Category Archives: cricket and life

April 15, 2011 · 4:55 am

Lasith Malinga’s Hair Style: Roots

Michael Roberts

Lasith Malinga hails from Ratgama, a village locality in the southwest corner ofSri Lankawhich has a fearful reputation for toughness. Perhaps it is because he has been schooled in the give and take of this life, or maybe because he is just amiable Sri Lankan, Malinga smiles when a batsman thrashes him. What a pleasant contrast to the typical Aussie pacemen who snarl, stare or indulge in verbal intimidation when thus treated —- or even when they have kept the batsmen quiet.

But Malinga is also atypical Lankan in his coiffeur and its showmanship. His hair-do is also quite a contrast from the looks he sported as a teenager. but there is room to argue that it is typical Sri Lankan too and typical Galle area native in its inspirations. The Galle District within which Ratgama lies is renowned for its coir industry. Coconuts are soaked in water-pits prior to their husking and conversion into fibre for use in a range of products. In an inspired surmise one Sri Lankan twigged that it was the coconut husk that promoted Malinga’s hairstyle. He sought proof. He found proof. So, voila, look at this native scene from the Galle area as visual proof.

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April 15, 2011 · 3:09 am

Nick Plaisters, an Aussie cricket-traveller extraordinary

I introduce readers to NICK PLAISTER a cricket traveller extraordinary from down under. We touched base as opposing fans at the Premadasa Staidum in a corporate box where Nick was outgunned by Sri Lankans and Britons backing Lanka in the match against Australia. He is the bloke on the right with a star on his banianshirt. Nick, however, takes his minority status in Asian cricket fields in his stride. He has travelled widely in the subcontinent and ahs a website to prove it. Visit that domain for images if you are so inclined: http://www.nickplaister.com/

You will also learn that he sees himself thus: “Nick is a cricket-tragic who loves travelling. Apart from the 2011 World Cup, he has been to a party at Brian Lara’s house in Trinidad (1999), saw Herschelle Gibbs drop the World Cup at Headingley (1999), and made the front page of a newspaper inMelbournefor his (harmless) shenanigans in Chennai (2001). He is married to his lovely wife Issy, who hails fromPublin,Ireland. They both love pubs. Issy can be credited for giving Nick an SLR for his Turty Turd birthday, although he has always loved photography. They live inMelbournewith their furry little moggy friend Bushie. Nick completed his undergraduate inHobart,Tasmania, where he was born and bred (not born inbred) and after stints living inLondon,Edinburgh,CanadaandDublin, he moved back to Aussie to complete a Master of Tourism inMelbourne. He does not work in tourism, but spends a lot of money on it. He works in finance, but hopes one day his tourism expenses will somehow magically finance themself.”

What he does not tell you is that he mixes wine with his criCket and travel. We will have to wait for some time for his website to show how precisely he will merge these interests. But, in the meantime, look at a few of his images of cricket in Asia here… and then move to his site if so inclined.

105 – Celebrations for a 50 at the Royal Thomian schoolboy match

158 – Mount Lavinia Beach, Colombo

164 – Marina Beach, Chennai

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April 14, 2011 · 11:12 pm

Veni, Vidi, but we couldn’t conquer — whether from Colombo to Mumbai …. or Seenigama and Mankulam

Captain Elmo Jayawardena

The long-awaited battle for the World Cup is over. The winners colour-splashed the Mumbai night sky with fireworks and the spectators in the stadium went berserk, literally rendering the ‘Bombay Meri Hai’. The players leapt in the air and pirouetted on the grounds, laughed and cried hugging each other in front of the pavilion. The entire nation celebrated while we the losers switched off our televisions and gulped the last dregs in the glass and went to sleep.

Murali’s lap of honour at the Premadasa Stadium — Pics by William West for AFP

Kushil Gunasekera & Michael Tissera lap up victory at Premadasa Stadium — Pic by Roberts

The ancient Greeks, when they organised the Olympics never gave silver medals. May be they knew a thing or two about how important it is to win. Yes, we wanted to be victors but we lost. All the post-mortems that are held by the pundits of the game combined with the expert opinions of the ‘not so’ learned will certainly not gift us even a much-needed maiden over or another opportunity to bend a little more and pick up a racing ball to stop a solitary single.

The curtain is down and the fat lady has sung, the defeated can say we played well, but it is the winners who took the prom queen home. Continue reading →

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April 14, 2011 · 10:41 pm

Indian time in cricket: “It’s India’s time” says Sangakkara

Satarupa Bhattacharjya, in OutlookIndia —http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?271263

Dashing Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara perceives, in the World Cup triumph of M.S. Dhoni and his men, a metaphor for a new Indiaon the rise, confident, aggressive, and incredibly smart. He tells Outlook: “The coming together of TeamIndia in this World Cup was a significant representation of the changes that have taken place in the past few years not just in Indian cricket, but also in the nation.” Sangakkara should know—he has been participating in the Indian Premier League, has touredIndia several times, and has the brains to comprehend societal changes.

What caught Sangakkara’s attention were the players who symbolise Young India in Dhoni’s team. Younger Indian cricketers such as Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Gautam Gambhir embody emergingIndia’s cool aggression. “They are poised to become world cricket’s future,” Sangakkara says. He praises the new generation of Indian cricketers for shouldering the responsibility of their team, of mixing talent with strategy. “Their nerves were strong and their responses to tough situations on the field were excellent,” he adds. Continue reading →

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April 12, 2011 · 5:47 pm

Kumar Sangakkara visits St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna

SEE http://thuppahi.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/sangakkaras-visit-st-patricks-college-jaffna/

Lasith Malinga Before and After …. in pictures

Young Lasith Malinga at some school(?) function

Malinga in celebratory mode

Malinga imagined …. in fierce challenging mode

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April 7, 2011 · 4:13 am

Chesters no more … a sad moment

Rex Clementine and the Island team…. plus Deba Dar at the end of this item

Pic by AFP

“Cricket is life . . . what comes after are mere details.” – Trevor Chesterfield (1935 – 2011)

Trevor Chesterfield, The Island cricket columnist, veteran journalist and author passed away yesterday morning at his Arthur’s Place Residence in Moratuwa. He was 75 years old. Owen Murray Trevor Chesterfield, was fondly known as ‘Chesters’ and always attended cricket matches and press conferences well dressed; blazer, tie, cuff-links and well polished shoes. That was the case even when attending matches at SSC, where the press-box is open exposing us to the scorching heat and wanted others to get dressed like him too.

Continue reading →

Muralitharan faces new test for British visa

from the Daily News, 6 April 2011

Sri Lanka’s legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is struggling to qualify to play English county cricket this year because he is scared of computers and examinations. A recent change in Britain’s work visa rules means the world record holder must prove his English language skills at an examination to secure a permit to play for Gloucestershire in June. “I have a visitor’s visa (for Britain) till 2013, but I have to sit for an exam now to work there,” he told reporters on Tuesday, adding he was scared to write his exams on a computer. “I don’t know how to use computers.” Continue reading →

Toss Manipulation: A Conspiracy Theory postulated before the Final

Web Editor: While always wary of conspiracy theories, this particular interpretation gains some force because “Duminda” presented it on the 1^st April before the World Cup Final and because that fact has been attested by one “Nimal” whose circular note re this speculation was co passed on to me by Anne Abaysekara. What we now require is a video of the toss at the India-Pakistan match posted on the public realm. The allegations are as serious as Michael Vaughan’s claims. Both have to be looked at and it is hoped that the ICC will not sweep matters under the carpet.

Will the Toss be manipulated against Sri Lanka?

Duminda XX at da268@yahoo.com

Think of the following scenario:

Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. 2pm Indian Standard Time, Saturday, April 2, 2011.

A thunderous ovation greets Kumar Sangakkara and M S Dhoni as they walk out to toss. Standing next to them, on the pitch, is former Indian all-rounder Ravi Shastri with the mike in hand. Dhoni, who is the host captain, takes out the coin. He flips it so that it lands not at the feet of the two captains as is generally the case, but a good 10-12 feet away from Sangakkara, right next to the ICC Match Referee Jeff Crowe of New Zealand. Sangakkara, surprised by the trajectory of the coin toss is a little late in reacting. He makes a belated attempt to walk towards the coin. Shastri, all six feet of him, gets in his way, and in a split second, Crowe, the only person to observe the coin on the ground, says, “India have won the toss.” Mumbai erupts, and Sangakkara does his best to keep a straight face. The camera and Shastri, move quickly to Dhoni, and Shastri exults, “M.S., you have won it again!!!” Continue reading →

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April 5, 2011 · 12:36 pm

Do cry for me Laankikayō! Ajantha Mendis Goes Missing-In-Action!

Harry Solomons

Before the Cricket World Cup 2011 commenced, I was in Sri Lanka on a visit. Harsha Perera, former Cricket Coach at St Joseph’s College, currently coach of the Sri Lanka Women’s Team and a friend of mine, took me to Kettharama Stadium to show me around. This Stadium was to be the showcase for the Sri Lankan based World Cup matches and already was the Head Quarters of Sri Lanka Cricket’s High Performance Unit (HPU).

Work on the Stadium was behind schedule, the place was a hive of activity with hundreds of workers on site – work had been in progress round the clock for weeks but the place was a muddy dusty mess, and even the Army was eventually commandeered to give the place the spit and polish demanded by the ICC Charter.

As Harsha Perera and I dodged the wet cement, the uneven stones and debris, we passed the outdoor practice wickets used by the Sri Lanka players and the High Performance squads. There were about five or six practice turf wickets but just one lonely and solitary player practicing his bowling. He had a bagful of cricket balls and he kept bowling non-stop at a set of stumps without a batsman at the crease. I stopped to watch as I noticed a sweaty but willing Ajantha Mendis continue to send down his little, swift tricky darts at the unmanned stumps. He gave us a quick wave and a smile but continued to send down ball after ball at the stumps.