A concerned Sri Lanka Cricket is making a concerted effort to put the runaway School Cricket Train back on its track.
The premier cricket authority in Sri Lanka has noted with alarm the grave uncontrollable situation that is prevailing in the school cricket system where a school side plays more than 20 matches in a season that lasts arguably for 4-5 months. The season generally takes off in November and goes on till March while December is left off for the GCE O Level examination.
 |
| A school cricket match in progress. (pic Amila Praboda) |
Carlton Bernadus, Manager of School Cricket Development for Sri Lanka Cricket, told the Sunday Times, "We have written to the principals of all cricket playing schools explaining our concerns.
Playing 20 or more matches during this season is not healthy for the young cricketer as well as the game. In one way, the schoolboy cricketer has no way of recovering from injury and at the same time if he gets into a bad patch he also has no way of correcting his faults as they keep playing matches even during the week days and sometimes as much as three two day matches a week."
Another aspect in this that concerns the SLC is the attitude of the coaches, whose main concern is to win the match at any cost. As a result they prepare substandard wickets and concentrate on spin bowling even to open the attack, so that they could keep the runs down.
"We have suggested a few changes in a letter to the school authorities. One of the recommendations is that the number of matches - including the big match -- be reduced to 15 per season," Bernadus said.
According to him, the SLC has also requested school cricket authorities to refrain from the following:
1. School coaches directing captains of teams to use spinners with the new ball during U 13, U15, U17 and U 19 One Day matches and 2-day matches instead of using fast bowlers.
 |
| Carlton Bernadus |
2. School coaches instructing groundsmen to prepare very slow wickets [instead of sporting wickets] thereby depriving fast bowlers the opportunity to excel.
3. Arranging matches during the rainy seasons because slippery wet conditions deprive the pacies of operating at full steam and may be harmful to them.
4. Matches arranged without the normal minimum 48-hour recovery period resulting in critical injury to player/s and specially the fast bowlers."
Bernadus also said that with the future in mind SLC has requested school authorities to address the situation by instructing the coaching staff and captains to follow the SLC guidelines.
The guidelines recommend: Fast bowlers should bowl with the new ball within the first 10 overs at the beginning of each innings. Fast bowlers should be used sparingly, with a maximum of six-over spells bowled at any given time during an innings.
Another aspect in School Cricket that has come into the scrutiny of the SLC experts is the bowling actions of some bowlers. The SLC has written to school principals offering them a series of recommendations. The letter says: "The Cricket Committee, SLC at a recent meeting unanimously decided to inform the umpires to call players bowling with suspect actions and report the matter to the SLC when they participate in the SLSCA and SLC conducted tournaments.
"This shall apply to all matches officiated by umpires from the Under 13 to Under 19 age groups in a bid to ensure that talented cricketers can be rectified with such actions before it is too late.
"We request you to inform all your coaches assigned to school teams of the decision taken in the greater interest of Sri Lanka cricket. "SLC will take appropriate action by passing the reports to the SLC coaching department for remedial measures to be taken on the concerned player/s."
(Please also read Sunday Musings) |
E-mail
