair and his cronies,
they had to be satisfied with the runners-up berth. No
wonder Ranatunga, when asked before the World Cup what he
thought of Australia's chances, snapped, "Nil. They are
playing with neutral umpires, not their own men."
'The umpire is always right'? - Not any longer. Which is why
I believe that the Pakistan proposal to root out bad umpires
should be taken up at the next meeting of the International
Cricket Council (ICC).
Umpires found guilty of incompetence and/or bias should be
sacked - in the process, the beneficiary will only be the
game of cricket itself.
Rediff (India)
Readers write on skipper Sachin's first essay
Editor's Note: In course of our report
dated Wednesday August 28 on the Singer
Cup one-day international between Sri Lanka and India, we
had raised a little question - what does Sachin Tendulkar
the batsman do now? Does he drop anchor and play the long
innings, as he did at the Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday, or
does he give India a launch pad by blitzing the bowling out
of sight during the first 15 overs?
As ever, the reader response has been lively. We present
some of the views expressed - and invite more. After all,
the great thing about cricket is the scope for animated
discussion it allows - so go for it...
Hotu Chainani wrote: I'll take a sedate, composed and solid
Tendulkar, anytime. The team relies on him almost totally.
His failure is virtually the team's failure. India's
pinch-hitting should revolve around Kambli and Jadeja, with
Azharuddin providing calculated aggression. Perhaps it's
time to re-arrange the batting order. My line up, for the
next game, would be Dravid, Tendulkar, Kambli, Azharuddin,
Ganguly, Jadeja, Joshi, Mongia, Srinath, Kumble and Prasad,
in that order. Dravid has the application and talent to
become a fine opening bat.
Ed's interjection: How about Vikram Rathore, instead of the
more sedate Rahul Dravid, at the top? With Azhar dropping
down to five, preceeded by Ganguly and Kambli in order to
give those two strokeplayers more of a say in shaping the
innings?
Sri Sharma wrote: I think that Tendulkar is doing enough
opening the batting - the risk of losing our best batsman in
the first over or two is enough of a gamble without having
him trying to blast the bowling as well. If he is to
continue opening, he should allow himself to play as
"natural" as possible - steady at the start and then, if he
sees fit, to push on later.
But personally I think the problem is being looked at in the
wrong way - for India to be successful in the near future,
the other players should improve themselves to get closer to
Sachin, to take the pressure off him.
So the pressure should be on the present players in the team
- if three of them are two-thirds as good as Sachin, then no
problem. After all, in Srinath and Prasad we have two
bowlers two-thirds as good as Kapil Dev.
Vijay Kumar wrote: I think Tendulkar is a
cricketer who knows what he is doing. We,
as cricket-lovers and Indian supporters, should strongly
encourage whatever he does as a captain and as a player. It
is not appropriate for many people like me who have not even
played cricket on a turf wicket and faced international
standard bowling to comment on what a maestro does just
because we lost a match.
Satya Dayanand wrote: I am a little surprised by the mild
attempts at criticism of Sachin, since 110 of 138 balls
gives him a great strike rate. As suggested, if he went hell
for leather and got out, it would have been worse. It is
again the others who did not contribute, specially Azhar who
went at a low strike rate.
India is not a one-man army, though it has often begun to
look like that and unless everyone pulls their weight, the
same disasters will be repeated.
Gulshan Chhugani wrote: Let's not be rough on Sachin
Tendulkar in only his first match as the skipper of the
side. Let's give him some more time and believe you me, in
years to come India will achieve many victories and
Tendulkar will be the most successful captain the Indian
cricket team ever had.
So let us all wish Sachin Tendulkar the best of luck, to
come back from this inital loss to Sri Lanka with superb
performances to lift the Singer Cup in Sri Lanka. Let us
rest assured that whatever he does will be in the best
interests of the team.
I just wish and wish that Navjot Singh Sidhu returns to the
side ASAP.
Pari Natrajan wrote: I think Sachin does not have much
confidence in the other batsmen. He wants to stay for all 50
overs and make sure India wins, but unfortunately, that does
not happen. When Sachin is batting, the others tend to slow
down, knowing that Sachin will do the scoring. So when
Sachin also bats slow, the end result is a small total. This
can be solved only in one way - Sachin has to believe his
other teammates, and his teammates have to learn not to rely
entirely on Sachin.
T Sridhar wrote:It is really meaningless to force Sachin to
change tactics. If he fails to drop anchor, the team will be
out for a much lower score. The person to blame is not
Sachin but Azharuddin, who scored at the rate of only one
run every two balls. What India needs is a few Sachin
Tendulkars and a few Srinaths. Let's hope the other members
take some lessons from them on temperament and cricket
thinking.
G Prasad writes: The question is not what Sachin does for
India, but what the other players in the team think of
performing for India.
I think the attitude shown by the team members on the field,
as evident from the television telecast, is that the
sincerity towards the captain or their own country was
missing. I think what they lack is team effort. The team
members should perform the job assigned to them. Realising
the potential within themselves is more important than being
dependent on Sachin to perform both with the bat and ball. I
hope we don't see him, at some time in the future, keeping
wickets also for India.
It does not matter who is the captain, but the respect to be
shown to him.
I sincerely hope that the members of the Indian team get
their act together and don't disappoint the millions of fans
back home.
All the best to the team.
Ed's afterthought: First off, what was written at the fag
end of the report of Wednesday was not a criticism, but a
conundrum for you to solve. It is, as several people here
have already pointed out, too early to analyse, much less
criticise, Sachin's captaincy skills. The debate was
intended to examine possibilities, and it appears to have
succeeded insofar as the consensus is that Sachin should
play the sheet anchor role, building his innings rather than
blasting away and risking early demise.
Fine. But then, the tenor of international cricket thinking
now is that the first 15 overs are meant to be milked for
the maximum possible runs, taking advantage of field
restrictions. And of course, the last 10, 12 overs are meant
for the hearty, neck or nothing slog. The question is, if
Sachin - who is doubtless the best batsman in India, and one
of the best in the world, when it comes to taking a bowling
by the scruff of its neck is forced to play a more docile
role, then who does the hitting at the top of the order? And
who does the slogging at the end?
Thoughts to ponder...
Jayasuriya, Kaluwitharana explode over Indians
COLOMBO, Aug 28: Sri Lanka's explosive openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh
Kaluwitharna took apart the Indian attack Wednesday to lead the world
champions to a nine-wicket win in the Singer Cup here.
The pair hammered 129 by the 22nd over as the Sri Lankans, chasing India's
modest 226 for five, romped home with 34 deliveries to spare in the
day-night international.
Left-hander Jayasuriya made an unbeaten 120 off 128 balls and Kaluwitharna
contributed 53 off 66 to ruin what promised to be a memorable first day in
office for India's new captain Sachin Tendulkar. The 23-year-old, who opened
the batting after winning the toss, defied the spot-on Sri Lankan bowlers
till the 49th over to make 110 — his ninth limited-overs hundred. Tendulkar
then chipped in with a wicket of Kaluwitharna but could not deny the Sri
Lankans victory in their first match on home soil since March's World Cup
triumph.
Cheered by a full house of 25,000 home fans at the Premadasa stadium,
Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharna defied the slow wicket to launch a blistering
attack on the hapless Indian bowlers. The pair put on 51 by the ninth over
and brought up the century stand in the 16th, taking 13 runs in seamer
Venkatesh Prasad's second over and 17 off spinner Ashish Kapoor's second.
Jayasuriya, who made a world record 48-ball century at Singapore in April,
was struck on 99 for seven deliveries before a single off Anil Kumble in the
36th over brought up his third one-day hundred. Aravinda De Silva, who came
in at the fall of Kaluwitharna's wicket, made 49 not out during an unbroken
stand of 101 for the second wicket with Jayasuriya.
Jayasuriya's ominous form would hardly have pleased the Australians, who
will face Sri Lanka on Friday, but home captain Arjuna Ranatunga was
delighted. "It's a good start to the new season," he said. "The confidence
level of the team has lifted since the World Cup, and it showed today. It's
important to continue this winning streak. We can't afford to slow down."
Indian manager Sandeep Patil praised the Sri Lankans, but said India did not
score enough runs to trouble their opponents. "We fell at least 30 runs
short," he said. "The Sri Lankan batsmen showed there was nothing wrong with
the wicket."
India have three days to rethink their strategy before they meet Zimbabwe on
Sunday. Zimbabwe were beaten by Australia in their first match on Monday.
Each team plays all others once before the top two clash in the September 7
final worth 50,000 dollars to the winners.
Earlier, deposed Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin contributed 58 in a
valuable stand of 129 with Tendulkar, after Sri Lanka had reduced the
Indians to 57 for two by the 17th over. Tendulkar, who twice escaped being
run out, was also lucky to see Kaluwitharna miss an easy stumping off
spinner Muttiah Murlitharan when he was on 38. But he held his ground
against the inspired Sri Lankan attack, which was backed by sharp fielding.
Sri Lankan seamer Chaminda Vaas conceded just seven runs in his first six
overs to restrict India's start to 20 runs by the 10th over. Tendulkar's
opening partner Ajay Jadeja fell in the third over without scoring — run out
by a direct hit from mid-on by Asanka Gurusinha. Saurav Ganguly, the hero of
the recent England tour with centuries in his first two tests, made 16
before off-spinner Kumara Dharmasena had him caught in the covers.
The steady home attack kept the Indian batsmen on a tight leash, allowing
just one boundary between the 14th and the 40th overs.
Man-of-the-Match: Sanath Jayasuriya. AFP
AAP 08/30 CRIK: JAYASURIYA CAPTURES KEY WICKET OF WAUGH
Sri Lankan all-rounder SANATH JAYASURIYA has captured the
prized scalp of Australian opener MARK WAUGH in today's Singer
Cup one-day cricket match in Colombo.
Waugh had raced to 50 off 54 balls before being caught and
bowled in JAYASURIYA's first over.
At that stage Australia was 3-97 after captain IAN HEALY had
won the toss and batted in the centrepiece match of the four
nations tournament.
At the 25-over mark the Australian score had advanced to 3-123
with MICHAEL BEVAN not out 38 and STEVE WAUGH 13.
The other two wickets to have fallen were MICHAEL SLATER for
nine and STUART LAW for 13.