Kandy’s cricketers must be more mature and knowledgeable -Arnolda

At a recent tournament in Kandy, one was amazed to see Julian Arnolda roll back the years and play a couple of innings that dazzled the spectators and bewildered the bowlers. The situation cried out for all-out aggression, even slogging. However, Arnolda didn’t forsake the virtues of a straight bat, played his shots with ease and timed them sweetly.

Julian Arnolda

A product of St. Sylvester’s, he played for the first eleven from 1988 and captained the team in the 1990/91 season. It is not that he under-performed, but centuries seemed to elude his grasp. 118 against Carey was his best effort, but he had many scores in the 80s and 90s.

He turned out for both Kandy clubs in the Sara Trophy tournament with fair success, but had to quit serious cricket after taking up employment as a sports instructor at the Kandy Municipality.

Julian has a fair bit of experience as a coach at Junior level, having been mentor to the Antonian under 13 and under 15 teams from 1993 to 1997 and the St. Sylvester’s under 13 team from 1997 to 2001. Presently, he coaches the Trinity under fifteeners. He is also an umpire of the Central Province Cricket Umpires Association.

His more celebrated sibling Duncan captained the Sylvestarian team in 1995-96 and currently plays for the BRC. The youngest, Jude turned out as an off spinner for St. Anthony’s.

Well qualified to speak of junior cricket in Kandy, Julian points out that whereas earlier low totals were the norm, now scores of 250 or 270 are quite common. The standard has definitely improved. He adds a note of warning. The commitment on the part of the players is not enough. This may be due in part to that omnipresent menace –tuition classes.

Some schools are not financially sound and find it difficult to support cricket. This calls for action by those in authority. Talking of club cricket, Julian feels that Colombo teams are more professional. The Kandy teams can’t last three days on turf. The gap between the Colombo players and those in Kandy must be narrowed. Kandy’s cricketers must be more mature and more knowledgeable.

By AK