The irresponsible action taken by the selection committee led to the resignation of three National Selectors namely Amal Silva, Kapila Wijegunwardana and Brendon Kuruppu. The decision to resign by these three gentlemen is highly appreciated and is laudable. One wonders why the other two selectors K. M. Nelson and T. B. Kehelgamuwa had not resigned.

The normal form followed by a selection committee at national level, where the national pride is at stake is to choose the best possible side where the captain of the team is present along with the National coach for his invaluable comments.

However, in this instance the selectors, without the consent of the team captain and without consulting the National Coach decided to drop the Vice Captain Marvan Atapattu and Charitha Buddhika. The present team has had a successful run and one does not change a winning combination without causing a demoralizing effect on the team.

If at all a player is dropped from a winning team it must be for very good reasons like injury or a player having a very bad trot. However, one must remember that true talent must be given all chances. A case in point is Russel Arnold who came good this match after a lean trot.

On the other hand if one has to experiment and bring in fresh blood it cannot be done before a series is won, and certainly not in the second Test of a three Test series after having won the first Test. What the selectors did in the selection of the team for the second Test was not cricket at all. Cricket is a gentlemen’s game and unethical conduct cannot be condoned.

The fact that the Minister of Sports did not accept the selectors decision and quite rightly so, having to include the dropped players, indicated that the Minister has no confidence in the selectors, and if the selectors wish to cling on to positions, they must be shown the door and we pray in the name of justice that the Minister would call for the resignation of the other two selectors. — A reader

Ananda pack a punch

by Dhammika Ratnaweera

Ananda College possess a well balanced side this season. The team includes eight seniors. The team has played five matches this season, so far, and remain unbeaten. They recorded first innings victories against Trinity, Dharmapala Pannipitiya, Richmond and Maliyadeva Kurunegala while the game against Dharmasoka ended in a no decision.

A number of the players represent Old Anandians Sports Club in the Division II club cricket tournament, which helps them gain valuable experience.

Yohan Wickramage, a third year coloursman, leads the team, as regular skipper Eashan Abeysinghe is engaged with the National under 19 team for the forthcoming World Cup tournament to be held in New Zealand. Abeysinghe, a fourth year coloursman, was a member of the National under 17 side which won the Asian Championship in 2000. The talented all rounder started off the season with a fine 148 against Dharmasoka Ambalangoda. He is also a very useful spinner.

Yohan Wickramage is a talented all rounder. A right arm off spinner, he leads the Anandian spin department this season. He has already taken 30 wickets, inclusive of two 4 wickets hauls. The left hand middle order batsman has scored over 150 runs.

The Anandians boast of a strong batting line-up this season. Nadeeshan Jayakody is the most consistent batsman, having scored 260 runs so far. Jayakody, a third year coloursman, scored 128 not out against Maliyadeva College Kurunegala and 92 against Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya.

Right handers, Damidu Kularatne and Bhagya Thalagala open the innings. Thalagala scored 87 against Trinity College Kandy. Rakitha Wimaladarma, the newcomer to the team, scored 150 against Peterson SC in a Division II club cricket encounter.

Rookie Janudika Sriyapala is the wicket keeper of the side. Left-handers Thilina Kumarasinghe and Mihira Somaratrne are useful middle order batsmen.

Nadeeshan Jayakody and Isuru Dias spearhead the pace attack. Dias took over 15 wickets including six wickets against Ambalan-goda Aruna SC in the club cricket tournament.

Sadun Nilaweera the left arm leg spinner, and the two right arm off spinners Rakitha Wimaladarma and Lahiru Senaratne add strength to the spin department. Senaratne, a second year player, took 6 for 27 against Kalutara PCC in an inter-club match.

Anuruddha Polonowita, the former Anandia and national player is the coach, while Vipula Settimage and Badra Seneviratne are his assistants. Principal B. A. Abeyratne, Deputy Pri-ncipal Kulasiri de Zoysa and Master in Charge W. Wettasinghe, are a constant source of encouragement and inspiration to the team.