The spirit of cricket cannot be defined. No one can deny the exceptional talent and skills displayed by the older generations and those of yester-year who contributed much for Sri Lanka cricket to gain international status. It was a hard grind, no foreign coaches unlike the present. They sacrificed their own resources to maintain the values and the spirit of the game. There were no sponsorship packages. The advent of twenty-20 cricket is not a healthy sign for the development of juvenile cricket especially among schools at grassroots level. However it has made inroads among schools and competitions at Junior Level.
A schoolboy cricketer in action |
The Under-13 tournament organized by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association is a way to fill their depleted coffers via sponsorship. This is however a major setback for the development of the skills and for the future of the game. It has done irreparable damage when one looks at the skill levels unlike in the past where most of the schools had one or two talented players who could walk into the national team as schoolboys.
The likes of Ranjan Madugalle, Arjuna Ranatunga, Marvan Atapattu, Ajith de Silva, and the late Anura Ranasinghe had the skills to match the best. The coaches in the calibre of late P.W. Perera, Gerry Gooneratne, F.C. de Saram and the evergreen Bertie Wijesinghe could have never encouraged cowboy or the twenty-20 cricket among schoolboys. This scribe has seen much of this democratic game, its true values and has had time to interview some of the stalwarts, who have played and contributed to its development, about 20-20 cricket among schoolboys.
Among them was Mike Tissera, the former Sri Lanka Captain and cricket administrator, who shared his comments about 20-20 cricket being played among schoolboys. “I am totally against it and it should be banned among schoolboy cricketers at A/L Levels. It’s not going to help develop the skills at grassroots level. The hierarchy of the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association must think of the future betterment of the game, than for money it can earn. Money has no value. What is Rs. 2,000,000 today?
Tissera one of the live-wires of Thomian cricket said this is the last time they will play 20-20 game against traditional rivals Royal, that too to mark their 175th anniversary.
Mahes Rodrigo the former old Royalist and double international at cricket and rugby fully endorsed the views of Tissera. “Promoting this type of cricket is midsummer night madness among schoolboy cricketers at any level. It should be banned in the interest of the game. It is damaging the skill levels. Not only batting, even the bowlers tend to bowl negative, rather than trying to bemuse the batsman with their wiles they merely try to curb the run-rate. Incidentally pint-sized Mahes did a king-sized job for Royal as cricket and rugby coach.
Former Sri Lankan gangling left-arm fast bowler, old Wesleyite, L.R. Lucky Gunatilleke at present the Chairman of Wesley’s Cricket Academy said, “This type of cricket should be banned at school level. It’s a major setback to the basics and technique. Wesley will not encourage this type of cricket. In the end the spirit of the game is lost.”
Nelson Mendis, Director of CCC Cricket Academy, said that his school will never encourage this type of cricket even for monetary gains. Even the adults find it difficult to adjust themselves, how could one encourage it at junior level he questioned.
Jayantha Seneviratne a former national cricketer and at present a Level IV coach and head coach of Nalanda said: “It’s detrimental for the future of Sri Lanka cricket. Twenty20 is not the game for juniors and for their development (skills). I brought this to the notice of the (hierarchy) of the SLSCA, but to no avail,” he said.
A senior official of the Ministry of Education too was contacted for his opinion about 20-20 cricket among schoolboy cricketers. “Thanks for bringing it to my notice. This type of game must be banned at school level. It's not in the interest or for the future betterment of cricket. I will bring it to the notice of the higher authorities to take remedial measures”, he said. |
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