2017 20/20 Cricket Supplement

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Ever�thing to pla for,and no ing to lose

The Aus v Sri Lanka T20 Series will be a great platform for the future generation of limited-overs heroes to strut their stuff

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BYRITAMMIT""

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f ever an international cricker rour could be labelled "out of conrext", rhe three upcoming T20 Internationals between Australia and Sri Lanka would ordinarilv be in your sights. Following visirs to Australia by South Africa and Pakisran, the T20 series comes after the conclusion of five weeks of almost nightly Big Bash cricket, and during a time at which several of Australia's first-choice players find tl1emselves in Dubai preparing for the upcoming Test series in India. Luckily for the viewing public, despire me surrounding circurnst.'111ces, botl1 sides have plenty co prove; and in an otl1erwise

Upul Tharanga

4 INDIAN LINK

inconsequential series contested in rbe spore's most electric format - a format tailor-made for the bold and the daring - mere is no better platform for the fumre generation of limited-overs heroes to announce themselves on me world stage.

Sci Lanka arrives on Australian shores on the back of what can only be described as a punishing tour of South Africa. There, rbe tourists edged out the hosts in an incredibly close T20 series, but their success in that format was bookended by a 3-0 whitewash in rhe preceding Test series, and a 5-0 whitewash io me following One-Day fotemationals. It was only the second time in Sci Lanka's immensely proud One-Day International hisrory tliat ir suffered this particular ignominy; worryingly though, both such occasions have come in tl1e lase cwo years.

The prevailing issue is chat me Sri Lankao side is caught in a state of flux; almough

teams such as India and Australia have also lose some of their greatest servants io the recent past, me retiremern of Sci Lankao legends Sllch as Dilshan, Sangakkara and Jayawardene are likely to be tl1e most damaging. lndia has been blessed wit!, me likes of Kohli, Rahane and Pujara, and Australia too has flollfished with Smim, Warner and Khawaja. Sri Lanka, however, has struggled to discover - and develop - its future greats, through no fault of its own.

Revealingly, since Sangakkara's retirement in 2015, Sri Lanka has only won 12 of its 35 One-Day International matches.

An obvious example of the unsettled state of the Sri Lankao team is the supremely talented Dinesh Chanclimal. Chandimal has long been identified as one of Sri Lanka's fumre scars, yet, frustratingly, he remains perennially prone to worryingly regular form slumps. Having been Sri Lanka's most consistent batsman in 2016, Chandimal has

been dropped from the rom: of Australia after a string of recent failures ar the international level, despire captaining Sr:i Lanka in its most recent T20 in South Africa.

Then there is Thisara Perera, an e.....:plosive a l l r- ounder for whom tl1e T20 format seems me perfect fir. Yet, due to his inconsistency ac me highest level, be also failed to secure his p1-tce in the side despite strong performances for the Melbourne Renegades in tl1e Big Bash League.

Chief selector Sanatl1 Jayasuriya is aware of the issues plaguing me national team, but is at a loss co identify me cause of rbe team's slump. "[I] wouldn'r say tl1ere's a dearm of talent, but we don't produce tl1ose champion cricketers as much as we clid in the past," he said, "l don't di.ink it's a problem with the domestic structure or the school structure, because it's the very system that produced all those champion cricketers io me past. So, we need to assess chis situation and find om

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Scenes from the T20 Internationals during the Sri Lankan tour of Australia, 2013

where the problem is and correct it."

The home side's stocks a.re not nea.rly as bleak. Despite the absence of a host of regulars such as Steve Smith, David \Xlarner, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Starc,Josh Hazlewood and Glenn Maxwell, Australia's side features an enticing blend of youth and experience, with several fascinating sub-plots to explore. The yotmg guns, for instance, feature players such as Pat Cummins, Ashton Turner, Billy Stanlake, Adam Za.mpa and Jhye Richardson, who are all under 25. There are some in the squad though, who would debate whether that is the "right" side of 25 - Michael Klinger, for instance, will be Australia's second-oldest debutant in any format in 30 years, after finally ea.ming a national call-up at the age of 36. And Tim Paine, who was couted as a future Australian Test captain before being cruelly sidelined for several years by a finger injury, also makes bis return to the green and gold after six years in the domestic wilderness.

Although the long-term goal for the Lions may be to unearth their next cricketing greats, the immediate seep must be co build a winning culture, pa.rticularly overseas. With talismanic captain Angelo Mathews out of action due to injury, it will be up co stand-in skipper Upu.l Tharanga, no doubt boosted in his mission by the return of the in.imitable Lasith J\falinga, to motivate his yotmg charges to make a name for themselves at the highest level. And it shouldn't take him much - it's loog been known that strong performances by tourist� in Australia make the world stand up and take notice. After all, Australia .is the land of the ne,1er-say-die, the home of the killer instinct, and the backyard of the fearless.

With an Australian side full of sparkling youth and twinkling experience, and a Sri Lankan team desperate fot a morale boost after its recem trip to rock bottom, both sides have everything co play for, and nothing to lose; againsr all odds, this will make for compelling viewing.

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CRICKET AUSTRALIA Australia squad

Aaron Finch (c), Ben Dunk, Patrick Cummins, James Faulkner, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Michael Klinger, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Billy Stanlake, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa

Sri Lanka squad

Upul Tharanga (c), Niroshan Dickwella, Asela Gunarathna, Dilshan Munaweera, Kusal Mendis, Milinda Siriwardena, Sachith Pathirana, Chamara Kapugedara, Seekuge Prassanna, Nuwan Kulaskera, lsuru Udana, Dasun Shanaka, Lakshan Sandakan, Lasith Malinga, Vikum Sanjaya 6 INDIAN LINK

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Sri Lanka's golden moments on the world stage

BY AJAY NAIDU

I

n sport, as in art, sex or music, the thrill of the first conqL1est is as unique as it is memorable. The unbridled joy lasts forever.

When Arjuna Ra□anmga's Sri Lankan team clirnbed the Everest of Expectations against Mark Taylor's Australians on that memorable night at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, in the 1996 \Xlodd Cup finals, it sent the beautiful island nation into a frenzy.

Indeed, much like the cherry on top of the cake, the Sri Lankans seemed ro have reserved their best for last as they conquered the world in style - with a sensational seven-wicker victory over their fancied rivals.

With every single victory in that tomnarnent, Ranamnga's men (outsiders at odds of 66-1) were making a huge statement of intent. Each of their giant-killing acts on their way to the tide was like a signpost to the fumre, that the entire unit was totally passionate and committed to realise the Ill1)' island's dream.

As they put in an inspired performance game after game, it was clear!)' evident that

8 INDIAN LINK

the wily Arjuna Ranarunga bad under his command a ream oozing wid1 confidence, self­ belief and of course, talent.

The merciless Sanad1 Jayasurya and 'pocket­ dynan1ite' Romesh Kaluwitharana formed die most e,,plosive openers iu business. The gifted Atavinda de Silva took a star turn in d1e semi-final and the final. And the experienced Arjuna Ranamnga played both the anchor and adventurer in equal measure. Then, there were young guns like Asanka Gurusinha, Hasan Tillkaratne and Roshan Mal1anama who also played their parts to perfection.

On the bowling front, Chaminda Vass and Pramodya Wickramasiughe excelled in the pace department. However, it was the spinners Muttiah Muralid1aran, Kw11ar Dharmasena, Sanarh Jayasurya and Aravinda de Silva who kept the opponent5 on a tight leash.

Having stunned Inclia in its own backyard in a high-profile semi-final at Eden Gardens, the Sri Lankans had a date with destiny in the mega Ena! against Australia.

In each of the five previous World Cup finals, it was the team batting first whicl, bad won.

Again, the conventional wisdom till then was to bar first in a big-match pressure situation. As it were, just as he was walking out for toss, the great Lnran Khan had some golden advice for the Sri Lanka□ c.'lprain. "Bar first if you win the toss," Imran qu.iedy cold Ranatunga.

However, d1e Sri Lankans had d1eir own blueprint for success, even if it meant pitting

themselves against history. Arjuna Ranamnga followed his own wisdom as he called correctly and invited Australia to bat first. It was a decision which surely left Mark Taylor pleasantly surprised.

They say, it's never ,vise to judge a day until it is evening. And on d1at historic clay at Gaddafi Sradimn, Rananmga and his team showed just why this is true. \'v'hen it mattered most, the mercurial Aravinda de Silva produced a magi.cal performance, both with the bat and wid, d1e balJ, leaving Sri Lankan fans alJ over the world ecstatic.

As the evening wore on, Atavinda produced a dream hundred to match die historic occasion.

AU shimmering strokes and supreme style, he batted as if couched by the divine, going on to score a gorgeous unbeaten cenrury.

And, in fitness of diings, Arjuna Ranatw1ga too was in the middle as die Sci Lankans scripted a golden chapter in their cricketing folklore. \'v'hen d1at magic moment came, as Ranatunga lifted the World Cup trophy, there was a lump in the throat and rears in d1e eyes of every Sri Lankan.

The scores:Australia 241for 7 in 50 overs (Mark Tq)lfor 74, Ric�• Po11ti11g45, Michtu:IBevan 36*.

Armlinda de Silva 3.fo,·42) lost to Sri J_,ank.t1 245for 3 in 46.2 ovct:r (Asank11 Gumsinha 65, Aravi11da de Silva 107 11.0., A,j11na R.a11aflmga 47 n. o.) I?) 7 1JJickets.

***

After the 1996 World Cup triumph, Sri Lanlrn had to endure a long, frustrating wait before they could ,vin another world tide.

And yet, it was not that they were nor doing well on the world stage. Ir was just that d1ey were the proverbial bridesmaid repeatedly.

The Srj Lan.kans lost four World Cup finals in 2007 (50 Overs \Xlorld Cup), 2009 (T20 World Cup), 2011 (50 Overs World Cup) and 2012 (T20 World Cup).

Eve□tually, they broke rbe 18-year long World Cup jinx by winning the T20 World Cup ti d e in Dhaka in 2014. The title was aL�o a bewtiful farewell gift for their legends KW11ar Sangakkara and Maheia Jayawardene who were playing their final T20 games.

Kumar Sangakkara also did well to pm the icing on the cake by striking a match­ winning half-century to fasbioo Sri Lanka's six-wicket triumph over 1hhendrn Singh Dhoni's Team lncUa. The veteran left-hander scored a 35-ball 52 not out to guide the Sri Lankan chase of a modest 131-run target in 17.5 overs at a packed Shere Bangla stadium.

"It's been a long time coming, (we've) waited five fi11als," said Sangakkara in his crowning glory moment. "I am pretty happy that I was able to do something for the team. It means a Jot to all of us. V/..le are very humbled by d1is."

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,, The Sri Lankans were the proverbial bridesmaid repeatedly. They lost four World Cup finals in 2007 (50 Overs World Cup), 2009 (T20 World Cup), 2011 (50 Overs World Cup) and 2012 (T20 World Cup) ''

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The fiery traditional Tamil cuisine from the northern part of Sri Lanka, Jaffna cooking has a distinct and delicious flavour

A

BY DHANYA SAMUEL

dapted from a Peter Kuruvita recipe, this curry is a rather simple one. And wicl1 cl1is, J added yet aoocl1er spice blend co my coLiection - Sri Lankan roasted curry powder.

In traditional Sri Lankan cooking, rwo forms

of spice blends ate conunoo - the roasted and the Lmroasted variety. \�hile me former is reserved for r:ich curries and non-vegetarian dishes, cl1e latter is milder and tends to be used for seafood and vegetarian dishes.

TI1e key to a good roasted curry powder is getting your hands on good quality whole spices and then roasting them yourself. The roasting is taken r:ight co the edge wimout burning, so watch over it diligently.

J read many recipes and articles on how co make born versions and ended up using chi.� roasted curry powder recipe from Yomube chef Menaka at The Culinary Corner; ic seemed the mosr basic and amhentic

version. As wicl1 many traditional spice blends, like garam masala, Sri Lankan roasted curry powder also ,1aries slightly between households.

This Jaffna Goat Curry uses botl1 the roasted and unroasted curry powders, which is liberally used to marinate cl1e meat, along with a few other aromatics and min coconut milk.

Only using me chin, and not me thick, coconut milk means you gee a rich, dark curry.

This is an adaptation of me traditi onal crn:ry (which uses blood and offal). l t works just as well without using cl1e offal, instead you can substitute with tomato paste, keeping cl1e recipe simple and easy to make by aU.

• • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Jaffna Goat Curry

Ingredients

1 k g goat pieces (approx. 2cm pieces, with bones) 1 tbsp Jaffna unroasted curry powder (recipe given below) 1 tsp roasted cumin powder 5 green cardamoms; crushed ½ tsp fenugreek seeds 1 cinnamon stick ¾ tsp turmeric powder 1 ½ tbsp red chilli powder (adjust to heat preferences) 2 tbsp Sri Lankan roasted curry powder (recipe given below) 2 tbsp tomato paste 200ml thin (or 2nd extract) coconut milk Salt, to season 4-5 shallots; finely sliced 3 garlic cloves; grated 1 inch ginger; grated 3-4 tbsp vegetable oil A few sprigs of curry leaves Method

In a large pot, add the goat pieces along with the unroasted curry powder, cumin powder, cardamoms, fenugreek seeds, cinnamon, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, roasted curry powder, tomato paste, salt and thin coconut milk. Mix and keep aside for at least 30 minutes.

Heat oil in another vessel (earthenware if you have) and add the curry leaves, shallots, 12 INDIAN LINK

garlic and ginger; saute till the onions are soft and translucent.

Add the marinated goat pieces, season with salt and mix well to combine. If there is extra marinade in the first pot, add a little water to it and rinse it out into the curry so none of that lovely fl avour is lost.

Add more water to the curry if necessary and cook covered on low heat till the goat pieces are tender and falling off the bone.

Stir occasionally and add water if more gJavy is required.

Garnish with curry leaves and serve warm.

It is best to make this curry ahead and let it sit for a while to allow the flavours to develop.

Unroasted curry powder

2 tbsp coriander seeds 1 tbsp cumin seeds ½ tbsp fennel seeds In a gJinder, add all the whole spices and grind to a fine powder. Store in an airtight container and use as required.

Sri Lankan roasted curry powder 3 sprigs curry leaves 1 tbsp cumin seeds ½ tbsp fennel seeds 2 tbsp coriander seeds

10 dried chillies ½ tbsp black peppercorns 5 cloves 5 green cardamom 1 stick Ceylon cinnamon (not cassia) 2 dry bay leaves Method

Roasting the spices has to be done in stages as some of the spices need to be roasted longer than the others. Some versions of this blend also use fenugreek, mustard and pandan leaves.

Add the coriander seeds to a pan and allow to roast on low heat for about a minute and then add the peppercorns, cloves, cardamom, bay leaves and cinnamon. Roast for another 15 seconds and then add the curry leaves.

Mix regularly and keep the heat low to avoid burning the spices. Continue to roast for another 30 seconds and then add the chillies. Allow to roast for a minute and finally add the fennel and cumin seeds. Roast for another 1530 seconds and remove from heat. Allow to cool completely and then grind to a fine powder. Store in an airtight container. www.indianlink.com.au

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lltNUDllAH LINK 13

Making cricket accessible to people from all walks of life

T

BY RITAM MITRA

hegmm moves 111ore eftev tha11 not i11 a leiJ1tre!J IV'!)' ,' andso the J1Jatcher Ctltl be 11Jint!f11!, as the 111e11 in 111hite come onto thefield ,1! thefresh of the moming, that the mn is beginning its comfortable jo11mv• 11p the slry; that, while the gamepauses 111 the hour.for rest ,111d lunch, the ea,th is skeping in the heat of 110011; that, as the md of the dt!)' coflles and the shadowsfi,lf overthegras,, the)'el/0111 light fOl(thes the c,icketers'JlanmL These things 111atlcr to thega11Je; it is these things, and 110! the 11i11nit1g and /(}sing and the reconis that 1ve re111e,11ber in old ttge after om· limbs have become stiff a11d 1ve ,·,111plqy 110 more.

So wrote the great English writer l eville Cardus some 80 years ago, yec you would be forgiven for thinking he had written those words today. For despite its many evolutions, at the core of the game, its beauty remains its inherent ab.ility to trtmsrmd. [n addition to rising above mere stat istics, as noted by Cardus, it has transcended race, policies, age, gender and time. Given its long and storied history, ir was not until relatively recently that administrators of tbe game began

14 INDIAN LINK

formalising avenues tbrongh which cricket could transcend disability - tl1e de.lay perhaps a fitting example of the many ways iJ1 which cricket allegor:ises socie[y i[self.

Australia's firs[ all abilities cricket association, the Melbourne All Abilities Cricket Association (MAACA), has given scores of crickecers the opportunity w 0\7ercome the barriers tha[ have ar times no doubt threatened m define them. Esrnblished u1 2015, Jvf.AACA now has six part icipating clubs, and is one of the jewels in the crow□ of Cricket Australia's National Disability Cricket Strategy and Cricket Victoria's All Abilities Action Plan, under which all abilities ci-icket is being expanded throughout the state and country.

Yarraville Club Cricket Club (YCCC) is the only all-abilities cricke[ club in :Melbourne's wes[em suburbs, a veritable melting pot of cultures and backgrounds. Hussain Hanif, the YCCC coach, notes the high proportion of overweight and diabetic residems in some of these suburbs, as well as families of low socioeconomic and migrant backgrow1ds.

"I use [he cricke[ program to provide education on and off the sports field: to show how you can get me most out of life and not let the disability stop you from chasing your dreams," says Hussain. In its first season, Hussain's dedication has seen YCCC become incredibly successfuJ on and

off tl1e field, and its inclusive, comfortable culcure is frequently attracting new players.

One of d1ose players is 22-year-old Christopher Quinn-Scheib. After having the last year off from playing cricket, this season Chris joined his friends at YCCC - and he has enjoyed every minme.

"Playing cricket has helped my confidence," says Chris. "We're a big family ac YartaYille, everyone gees along so well.

It makes it a lot easier co communicate and function as a team."

Like mosr cricketers in Melbourne - and Australia - Chris's passion for che game was ignited through backyard cricket. However, as his mother Patricia recalls, cricket had a more profound inAuence on Chris d-1a.n anticipated.

"Chris was bullied at school, and be had low self-esteem for a while until he started wanting tO play cricket and football Once he started getting into playing cricket, there was no turning back. He absolutely loved it, he brought a lot more of himself out. He was always somewhat sby, but it's brought bim om of his shell," says Patricia. "Jr's made us a lot happier now with him, because he's not holding everything back and getting frustrated. He keeps going from strengd1 to strengd1."

Alexander Skinner, who plays mainstream cricket as well as all abilities crid<.et, can scarcely believe the heighcs he has reached

, , I use the cricket program to provide education on and off the sports field: to show how you can get the most out of life and not let a disability stop you from chasing your dreams ,, Hussain Hanif, Yan-aville Cricket Club coach

today. Once never picked for school sporting reams, Alex is now playing in the first division of the Eastern Cricket Association, playing alongside a former international cricketer and keeping wickers to bo,,1lers bowling in e.,cess of 135km/h.

"Being autis t i c is hard, especially at school, having very few friends and being bullied a !or . . . when I wanted ro start playing cricket it was a big shock to my family, as I was thought too unsocial co play," Alex says.

"Being autistic is in most cases a problem d1at affects your ability to be social and read people's body language and be pare of a team.

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,, Playing with the guys in my side has really helped me with my own problems and allows me to be more social with more people. It has changed my life for the better , ,

Alexander Skinner Playing with the guys in my side has really helped me with my own problems and allo\vs me to be more social with more people. It has changed my life for the better." Ale.x credits his hard work and persistence with allowing him to play at the highest possible level, something that still "boggles �1is] mind".

Justin \\;1est, a football and cricket fan who was born with hydrocephalus, as well as a learning disability and a spinal disorder, is not allowed to play football due to the risk of seriously damaging his spine. However, Justin has always enjoyed the "laid-back, non-contact" atmosphere of cricket., which gives his life

important balance while he studies a course in events management at Evocca College. ''You just zone our on the field and focus on the game," says Justin. "Cricket is a good anger management tool. Ir's not as frustrating.

If you get a bad decision, you rake it on the chin. There's no point arguing with the umpire, his decision is final. There's been a big change [in me]. I'm a lot happier, I look forward to matches every second week and training weekly - it's definitely a confidence booster." Although his spinal disorder can sometimes make i t "agony" to get through a whole clay of cricket,Justin, a former

representative player with die Victoria Vikings, is determined to keep pla)�ng cricket as long as his body will let him.

The challenges faced by YCCC players are ongoing.

'1 went through a rough stage with die passing of my uncle," recal.ls Chris. "I didn't want to play anymore. Huss told me to push through ir. When my uncle passed away, a week later, we had a cricket game. I decided to play, and I mid myself, if l get a wicker, I'll do a celebration and dedicate it co my uncle."

Chris did take the wicket, and treasures it as a defining moment for him on the cricket field.

Despite d1e exciting prospect of home grand finals at the end of the mond1, as Cardus wrote, winning and losing will evenn1ally fade beyond memory; but to players like Chris, Alex and Justin, the positive impact of cricket on dieir quality of life will remain profound.

"People say people with disabilities can't play sport," Chris says. "Al l abilities cricket helps us prove people wrong - people \\�th disabilities can do as much as a normal person can do."

1/Ji.s article won Ritam Mitra the Oicket Victoria Media Awardfor Most 0111:standing Feature St01y 2016 INDIAN LINK 15

BY PETRA O'NEILL

A

t dusk on my lirsL day in Colombo, when [he air smel[ beguilingly of cinnamon and the salcy sea, l headed for GaUe Face Green. This is a strip of well-trodden lawn with vendors dispensing ice cream, nurs, bot snacks and freshly grilled seafood and where locals mingle, play cricket and fly k.i[es. Then I returned to the majestic GaUe Face Hotel, opened in 1864, as the sun slipped away over the Indian Ocean.

This was how my journey to Sri Lanka, an island th.e size of Tasmania, began. Colombo provided the perfect .introduction - a ci[y with lakes, gardens, shady tree lined streets, grand colonial buildings and bustling markets at the Fort and Pettah Bazaar.

Joining a smaU tour group of traveUers from Denmark, German)r and the UK, we set off in a minivan, heading in a clockwise direction beginning with the ruins of Anuradhapura, a sacred city of palaces, temples, rnonasteries and bell shaped stupas some 60 metres high. Established in the 3"1 Century BC, Anuradhapura flourished as a political and religious capital u.ntil 993 AD when it was invaded and later abandoned.

The second capital was the walled city

16 INDIAN LINK

of Polonnaruwa, built in the 1 1' " and 12'" centuries AD, before it too was ransacked by invaders and forgotten for 700 years. Nearby, the cave temples o f Dambulla, dating back ro the 1" century BC, have murals and stan1es of Buddha including a 15 metre long reclining Buddha.

But it was Sigiriya that I foLmd most astonishing, an extraordinary feat of engineering bu.ii[ in 471 AD by tl1e rutl1less King Kassapa. A broad avenue flanked by moats, ramparts and cooling water gardens, leads towards the massive granite peak that dominates the cemral plains jutting upwards of 180 metres. Halfway up [he steep ascent, frescoes of nymphs are pain[ed on the walls of a cave accessed by climbing up a spiral st.'lircase chat clings precariously from the side of the steep precipice. Further up are two enormous lion paws that guard the entrance of the once impenetrable royal palace. From the summi[ the view of the central plains is spectacular.

From here we travelled to Kandy, tl1e last capital of the Sri Lankan kings, a city with a serene Jake surrounded by mountains, hotels S[eeped in history including the Hotel Suisse, Queen's and Olde Empire, and a market with fruit and vegetables, spices and tea.

Within the Royal Complex is the Temple of the Tootl1, an orna[e shrine housing what is believed to be Buddha's tooth. F'or a glimpse of the golden casket containing the relic, I was shuffled through a gently elbowing line and .into an adjoining hall for a performance of traditional Kandyan drumming.

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from top left: Slglriya; temples of hern Sri Lankan , sltl the Tem le of the Tooth; To walled city of

,, For a glimpse of the golden casket containing the relic, I was shuffled through a gently elbowing line and into an adjoining hall for a performance of traditional Kandyan drumming ,, Culture i s also o n show at one of many traditional dance shows with hypnotic drumming, acrobatics and back flips culminating in wince-inducing firewalking.

Witli guards and conductors wearing crisp starched uniforms, we departed for Nuwarn Eliya as die train skirted around narrow terraces offering superb views as it clawed its way towards die highlands carpeted in tea plantations.

Founded as a hill retreat for the British, many colonial era buildings remain with the Grand Hotel and St Andrew's offering high tea witli an assortment of sandwiches, tasty treats and the finest tea. At the Hill Club, founded i n 1876, die walls of billiard rooms, dining rooms and long empty corridors are lined widi mounted bm1ting trophies and memorabilia hae. king back to earlier times.

Enveloped by mist tliat descends in the evening, temperatures plummet and open log fires provide a warm repose.

From tl1e mountains we descended to lowland rice paddies, villages and market rowns to Udawalawe National Park. Here we hopped aboard a safari jeep to view wild

boars and herds of elephants grazing on the open plains, and crocodiles basking by tbe water's edge before continuing our drive rowa.rds the coast.

An ancient trading port for cinnamon, sapphires, peacock feathers, and ivory, Ga.Ile was settled by die Portuguese in 1505, and later hy the Dutch and British. ViUas and warehouses have been fai difully resrored and among the labyrinth of aUeys and narrow streets I found boutique hotels, spice warehouses, cafes, and shops selling woodcarvings, gems and DLttch antiques.

It was while walking along tl1e beach at Hikkaduwa, our final destination, that I reAected on what I had enjored most about Sri L anka.

At Nuwaca Eliya, women from a cooperative were cooking hoppers and other snacks in an open shed. 1 \Vas invited to share a table with a school teacher and her family who explained to me all the delicious treats I had just purchased. I met many local people like her who, through a simple act of kindness, made me feel welcome in their country and it's that I remember most of all.

Singapore Airlines, Air Asia, Malaysia Airlines and Qantas/ Sri Lankan Airlines fly from Australia to Colombo.

• ,.

I While trains offer postcard views, they cover only part of I Sri Lanka. For the rest. you'll need to catch buses or hire a car with driver. Aitken Spence Travel can arrange a customsed itinerary. Kangaroo Cabs in Colombo are highly recommended. /1.J.'!�PMu1.1;:;r.::;1'\111r.::.1�1.1 COLOMBO: The splendid Galle Face Hotel, Taj, Cinnamon Grand and Shangri- L a all overlook the Galle Face Green.

KANDY: Centrally located Queens Hotel, lakeside Hotel Suisse, or the budget Olde Empire Hotel. DAMBULLA/SIGIRlYA: Thilanka Resort and Spa or the Heritance Kandalama, designed by Sri Lanka's most renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa.

Nuwara Eliya: Jetwing St Andrew's. GALLE: With exquisite interiors, the Galle Fort Hotel was awarded a UNESCO award for heritage conservation.

Sri Lankan cuisine is one of the most complex cuisines in Asia, drawing on influences from India and a long legacy of trade with Asia, Holland and Portugal. Start the day with a breakfast of tropical fruit and thick buffalo curd and kithul treacle.

Homewares, traditional woodcarvings and fabrics such as Sakura Batik in Hikkaduwa and Praba Handicrafts. There are numerous tea centres in Colombo selling some of the world's finest tea. Sri Lanka offers Ayurveda treatments and massage. I tried several and found Lotus Lanka at 353/1A Galle Road, Hikkaduwa exceptional. ,.

Lodge an electronic travel application online prior to departure "' ;;;;"'-"'" 1a11,,l'=,4li1 and print a copy. Cost for a single entry tourist visa is USD$35. eta.gov.lk Entry fees to historic sites and national parks are generally US$25-30.

Seek out charities such as NewUse Organisation in Hikkaduwa that sells recycled clothing and books to raise funds for worthy causes.

INDIAN LINK 17

INDIAN LINK

SOCIAL MEDIA

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el n n a h c r u o to e 1 subscr·b /lndianlinkAustralia

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ndian Link is an Australian-based media group that targets the Indian commmtity in Australia, as well as those in the wider mainstream who have an interest in India and the subcontinent.

Its print, raclio and cligital platforms bring to life details about the ln®n experience in mainstream Australia.

As watchers of the trends in Australia's Indian and subcontinental communities, its work across various media channels have seen it become the leading lnclian rneclia group in the country, with 20 multicultural media awards to its name.

Origins

lndian Link was launched in 1994 as a monthly newspaper, when the Indian community in Australia was new and growing. The company's grow-th bas largely mirrored tbe growth of the community in Australia, coming into its own in the mid 2000s. With qualified professionals, as well as students arriving in Australia from the lndian sub-continent, Indian Link has served the community well, speaking their language, on a platform that is Indian yet Australian in its outlook.

Today, five separate editions are produced for each of die rnajor Australian centres including Sydney (fortnightly), MelbOL1rne,

Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth (all monthlies).

Cona:ibutors are based in various centres across Australia and total readership today is estimated at just under 200,000 a month.

Radio

Indian Link rook to me airwaves in 2002 with a unique subscriber-based model that reached listeners in Sydney and Melbourne 24/7.

Today, Indian Link Radio is available via live streaming online and its radio app has seen its audience grow exponentially, with downloads originating from across the globe.

Online

ln recem years, ludian Link's interner presence has grown by leaps and bounds.

The website indianlink . com.au has more d1an 300,000 impressions and more than 250,000 unique ,Tisirors a year.

An e-newsletter delivers updates every week straight into the inboxes of some 30,000 subscribers.

On social media, the Indfan Link Facebook pages (for radio and newspaper) reach more than 20,000 people each week. Indian Link also maint.'l ins a Twitter account which reaches out co more than 60,000 users each month.

Recently, Indian Link launched a YouTube channel

In the media

Indian Link has also made its ma.ck io the mainstream media, becoming for many outlets (particularly ABC TV and Radio) tl1e first point of contact when an fo®-related issue is in che news.

Indian Link CEO Pawan Lutlua has been a frequeor guest on ABC Radio 702, ABC News 24, ABC TV's ute/ine, Channel 7's Sunrise and on other television programs. He is also often asked to appear on television and radio networks in foclia, who seek him out for his in- depth knowledge of both local comrnurtity affairs and rbe India-Australia relationship.

He served as guest commenrntor on E'ox Television's coverage of the opening ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealtl1 Games in New Delhi with Tracey Holmes and Steve Leibmann.

Pawan is also invited to appear on many media panels, speaking most recently at tl1e Bradruan Foundation and at tl1e Powerhouse Musemn.

On another leve� many platforms have partnered with Indian Link to get their message out to the Indian communiry. These include, most recently, Sydney Festival, Australian Football League (AFL), Organ and Tissue Donation Authority, Etlrnic Business Awards, the Pink Sari Project and the Breast Cancer Foundation.

Through its newspapers, radio service and its on.l ine and digital platforms, lndian Link Media Group now reaches one in two Indians settled in Australia.

The work of Indian Link, wide-ranging in ics breadtl1 and quality, has served ro help audiences link the Indian and tl1e Australian experience, promoting an awareness of the diversity of Australian life.

Indian Link Cricket Su��lement 2017 Published by: Indian Link Media Group: Pawan Luthra, Rajni Anand Luthra, Kira Spucys-Tahar Advertising: Vivek Trivedi, Charuta Joshi Design: Glenn Hunt Contributors: Ritam Mitra, Ajay Naidu, Dhanya Samuel, Petra O'Neill

INDIAN LINK 19

Despite what the critics say, Big Bash League and T20 cricket are always worth watching.

We secretly hope for more rivalries

Indian cricket fans love the concept of playing Pakistan more, and the Ashes series between Australia and England always brings the goods. How about a sporting skirmish between Sri Lanka and West Indies?

The gentleman's game is not so gentle

Cricket may be called the 'gentleman's game', but the glory days of cricket included some mild and witty sledging, not to mention how we're caught cursing and swearing if our team is losing.

20 INDIAN LINK

We will wait for hours (even days) and spend big to buy tickets to a match

The shenanigans and energy make it different from a Test series, but who doesn't love an opportunity to watch more cricket?!

It's just a matter of time.

The DRS will eliminate a lot of blatant umpiring errors.

We know even if our team has a form slump, they should win the World Cup

We know random, obscure facts and terms no one else cares about

Only a true fan understands the awesomeness of being able to watch your favouri te players in the flesh.

We'd brave all the storms, heatwaves and maybe even an earthquake to do that.

When the Indian team won the World Cup in 1983 no one really expected Kapil Dev's s ragtag team to do what they did. Since they achieved the unthinkable, fans have developed an expectation that any team can come back from the brink and win.

We will time bathroom breaks with the strategic time-out during a match

We can memorise a match schedule, but forget birthdays and anniversaries

We can't afford to miss a single second of the action!

DRS should be universally accepted.

"When is Australia playing Sri Lanka?"

"17th February!"

"When is your wife's birthday?"

"Umm... not the 17th?"

It goes beyond the game the weight of the ball, the length of the grass on the field, field positioning, bowling techniques, stroke play, pitch conditioning and that's before you get on to the batting and bowling stats.

When someone says it's just a game...

They had better watch out! You're just saying that because you're too stupid to understand the beauty of the sport. Cricket is not a game it's a religion. www.indianlink.com.au

y ou t hink

y ou

c an

b at ?

A friend of mine is a retired cricket umpire. He doesn't lift a finger now.

Why are cricket grounds so cool?

Because they are full of fans.

I kept wondering why the cricket ball was getting bigger and bigger ... Then it hit me.

The Devils challenged the Angels to a game of cricket.

"But we've got all the cricketers," said the Angels.

"Yes. But we've got all the umpiresf" excla Imed The Devils.

What Is a bug's favourite sport?

Cricket!

Why don't grasshoppers go to baseball games? Because they prefer cricket Which birds are the worst at playing cricket? Ducks!

Why can no one drink wine In Australia at the moment?

They haven't got any openers...

A friend asked George, "Tell me, is your daughter's fiancee a good catch?" "Good catch?" answered George. "He's the best fielder we've got In the side!"

What's the difference between Cinderella and a struggling cricketer?

Cinderella knew when to leave the ball Why do cricket grounds have floodJights?

Because bats at nocturnal.

An American who knew nothing of the game had been taken to a few cricket matches by a friend and was now studying the end-of-season averages.

Every now and then he came across an asterisk and the words: 'Signifies not out.'

Finally, he turned to his friend and said, "Why don't you get this guy Signifies to play for your side? He's never out!"

A cricket fan had dragged his wife and daughter along to the ground to watch a match.

They were plainly bored and kept shifting uncomfortably in their seats.

The daughter brightened and turned to the mother. "They just shouted 'Over"', she said.

"I know," replied her mother, wearily. "But don't take any notice. It goes on and on and on."

During a match, the fieldsman positioned just behind the umpire kept trying to distract the batsman as the ball was bowled to him.

Several appeals for LBW were turned down, and finally the umpire turned to the fieldsman and said sternly, "I've been watching you for the last twenty minutes."

"I thought so," came the reply. "I could tell you weren't watching the game!"

A slip fleldsman had a particularly depressing day during which he dropped no less than ten catches all off the same bowler.

After the game he was talking to the bowler when he broke off and looked at his watch.

"I must go," he said, "I have a train to catch."

The bowler looked at him bitterly, "Let's hope you have better luck with that, then."

A disgruntled batsman stormed Into the pavilion and flung down his bat.

"Terrible," he shouted. "I've never played so badly before.''

The captain looked up. "Oh, so you've played before, have you?"

INDIAN LINK 21

. .................................................................................................................. . .Questions 1 What is the nickname of the Sri Lankan national cricket team?

2 What year did Sri Lanka play their first international cricket

match?

3 When was Sri Lanka granted Test cricket status?

4 How many times has Sri Lanka won the Cricket World Cup? 5 Which Sri Lankan won the Player of the Series award at the

1996 ICC World Cup?

6 How many times did Darrel Hair call no ball for throwing

when Muttiah Muralitharan was bowling during the 1995 MCG test match?

7 When Sri Lanka's Arjuna Ranatunga requested a runner while batting in an ODI against Australia, which wicket keeper told him that he can't have a runner for being "fat and unfit"?

8 In 1930, a young Don Bradman played a First Class match outside Australia for the first time.Brad man was playing for the touring Australians against a local invitational XI at the Colombo Cricket Club Ground in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

In his first innings a broad, Bradman scored 40 runs before being dismissed by which rare form of dismissal?

9 Who was the Australian coach of the Sri Lankan cricket team from 2005 to 2007?

10 Who holds the record for the fastest century by a n Australian in One Day Internationals?

Answers . . .................................................................................................................. . dn:) PIJOM l8)10!J:) gi;oc: at.n U! 8)1U87 !JS lSU !B�e s11eq i:s WOJJ Am:iuao e paJOOS alj '11aMX8LAJ UU818 O't APOOLAJ wo1 6 l8)10!M l!H 8 Al88H ue1 L S8W!l L 9 BA!JnSeAer ljl8U8S S 966"[; U! •a::iuo t, UO!l8U �U!AB!d l8)1::l!J::l :isa1 ,118 8Ljl 8)1U87 !JS�U!)18W 'l:861 & S8!PUI lS8M at.n lSU!B�e SL6"[; t SUO!l 8Ljl 't 22 INDIAN LINK

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