Right thoughts matter more than talent
14 January 2017Sri Lanka is abundant with cricketers from what you see when travelling around the country, especially during school holidays.
The call for cricketers from the outstations to be a part of the game at national level has been echoing for a long period now. In its early days of a possible first appearance internationally, the call grew louder. But it was the lone voice of Abu Fuard with that calling out for the inclusion of outstation players in teams of Colombo clubs. He was vehement of giving the outstation cricketer better accommodation for the purpose of playing the game in Colombo. This was at a time when most first class cricket was only played in the clubs that were Colombo based.
Clubs such as the NCC, Bloomfield ACC, Tamil Union ACC, SSC, Moors SC, Colts CC, BRC, CCC, and Saracens were the top clubs playing cricket then. All these clubs were in Colombo and played in 'Sara Trophy' the highest at club level followed by the Daily Mirror and Daily News Trophy cricket at the lower end. Joining them at the lower end were also clubs from the outstations like Moratuwa SC, Panadura SC and even CCC played at top level and were demoted to the lower level but CCC came back to top level. Negombo CC, Galle CC, Matara SC, Kandy CC and later Kurunegala CC also appeared in the lower level. In addition to these the Army, Navy and the Air Force also had teams joining the lower level and getting promoted to the top from time to time. There was the University also playing at top level for a period, and a host of others who were accepted as outstation clubs, some not playing the game but promoting it.
In the 1970 era the cricket scene was very similar to the above description with anyone interested in playing the game after leaving school had to have the capability to fit the mercantile environment (earlier even the public sector promoted sports) with success of having a job while playing. Mercantile cricket was also big then as most top cricketers were seen playing there. But, there was no proper way for the outstation talent to enter the scene unless someone influential enough backed them especially to play cricket.
Things have changed for the better and could improve vastly; as someone with experience in such matters put it across recently after visiting Polonnnaruwa, the area represented by the President himself, there were no facilities to play cricket there at all. So the slow approach continues even after being accepted to the international stage over forty years ago. At the time of writing this column it has been brought to the writer's notice that the cricket boss is supposed to visit this area today. We sure hope that he does remember to make the Abu Fuard call once more to promote the game around the island on his visit there.
In looking at this promotion of cricket around the country and of the present availability of talent there is one thing very noticeable and that is the fact that the talent is available. What is most likely not taking place is the further developing of it and finding more cricketers from around the country. To do that more quality and serious tournaments are not being promoted for them to be involved to gain the much needed experience in the three formats. The thing mostly required by these youngsters today is the more knowledge of the game. It is this knowledge that will give them the insight to gain the knowhow of the use of strategy in the game.
Looking at youngsters coming out of most top countries they are trained to suit the game they represent. But, the basics like staying at the wicket and building partnerships are all instilled in them better than in the case of Sri Lankan players. The Sri Lankan cricketer who starts young has not been given the most important thing to make their talent more useful, and that the confidence, when running between wickets, taking catches and all of that goes to turn tables on opponents. These are more important to have than talent alone. Until this is done properly in schools where the coaching levels are of a questionable nature, cricket in Sri Lanka will find it harder to improve. Improvising on the skills of the three main areas batting, bowling and fielding alone will not make a cricketer.
The earlier said is the easy part. If the youngster cannot determine how their skills provide the team the better chances to be on top of their opponents in the end result, team building is going to be a harder task to have covered responsibly by coaches. This has been the long road marched so far by authorities who have not done enough to provide youngsters with the best of knowledge in the game's most important areas like thinking the correct way.
