Category Archives: sportsmanship

May 2, 2016 · 3:46 am

Apey PERCY ! Pissu Percy!…. Yet more than Pissu

A Freelance Sports Writer in the Island, where the title is “Percy Abeysekera: Marching to the beat of a different drummer”

He is a master of the English language and of literary devices such as anecdotes and idioms, and he is blessed with an impeccable sense of rhyme in his delivery of meaningful but often slapstick comments. He is a quick-witted man, and intelligent and well thought out humour forms the essence of his comedic persona, says the writer. Here are two Facebook posts made by Sri Lankan cricket fans on Percy. (Files)

We are all born different. Our motivations are varied, but most of us move rigidly through the enigma of life and existence, while adopting a range of careers and vocations. We believe they are at least in part the reason for our existence. Continue reading →

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April 11, 2016 · 4:14 am

The Reid Brothers honoured at S. Thomas’ College

The Reid brothers made a huge impact representing S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia in cricket in 1960s. The school unveiled a photograph of the five brothers at the pavilion of the cricket ground recently during the second XI fixture of the Royal-Thomian. Claude, Ronnie, Buddie, Barney and Johann all played for St Thomas’ with distinction. Johann, the youngest passed away two years ago. The other four brothers were present at the ceremony that took place during the tea break of yesterday’s play. The Warden of St Thomas’ Rev Marc Billimoria was present at the occasion.

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March 27, 2016 · 11:59 pm

Baggy Green in Book-Form: Exploring the Unusual

Bernard Whimpress served — and impressed — cricketing aficionados by editing the Baggy Green journal for years …. and has now brought together a selection of essays from previous runs in an anthology that will please cricketing buffs in the world…. the more so because the collection of authors are altogether eccentric. Book available from bernardwhimpress@gmail.com and 0447 003 654

PREFACE

I began Baggy Green as a Journal of Australian Cricket with Barry Nicholls as associate editor in 1998 and continued it through twelve volumes and twenty-four issues until 2010. In my opening editorial I made reference to the Australian Cricket Journal which had operated several years before and stated that the occasion of an Ashes tour was an appropriate time to launch a new national journal. I went on to say that England had a number of outlets for historical cricket writing and presenting ‘thoughtful high-quality articles with a primarily historical focus’ was the main aim in the new publication. Twelve years later I believe I had achieved that aim. Continue reading →

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February 10, 2016 · 7:32 am

Viral flow for Sighting of Khawaja poking Zampa’s Behind?

“Australian cricketers get personal during anthem”, February 10, 2016, … http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/cricket/what-a-cheek-usman-khawajas-pregame-grab-of-adam-zampas-butt-20160210-gmq6bd.html

Australian opening batsman Usman Khawaja squeezes team-mate Adam Zampa’s behind ahead of the ODI against the Black Caps in Wellington.Some of the players were getting more than a little touchy-feely as they linked arms while Advance Australia Fair was played.

Test, a short video clip has emerged of some emotional scenes during the national anthem before their ODI win over the Black Caps at the Cake Tin last weekend.

Australian opening batsman Usman Khawaja squeezes teammate Adam Zampa’s behind ahead of the ODI against the Black Caps in Wellington. Opening batsman Usman Khawaja certainly got busy calming the nerves of rookie spinner Adam Zampa. Khawaja laughed off being caught grabbing Zampa’s behind, playing it down when asked about the video on Twitter. “hahaha oh boy. Didn’t realize there were cameras filming from behind,” he tweeted. “haha it was all consensual. Just have a joke with the debutant #playon”.

Australia won that match to square the series, but lost the decider in Hamilton on Monday. The video clip was posted on Facebook and tweeted by The Crowd Goes Wild and was certainly proving a hit on the internet. … http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/cricket/what-a-cheek-usman-khawajas-pregame-grab-of-adam-zampas-butt-20160210-gmq6bd.html

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Filed under Australian cricket, backyard cricket, cricket and life, fair play, patriotic excess, performance, reconciliation through sport, sportsmanship, taking the mickey, unusual people, welfare through sport

January 3, 2016 · 7:59 am

SOS. Save Sri Lanka Cricket.

Michael Roberts: “Sri Lanka’s Cricket Governance needs Overhaul”

The constitution of Sri Lanka’s cricketing arena is in need of an overhaul –a radical refurbishment. Indeed, the necessity is even greater than the recognized need for reform in the political constitution for the island.

Cricket is big business and attractive for political wheeler-dealers with personal business interests that can compromise the promotion of cricket in the island. Gideon Haigh has recently indicated how the can of worms within and around the Indian cricket scene is now being exposed by the Rajendra Mal Lodra inquiry. Sri Lanka does not need such a witch-hunt. What we Sri Lankans need is a solid overseeing structure for cricket administration, preferably one that is distanced from parliamentary elections and their periodic overturns in Sports Ministers. Continue reading →

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December 20, 2015 · 12:57 pm

In Honour of Peter Roebuck: A Book in Search of the Man

David Hopps, courtesy of ESPNcricinfo, where the title is “In Quest of Peter Roebuck” … commenting on Chasing Shadows: The Life and Death of Peter Roebuck By Tim Lane and Elliot Cartledge, Hardie Grant 298 pages, £12.99

Four years after the death of Peter Roebuck when he fell from the sixth floor of the Southern Sun hotel in Cape Town, a praiseworthy attempt has been made to explain the circumstances – indeed, the life’s journey – that led to his demise. Chasing Shadows will not entirely succeed in ending the conjecture surrounding one of cricket’s most private figures but it is a well-balanced and responsible study of an ultimately tragic existence and, as such, for many of those disturbed by the events leading up to his death it will bring both reassessment and closure. By that measure alone, this is an important work.

Peter Roebuck: a fine cricket writer with a closed personal life © Getty Images

Roebuck, a diligent county cricketer but one who never played for England, gained more approval as an outstanding wordsmith. But both his cricket and his journalism play secondary roles in Chasing Shadows to the analysis of the events leading up to his death. What led this closed-off, concealed individual to fall to his death? And how much truth really lies behind the charges of sexual abuse that were made against him – latterly by a 26-year-old Zimbabwean man – and were the cause of a knock at the door by Cape Town police shortly before his life ended? Continue reading →

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December 8, 2015 · 10:13 am

In Tony Cozier’s Footsteps ….. Cricket-Web features Fazeer Mohammed

Ganesh Venkat in Q and A with Fazeer Mohammed, Trinidadian Cricket Commentator …. http://www.cricketweb.net/interview-with-fazeer-mohammed-part-1/

Cricket Web’s Ganesh Venkat caught up with Fazeer Mohammed during the recently concluded Third Test between West Indies and South Africa at Bridgetown, Barbados. Fazeer is a well known Commentator and Broadcaster from Port-Of-Spain Trinidad and one of the few commentators who has not played the game at the highest level. In short you can call him the “Harsha Bhogle” of West Indies Cricket. Faz is taking over from Tony Cozier as the face of West Indies cricket behind the microphone. In the first part of the interview Faz talks about how he ended up commenting on cricket, problems facing West Indies Cricket, past players, current players and captaincy issues.

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November 25, 2015 · 1:40 am

UNITY team forged from Murali Cup to play in UAE in KP’s Initiative

The Foundation of Goodness confirmed Tuesday that it is organising a Murali Harmony Cup Unity tour to the United Arab Emirates following an invitation from Kevin Pietersen’s KP24 Foundation. The Unity Squad includes exceptionally talented under 18 cricketers from different schools island-wide, including five boys from previously war-affected areas in the North and East. The young cricketers were invited to participate in the tour after their outstanding performances during the 2015 Murali Harmony Cup completed in October.

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October 9, 2015 · 6:12 am

Kumar’s Insightful Appreciation of Mahela as Cricketer and Person

Kumar Sangakkara, whose preferred title is “Mahela Jaywardene –The Master Architect,” in http://www.wisdenindia.com/wisden-almanack-2015/mahela-jayawardene-master-architect/175888

The retirement of Mahela Jayawardene marks the end of an era in Sri Lankan cricket – an era in which records were chased, winning became a habit, and standards reached new heights. The baton has passed to a new generation to emulate the standards he took such pride in.

Mahela and Kumar say farewell to the Sri Lankan fans

Very few batsmen in the world played with the same ease, grace and technique. Mahela had these qualities even as a teenager – and carried them through an international career that lasted 17 years. When, aged 16, I first saw Mahela bat during a school match, his natural skill and flamboyance were strikingly evident. He was an instinctive batsman, aggressive but with a sound defence, and possessing an extraordinary combination of touch and power. Though he is only five months older than me, he had already appeared in 21 Tests by the time I played my first, and had a double-century under his belt. On my debut, against South Africa at Galle in July 2000, he made 167. More than two decades on from his school days, his game was still the same. Continue reading →

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