Sports
Cricket’s greatest is 85 today
by Rex Clementine
Sir Don Bradman called him the ‘greatest cricketing being to have ever walked the earth,’ and in Sri Lanka, he is considered as someone who shaped the careers of many players. Sir Garry Sobers turns 85 today. He was hired by the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka in 1980s and his influence benefited a young cricket team to rub shoulders with formidable opponents of the game.
Sir Garry accompanied the team to a couple of tours to England, including the 1983 World Cup.
It is a well known secret that Sir Garry had handpicked Arjuna Ranatunga during the early days. But Arjuna lost his place in the side. When Sir Garry returned, one of the first things that he insisted on was having Arjuna back in the side.
During the 1983 World Cup, training at Headingley, Sri Lankan batsmen were struggling to put bat to ball as Ashantha de Mel was swinging the ball all over the place. Sir Garry couldn’t understand what the fuss was. He borrowed a glove from Sidath Wettimuny and a pad from Arjuna, drew out a stump and started hitting De Mel all over the park. He was 47 at that stage.
His reading of wickets was impeccable having spent many seasons at Trent Bridge as Nottingham’s overseas player.
There was this rain affected county game and the wicket was damp. When asked what Duleep Mendis intended to do, he was told that the captain wanted to field first. Sir Garry advised not to do so and to bat first. His reason. In the morning it may be tough to bat but there was no physical danger. Batting second would be impossible. Duleep followed the instructions. True to form De Mel hit a few batsmen.
Sir Garry was an expert in more than one subject. He knew his horses too and he would earn a thumping amount backing and betting on the right horse.
The team hotel the Sri Lankans were staying during the 1983 World Cup also accommodated a few other teams. Sir Garry was upset about the treatment his players were getting from the hotel staff while the big boys he felt were better looked after. He waited for the right opportunity.
One day, the Sri Lankan team had returned to the hotel after a function and the players were waiting at the lobby. The phone rang. It was for Sir Garry. The receptionist said, ‘Call for Mr. Sober.’ Sir Garry did not move. After some time, the receptionist looked at the coach and asked, ‘Are you Mr. Sobers? There is a call for you.’
Sir Garry then walked up to the receptionist and said, ‘Lady, I am not Mr. Sobers. I am Sir Garry Sobers. I didn’t ask for it. Your Queen gave it to me.’
Sanity prevailed. The Sri Lankans were well looked after from there on.
As Roy Dias recalled one day, going around with Sir Garry was like walking with the King. He commanded so much respect.
Ad multos annos.
West Indies have named an unchanged squad for the upcoming home T20I series against Australia following the 2-0 loss to Sri Lanka.
The squad, led by Hayley Matthews, will take on the No. 1-ranked Australia side at the Arnos Vale Cricket Ground in Kingstown for all three games. The squad is a mix of experienced players such as Matthews, Stafanie Taylor, Shemaine Campbelle and Deandra Dottin with teenage prospects Eboni Brathwaite and Jahzara Claxton. The series forms a key part of the teams’ preparation for the T20 World Cup in June this year in the UK.
“We’re really excited about the opportunity to play the number one ranked ODI and T20 team in the world,” head coach Shane Deitz said. “It’s just before the World Cup, so it’s a great opportunity to see where we are in our preparation. Playing against the best team in the world, we can see where our deficiencies are and where things are working well as we look forward to the tournament in June in England.
“It’s going to be a very tough series, but the players are up for the challenge. We haven’t played them in a competitive match since October 2023, so it’ll be good to see the progression of the team since that last meeting, namely in how much we’ve improved in certain areas and where we still need to improve moving forward. Our players are ready to show their skills and demonstrate the talent in this West Indies group. It’s going to be a fantastic tour and entertaining for everyone.”
The first T20I is scheduled for March 19 followed by the next two on March 21 and 23. The teams will also play a three-match ODI series following the T20Is at Warner Park in St. Kitts and Nevis. The tour was also supposed to include a Test match but it was dropped with the hosts wanting to prioritize white-ball cricket ahead of the T20 World Cup.
West Indies women T20I squad:
Hayley Matthews (captain), Chinelle Henry, Aaliyah Alleyne, Eboni Brathwaite, Shemaine Campbelle, Jahzara Claxton, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Jannillea Glasgow, Shawnisha, Hector, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor
World and Olympic champion Mondo Duplantis added another centimetre to his own world pole vault record*, clearing 6.31m at the Mondo Classic – a World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver meeting – in Uppsala on Thursday (12).
The pole vault superstar had no failures on his way to his record-breaking performance, opening with 5.65m before scaling 5.90m and 6.08m at the first time of asking.
Norway’s Sondre Guttormsen finished second with 6.00m, his second six-metre vault of the season.
Zachery Bradford, Sam Kendricks and Kurtis Marschall all cleared 590m to place third, fourth and fifth respectively.
[World Athletics]
S. Thomas’ College adopted an ultra-cautious approach to reach 203 for four wickets at stumps on the opening day of the historic Battle of the Blues against arch rivals Royal College at the SSC Ground on Thursday.
After being put in to bat, the Thomian top order proceeded at a snail’s pace as they consumed a large number of overs to build their innings.
Openers Jaden Amaraweera and Avinash Fernando laid the foundation with a patient first wicket stand of 110 runs, occupying as many as 40 overs on either side of the lunch interval. The pair could have been separated earlier when Royal’s Vimath Dinsara dropped Avinash when the score was 85. Avinash, who was then on 39, was given a reprieve off the bowling of Gagan Gamage.
Making full use of the chance, Avinash went on to complete a half century. He faced 145 balls for his 50 which included five boundaries before being caught by Yasindu Dissanayake off the bowling of Gamage.
Amaraweera was the first to depart after compiling a patient 52 off 109 deliveries with seven fours. He was caught by Mahiru Kodituwakku off the bowling of spinner Himaru Deshan.
Following the two wickets that fell within the space of two overs, Methuka Gunarathna and Aaron Kodituwakku attempted to steady the innings with another long vigil at the crease. The pair batted for 28 overs but managed to
add only 37 runs.
Aaron endured a long stay for his 12 runs, facing 89 balls before falling to the spin of Ramiru Perera. Methuka contributed 44 runs off 116 balls with six boundaries before being dismissed later in the day.
At the close of play, Reshon Solomon remained unbeaten on 19 after facing 70 balls, while Raphael Hettige was not out on 12 as the Thomians ended a slow but steady first day on 203 for four. (RF)
West Indies name unchanged squad for home T20Is against Australia
Duplantis breaks world pole vault record in Uppsala
Qantas agrees to pay $74m over Covid-19 travel voucher refunds
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