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Umpiring authorities – Please note
The Inter-School Cricket match between Nalanda - Revata Vidyalaya, Ambalangoda, was played on Oct. 6 and 7 at Malalasekera Mawatha.
It's a friendly game played in the right spirit unlike in the past for points. This match is a part of the promotional drive by Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association, to give much-needed exposure to lesser known schools, to play on turf against seasoned counterparts. At present they are without any facilities in their own backyard to train.

However it hadn't the desired effect. In turn it was a massacre of the innocents. On day one, Nalanda hammered 400 for 2 before they declared.
Revata, in reply were 82 for 6 at 4.45 p.m. the light was pretty good for play. But the two umpires halted play (bad light) to the surprise of all. Were they armed with a light meter. 'No'. They never thought of coming out later even to inspect when Nalanda coach USE Perera made an appeal to them to walk out and see for themselves. The duo opted to stay in the gloomy dressing room rather than getting on with the game. Apparently, they may have been tired of standing out there at the middle.

The Chairman of the Sri Lanka Cricket Umpires Committee, Sudath Pasqual, is doing a good job to streamline the umpiring fraternity. He was quite aware of a similar incident at Reid Avenue last year. He said this is just the start of the school cricket season. The SLC has no control over the appointment of umpires for school matches.

Don't you think they must undergo a fitness test before the start of the season? Also be armed with a light meter. Yes, if they are to take upto serious umpiring. B.W.

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