Cricketing Principal of Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa
J.B.C. Rodrigo
My father, the late J.B.C. Rodrigo was Principal of Prince of Wales College (PoWC), Moratuwa, for 26 years. His desire to appreciate Cricket started when he was Prefect of Games at S. Thomas’ College, Mt Lavinia. Subsequently, he proceeded to England for graduation and, on his return, he was appointed Principal of PoWC.
His keenness to develop Cricket grew, when he repaired the poorly maintained PoWC ground into a Cricket field. Thus the PoWC Cricket started.
After he became President of the Schools Cricket Association along with Cyril Ekanayake (Master-in-Charge of Sports at St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya) as Secretary, they were responsible for Colombo Schools recognising PoW, not as an outstation school.
My Cricket developed, thanks to my father, who took an active interest in my Cricket, from my young days. He got to know his Cricket well, when he played for Keble College, Oxford University, where the Nawab of Pataudi (Snr) played.
I still remember how I played in the Daily News Cricket Tournament for SSC, and got the opportunity to face many of Cricket’s stalwarts at the nets during practices.
Once I started playing for the SSC 1st XI, under the great SSC and Sri Lanka Captain Col. F.C. de Saram, I improved my Cricket skills to such an extent, that I was selected to play for Sri Lanka against Australia under Richie Benaud. In this match I scored 44 runs, being the highest scorer for Sri Lanka in that match.
From then onwards, playing Cricket gave me lots of confidence. I wish to emphasise that, in present day Cricket, why Sri Lanka cricketers’ performances seems to rest on the head coach and his staff. Why can’t Sri Lanka cricketers be given the chance to improve by their own efforts and thinking. I was never coached and achieved my target, after which my confidence in performing in Cricket was by my own effort and thinking. Too many non-knowledgeable Cricket pundits guiding the present Sri Lanka Cricket, has made the cricketers not know what to do.
One advice I like to give is that, just like my father did, keep following your son’s Cricket from his young days, up to the time he finishes Cricket and give him the best advice.
When Sir Oliver Goonetilleke visited PoWC on my father’s 25th Anniversary of Service to the school, my father was described as the Cricketing Principal by Nisal Senaratne, Secretary- Board of Control for Cricket.
Incidentally, when he went to England as President of the Schools Cricket Association, he was made a member of the MCC. He is fondly remembered by his children, grandchildren, family and friends on his birthday which falls on June 6.
Lasantha Rodrigo
Former Sri Lanka Cricketer