Ran Giri Dambulu Gale in song again

One of the best things to happen to the game of cricket here, is the news that the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium would come alive when England play Sri Lanka in three one-day internationals at this picturesque venue.

This marvellous venue went into the limbo of the forgotten, due to reasons that would best be described as petty. We don't want to raise the dust that has settled, but to congratulate and applaud those who were instrumental in seeing reason and agreeing to play the game here.

The Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket and Ven. Inamaluwa Sri Sumangala Maha Nayake thera, Trustee of Rangiri Dambulla Raja Maha Vihara have agreed to let bygones be bygones and begin a new innings and take strike at the wicket for the next 30 years. That is why it is said that sport is the great leveller.

Top of the honours list for making fence mending possible must go to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the sporting President and his able Minister of Sports Gamini Lokuge for showing the warring parties how to play a straight bat and score for the game.

It was a pity that this eye-catching cricket stadium built by the then President of Sri Lanka Cricket Thilanga Sumathipala, was allowed to become a stadium that time forgot.

Sumathipala, when he built this stadium, had vicious bouncers bowled at him by his critics who did not want or refused to see reason. With matches in Colombo getting washed out due to bad weather, Sumathipala saw reason and did well in building this venue in the dry zone.

The International Cricket Council had laid down strict regulations, that venues in all countries must have excellent drying and draining systems and that excuses however good would not be accepted if international matches are washed out.

It is this requirement that prompted Sumathipala to build this stadium which is picturesque in the true sense of the word.

When cricket fans gather at the stadium and sing that perennial made famous by the husband and wife combination Chitra and Somapala - Rangiri Dambulu Gale, it makes one emotional and get goose flesh, and evokes memories of that great rock that is steeped in history.

With the stadium neglected, the IC of Sri Lanka Cricket will have to do a lot work to get it into playing condition. The IC has competent men who can deliver and if and when the first ball is bowled in the England-Sri Lanka game we hope that it will signal the playing of cricket luvr'ly cricket for the next 30 years and more.

Once again our congratulations to all those who made the playing of cricket possible at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium.

Bayliss a good selection

In this column last week, we said that when a cricket coach is picked to replace Tom Moody, it should be one with a - made in Australia - tag.

And this is just what the committee appointed by the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket has done.

Obviously the presentation made by New South Wales cricketer Trevor Bayliss was very impressive and the committee had no hesitation in inking the contract.

Bayliss has not sported the green baggy Australian cap. But is said to have been a more than ordinary cricketer for NSW and that after his playing days were over had taken to coaching and showed a lot of promise.

Bayliss has probably spoken too early by saying that Sri Lanka can win the 2011 World Cup. He has been signed on only for two years while the next World Cup is four years hence.

Australian coaches who have come here from Dav Whatmore to Bruce Yardley, to John Dyson to Tom Moody have performed impressively.

Terry Oliver too had a short stint, so did former Australian leg spinner Peter Phillpot who was got by former off spinning Sri Lankan allrounder Abu Fuard when he was the power behind the throne. It is Fuard's sowing of that time, that is helping the game reap rich harvests.

How Bayliss will go will be watched with more than ordinary interest.

Welcome Upul Chandana

What warmed the cockles was the comeback of leg spinning allrounder Upul Chandana to big time cricket again.

Chandana was one of the best allrounders that the game had here. But was surprisingly sent into the wilderness by selectors who refused to see the tremendous potential in the likeable allrounder.

Asantha de Mel and his able team of selectors deserve a pat on their backs for recalling Chandana. He has a lot of cricket in him and it is hoped that he will be persisted with. Leg spinners should be persisted with for success.

Chandana was one of the leg spinners to capture 10 wickets in a Test against Australia. But before he could enjoy that success he was sent to the land of the forgotten.

Now that he has got the nod from the selectors, it is now up to him to release his pent up anger for being dropped and perform the way we know he can.