Category Archives: technology and cricket

May 10, 2011 · 3:15 am

Sa’adi Thawfeeq reviews two books on Lankan cricket

Courtesy of The Nation , 17 April 2011

Incursions & Excursions In And Around Sri Lankan Cricket
By Michael Roberts
Published by Vijitha Yapa Publications
Price: Rs. 1,500/-
Mariamma, groundswoman extraordinary- Oval, Colombo

Sathasivam & Bradman toss, 1948

 Moment of triumph, 17 March 1996, Lahore —Pic from Crosscurrents

Michael Roberts has painstakingly done a lot of research in putting together his latest book Incursions & Excursions in and around Sri Lankan Cricket. The book brings to light a wide variety of subjects like the politics that affect Sri Lanka Cricket administration, the ethnicity involving clubs and national teams, the LTTE’s attempts to promote their cause through cricket, the Muralitharan controversy saga and its repercussions and the terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team at Lahore. All these chapters have been widely researched by Roberts who has the knack of gathering information by talking to people concerned and storing it in a computer like mind to put it later into print form either by articles which he sends widely to various newspapers or present it in a book like the one under review. The outstanding feature of the book is the photos section where Roberts has managed to lay his hands on some rare and unpublished photos of Sri Lanka cricket (there are over 100 colour and black and white photos). The book has been written in his own inimitable style. The one flaw in the publication is in the photos section titled Great Moments & Significant Facet (34) where it features pictures of a Sidath Wettimuny cover drive, a young Arjuna Ranatunga returning to the pavilion after a fighting knock against Australia in 1983 and another picture of Ranatunga acknowledging the cheers after his final innings for his country. All three pictures have the identical caption of ‘Sidath Wettimuny drives’. If not for this rare lapse it is another fine Roberts’s masterpiece. – [ST]

From Rags To Riches
By Rex Clementine
Published by Godage International Publishers (Pvt) Ltd
Price: Rs 800/- Continue reading →

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May 7, 2011 · 1:50 pm

TIGER and LION icons are persona non grata for Sri Lankan Cricket

  These are the official logos for the forthcoming T20 Provincial Tournament.

I think Afridi as likely captain of the Eastern Province team was not consulted. I suspect he would have preferred an Arabian horse; while Vettori, earmarked as Captain of the Northern Province side, would have probably opted for a Kiwi Ram.

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April 30, 2011 · 4:58 am

Rags to Riches: Clementine’s oral history on momentous episodes in Lanka’s cricket history

Michael Roberts

Preamble: This foreword was written in early March 2011 for the book Rags to Riches (Colombo, Godage, 2011) launched by the Island newspaper, with Kumar Sangakkara as Keynote Speaker, later that month. The book reproduced a series of Q and A interviews serialised by the Island in the lead-up to the World Cup. This is an invaluable collection of memoirs and called for a prodiguous amount of work by Clementine. The book can be purchased by credit card from http://www.vijithayapa.com and at both Godage and Yapa bookshops.

 Pics by Prasanna Hennayake

 Pic from Island 

Oral History

In fashioning essays on Sri Lanka’s cricket history during the last decade[1] I have often elicited information as well as opinions from individuals who were at the centre of significant episodes. This is standard methodology for journalistic reportage. In effect, we are all indulging in a form of oral history. Its resonances were brought home to me recently by Kumari Jayawardena’s enthusiastic reaction to the recorded interview with her father A. P. de Zoysa in 1967 that was a  product of the Roberts Oral History Project, 1965-1969.[2] Though her enthusiasm was partly conditioned by the impact of her father’s voice coming alive once again, Kumari was also intrigued by specific pieces of information provided by A. P. de Zoysa with reference  to his electoral candidature for Colombo South in the 1936 general elections. So, we are speaking here of empirical detail that may have otherwise disappeared into the dust-heap of lost history if I had not embarked on such a venture with the assistance of the Asia Foundation and the approval of Professor Karl Goonewardena. Continue reading →

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April 4, 2011 · 6:50 pm

Right Royal MESS-UP at the Toss-Up

Michael Roberts

There was a truly remarkable moment at the start of the World Cup Final between India and Sri Lanka. Amidst a deafening cacophony of noise Match Referee Jeff Crowe, TV Compere Ravi Shastri and the two captains assembled at the centre of the ground to make the toss, or kaasi vaasi (the advantage or leanings of the toss) as they call it so appropriately in Sinhala.

 Dhoni tossed the coin and Sangakkara called “Heads” (in a rather indistinct fashion it is said). But as the Referee picked up the coin it transpired that neither he, Shastri or Dhoni had heard the call because of the background cacophony. Worse still, it appears that Dhoni misheard the call as “tails” and Michael Vaughan in the commentary position heard it the same way and therefore contends that Sangakkara indulged in some skullduggery by allowing Dhoni to spin the coin again.

 Pic by Getty

 So, the procedure was repeated. Sangakkara called – or maybe shouted – “Heads.” Heads it was. So battle commenced and we know the outcome.

Vaughan’s accusation is a serious matter. Let me place it on hold in the too-difficult-basket till Shastri Crowe, Sangakkara and others, including audio specialists, resolve the issue. Assume for the moment that Sangakkara had called “heads” initially. Then, I ask, what if the coin ended up “Tails” and Dhoni took the decision to field or bat? Would Sangakkara and Sri Lanka then have been aggrieved and raised a complaint? Continue reading →

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April 3, 2011 · 5:34 pm

Muttiah Muralitharan is a magician whose prestige will never fade

Mike Selvey, in The Guardian, 1 April 2011

Muttiah Muralitharan will retire from international cricket after Saturday’s World Cup final in Mumbai.

Pic by Philip Brown/Reuters

The Sri Lankan team are in Mumbai, staying at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, so beautifully restored after the horrendous attack two and a half years ago. It is a fortress now, an exclusion zone surrounding it, so that the old Moghul-style Gateway to India and its concourse, normally thronged and past which the terrorists stormed from their boats, stands alone with its flocks of pigeons. Inside, Muttiah Muralitharan sits, nursing his injuries and hoping that his body can stand one more hurrah in the Wankhede Stadiumon Saturday. Continue reading →

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April 2, 2011 · 2:27 am

Murali the batsman’s enigma

Sharm de Alwis, in Daily News, 2 April 2011

No bowler, not even Alec Bedser who addressed Bradman ever so often, was charged by a more genuine and unforced inspiration as Murali when he has played for Mother Lanka. His name has been spelt as Muralitharan and also as Muralidaran but there has been a constancy in his approach to the game. He has pulled out from the ethos of his soul and given to bowling, fielding and batting his very essence of his life. He has been the Smiling Assassin to his foes but to his teammates and to spectators he has been the respected and loved Murali of a storied life.                         

                                      

                                                    

 Even when injured and only 50 percent fit he would play. He would, even with his bodywork at 30 percent. He has been the batsman’s enigma but the joy of commentators and of a vast sea of spectators. As early as 2002 Wisden rated him the greatest Test match bowler ever. He is the highest wicket taker in Tests with his 800th scalp in the last delivery he would ever bowl. In ODIs he has 533 victims with the last in his final over in Sri Lanka. Wankede stadium awaits further wonders today as Sri Lanka comes to grips with India. Continue reading →

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March 31, 2011 · 2:39 pm

The Hawk-Eye, Ian Bell Controversy: an explanation of the 2.5 meter rule

Nishan de Mel in Sri Lanka

27 February 2011 saw one of the best games in the history of world cup cricket. It was the 11th game in the 2011 world cup series, pitting India against England in Kolkatta, Bengalaru, India. The toss was won by India, who chose to bat, and with a brilliant 120 by Sachin Tendulkar, went on to amass an imposing total of 338. At this time, the record for the highest successful run chase in world cup cricket was held by Sri Lanka who on February 23rd 1992 successfully chased Zimbabwe’s score of 312 to win in the second ball of the last over. Quite simply, history was on the side of India, and England’s chances seemed bleak. Continue reading →

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March 24, 2011 · 4:59 pm

Murali interviewed by Sky Sports, 24 March 2011

 

 

 This interview will be relayed tonight in UK. I did not catch all the Q and a dialogue. ne question was: “do you think Graeme swann will be the greatest bowling threat ifrom the english side?” Murali refused to be drawn. His answer was that whoever bowls best on the day would be the main problem.  His pragmatic perspective stumped the reporters.

 Another question pertained to his impending retirement from international cricket. He observed that he preferred to go off when on a high [thus not when his powers were on the decline].

 HERE, then, is the SKY SPORTS reading of the Sri Lankan perspectives much earlier in February: 

Muttiah Muralitharan is hoping to end his international career with another defining victory in the World Cup. Sri Lanka made their breakthrough into the cricket elite when they beat Australia in Lahore to complete a shock run to the title in 1996.The spinner is the only surviving member of that team to be included in the squad for this year’s tournament, which Sri Lanka will co-host along with India and Bangladesh. Continue reading →

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March 20, 2011 · 4:44 am

Stray thoughts on Sri Lanka’s victory over New Zealand, 18 March 2011

Michael Roberts

Pic from ozlanka.com

Sri Lanka’s comprehensive victory over New Zealand in the last match for Group A at Mumbai was marred by a controversial third umpire decision that reprieved Mahela Jayawardene when he was in his twenties. This verdict certainly had a bearing on the game and was a moment of high drama.

 Cricket’s beauty emanates in part from its contingent twists of luck/fate. The abrogated Nathan McCullum catch – what a wonderful piece of fielding that! – was one such landmark that turned the match in Lanka’s favour. But no one has noticed another act of fortune that decisively favoured New Zealand: namely Upul Tharanga’s run out at the bowler’s end off a Dilshan drive. Along with a helmet or cap falling on the wicket, this is about the unluckiest way to get out. Occurring early in the innings this sort of moment boosts the bowling side in ways that cannot be measured. Continue reading →

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March 7, 2011 · 12:44 pm

The umpire isn’t always right

Ivo Tennant couresy of The Nation

 
“Give them the gizmos,” thundered Wisden nearly 10 years ago. Technological advances and camera angles were such that the game at international level had reached a stage at which it appeared that two cricket matches were taking place simultaneously. One was at the actual ground and the other on television, often highlighting incidents unseen by the naked eye of spectators and umpires alike without recourse to replays.
Back in the old days, or at any rate in the 1970s, Jim Laker would on occasion pronounce on the BBC in his dry and succinct commentary on an unsuccessful appeal or dubious decision with the aid of a replay. Yet the BBC did not have the technological capacity for the close-up pictures of today, and anyway, in that era the angle often would be obscured by the wicketkeeper, hence making scrutiny of marginal decisions nigh impossible. Continue reading →

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