Sports

Sports

A Penny’s worth
By S.R. Pathiravithana
Has it become a fashion or is it that it is a sheer necessity? This is not an ailment that has enveloped only Sri Lanka but almost the entire cricketing world besides neighbours Australia, New Zealand and Zimbabwe. Mind you every other cricketing nation on this globe has found much to their liking, having foreign coaches.

Going through the list – Australia – John Buchanan (Australia), Bangladesh – Davnell Whatmore (Australia), England – Duncan Fletcher (Zimbabwe), India – Greg Chappell (Australia), New Zealand – John Bracewell (New Zealand) Pakistan – Bob Woolmer (England), Sri Lanka -- Tom Moody (Australia), West Indies – Benett King (Australia) and Zimbabwe –Kevin Curren (Zimbabwe), one could amply see that the majority of the local authorities have pinned their faith on foreign born cricketers rather than the ones who have represented and toiled for their country over the years.

Isn’t it that the home grown have more feelings towards their products than a foreign professional who does it entirely as a employment challenge. The factor of commitment here is debatable as finally the job security of either party depends upon their success ratio.

Just prior to the arrival of new coach Tom Moody, there were rumours on the horizon about the trying out of a local coach. At that time many persons connected to the game welcomed the move and agreed that if such a move was made it will be for the long term benefit of the game in the country.
Then once the Interim Committee was set and in turn they formed the Cricket Committee made up of a host of past cricketing stalwarts – their chairman Arjuna Ranatunge talking to the Musings column said – (to quote him in his own words) “I saw the usefulness of a local assistant coach a long time ago. In real terms one needs a local coach at this elevation. So far we have had so many foreign coaches, but never a understudying local coach. We have now decided that this is a very important move.

Then whenever Tom Moody decides to move on, we have a person right among us with the needed experience to take over. Then I do not think we would have to look out for foreign coaches any more. We have observed one or two who can fill this void and we want to have a chat with them to see how they could fit in.”

Words of wisdom with a lot of inner-felt thought about the development of the game in the country. But, this move too has fallen by the wayside like another hollow promise of a two-bit politician. However it is intriguing to learn as to why this move never became a reality.

A recent Media Release by Sri Lanka Cricket read “Sri Lanka Cricket received several applications from foreign and local contenders vying for the post of Assistant Coach to the National team.

After carefully evaluating the said applications by the committee of Sri Lanka cricket a few were short listed out of which Mr. Trevor Penny was selected as Assistant coach of Sri Lanka Cricket”.

On his part, Trevor Penny is an ECB Level three qualified coach completing level four in the United Kingdom. He also has been the fielding coach of the England team.

Commenting on the selection the acting secretary of the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket Adel Hashim explained “Yes, we did receive at least three applications from prospective local candidates. However after studying all applications very carefully a team comprising of some members of the Sri Lanka Cricket Committee and the Interim Committee decided to hand over the post of assistant coach to Trevor Penny’.

We have no qualms about the selection of this individual or his ability to assist Sri Lanka’s national coach Tom Moody in his mission with the most popular sport in Sri Lanka till the next World Cup in the West Indies in 2007. This is a mission that has to be accomplished with full honours for the future sustenance of the game in the country.However, what is ironical and intriguing is that after over twenty five years of being in the top rung of the game and with a history of over one hundred years of quality cricket in the country, Sri Lanka has not been able to produce a coach who has a Penny’s worth of ability in him.

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