There’re too many eggs in the school Cricket basket
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There are more questions than answers in today’s school cricket
In our October 9th issue, we took up the subject of regularising school cricket and, according to Education Ministry’s Special Consultant Sunil Jayaweera, the ministry is very serious about the task at hand, and is hoping to rope in most of the stakeholders of school cricket, when they are ready to take up the subject for further scrutiny.
Primarily, Jayaweera said, “At present, there are well over 400 cricket playing schools. They play more than 7,000 tournament matches annually between then. The commitment is huge and, at the same time, it is a costly exercise. However, the problem is that, more and more schools are striving to take up the game.
Jayaweera said: “The MoE is hoping to meet Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials soon. The Sri Lanka School Cricket Association (SLSCA) and School Cricket’s main sponsor Singer Sri Lanka will attend this meeting..
“Right now, the most important thing is to make the game viable to those schools which are engaged in the game. Firstly, we are going to take note of the schools that can afford to stay in the game. For instance, with the facilities fees, the help of old boys associations and others. The schools which can afford to stay in the game will remain. We are concerned about those schools who are already in the game, but are finding it difficult to stay in the fray.
“We are trying to find ways of helping these schools through the MoE. At the same time, we are also trying other ways and means to help them. For instance, we could seek help at provincial level. A school in Matara could get a mercantile establishment in that area to sponsor it. At the same time, talented cricketers within a five-mile radius could be shifted to the main centre. In that way, there could be more controlled growth in the school cricket system. The children will remain in their own environment and, at the same time, be playing better cricket.”
He said that a limited number of schools could also take up Junior Cricket, and graduate into the main hub, if they are talented. Jayaweera also said that most of the other schools will be encouraged to take up softball cricket but there will be a mechanism to spot talent there too.
“In that manner, we are hoping there would be controlled growth in school cricket. I believe, we need to develop school cricket because, it is the one portal that would enable us to be partners in the progress of the most successful sport in the country. But, right now, it has gone a little haywire, while it is yet not too late to bring it back to manageable levels.”
Yet, we feel the subject at hand is deeper than what meets the eye. When the stakeholders sit at the table, each cardholder should know what the trump card is and play their hands with absolute honesty. Each player should have in mind that school cricket in Sri Lanka was the vehicle that took us thus far in this game, and now has reached global status. But, ironically, what have we done with the game? Have we been kind to it one wee bit?
There are many facts we must take into consideration, and take them seriously. For instance, there is a huge tussle between SLC and the SLSCA. Both institutions want to take control of the game and neither wants to back out.
In reality, the SLSCA is an insignificant arm of the MoE that does not come under the direct scrutiny of the main authority. However, it controls the fate of thousands of schoolchildren who aspire to excel in the game of cricket. With that in mind, the SLSCA should be more responsible in its dealings, and be mindful that, it is playing with the futures of a whole generation of students who may lose their foothold in life, if not properly manoeuvred.
Initially, the stakeholders should know what the real problems are, and how they could overcome them, without tilting the balance of either the students’ future or, that of cricket. For instance, during the past few days, we discovered that some of the secondary schools practise during school hours. When asked why, it was explained that the parents are concerned about the education of their children as they are preparing for their vital examinations during that period. So, the parents have made it compulsory for the students to attend private tuition classes. Could we agree to this practice. School education is free and so, it is dispensable. Well, poor students have to incur heavy expenditure when it comes to private tuition. So, they cannot afford to miss it. A funny state of affairs, but that’s the honest truth.
In some aspects, their argument is correct. If a boy has the aptitude to play cricket, then he may be in trouble. The students playing the 7,000 matches mentioned by Jayaweera run the risk of playing 365 days of cricket. Good, if they graduate to become a budding Mathews, de Silva or Chameera. Those lucky young cricketers will be blessed for life. Yet, there is a risk concerning the others, if they fail to jump that final hurdle.
They get stuck playing club or provincial cricket at its highest, where the going rate is not so attractive. So, for a professional cricketer whose shelf life would be in the region of 35, it is a hell of a risk.
Then, there is a huge tug-o’-war between the SLSCA and the SLC. Both segments are looking to gain control. Last year the SLC devised a method. It launched the Under-19 Provincial Tournament which is completely under its control. (This means the young cricketer has to play cricket 365 + days of the year). It is a must that young cricketers should be a part of this. Because, all international age group selections and other nitty-gritties in cricket are done through this system, because the SLC has direct control over this system.
In reality, this is the globally accepted system; even the age group cricket is developed in that manner. The talent is identified at provincial or county level, and the youngsters are given guided graduation thereafter.
But, during the past hundred years and more, school cricket has been our graduation point, and what the provinces are doing now was done through the existing system. But, during the past few years, we have been putting far too many eggs in one basket and ironically, they are breaking one by one.
So, when the stakeholders do sit at the table, they should be mindful that, they must arrive at a system which works for the good of cricket.