Make most of the opportunities

Some of the recent performances of the Under nineteen cricketers have been cause for concern. As a result a loosely coined notion is that the standard of school cricket has deteriorated. Whilst that is not entirely the case, the game has not progressed in the direction to produce sufficient quality cricketers to go on the next level and the next.

Another issue that is lamented is that no cricketer is going to play for Sri Lanka whilst still in school. A regularly sited example is Arjuna Ranatunge. Quite honestly my opinion is that we may never see this happen again. There are many reasons for that. One being, the existence of an ‘A’ team which plays so regularly that there are experienced players, on the fringe, waiting to fill in the vacancies created at national level.
A second reason is the players who get into the national team not quit in a hurry. Until the mid nineteen nineties cricketers were working on a regular basis outside playing. At the time the country was awarded test status everyone was an amateur, earning a living from another source. Money got from cricket was just an additional income. This meant quitting the game early. Those who played on did so simply for the love of the sport.

Many were unavailable or had lost form because tours were few and far between and there were regular opportunities for new players to get in. It must be accepted that players in the calibre of Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas would have occupied a berth in the team (unless injured for well over a dozen years, by the time they finish their career. They have done so because they have been excellent players. Also means that one opening batting position, an off spinners position and an opening bowlers position was unavailable for that period of time. Many good players would never have got the opportunity and that is tough luck!

What is hugely different now is that an aspiring cricketer has definite passage to progress and has plenty of opportunities on offer. In the pre test era age group tours and ‘A’ team tours were an absolute rarity. Everybody has to learn all about the trade at home or with difficulty secure a contract to play professional cricket in England.

Today there is a provincial tournament at Under 13 age limit. Also there is plenty of school cricket, providing much match situations. There are similar opportunities at the next levels of under 15 and under 17.

The journey beyond school cricket, onto club cricket and now hopefully a well organized Provincial Tournament. That is a must and the one day format was a success. There must be a similar four day tournaments to make the structure complete.

What requires more attention urgently is quality coaches at junior level and more turf facilities. There are many past players who are taking on coaching. Coaching is another subject in the game which has an art. It is a whole area and educating coaches on how they should develop young players to achieve their maximum potential, is an area that must be looked at.

Grounds with turf pitches and turf practice pitches are inadequate in the country. A project to increase this facility should have begun ten years ago. There is no purpose in crying over spilt milk. It is an urgent requirement which requires the assistance of the state also has to play its part, mainly in providing land.

Most young cricketers do not realize that they have every opportunity to become world class cricketers and national heroes. The Under nineteen side even lost to Bangladesh. Commitment and desperation to succeed have to be cultivated together with developing the techniques of the game.

Finally mental toughness with the “never give up” attitude is what makes the great players. The opportunities are available in plenty but more youngsters need to put their hands up.