'Catch it', big catch in schools and clubs (11 May 1999)

11 May 1999

'Catch it', big catch in schools and clubs

The Daily News

'Catch It', a machine for the improvement of close in fielding innovated by Managing Director of Mercantile Shipping Co. Ltd. Bertram Jayasuriya is a big catch in the schools and clubs.

From the time Jayasuriya displayed the machine at the SSC and proved its value for the improvement of fielding, Jayasuriya has been inundated with telephone calls from schools and clubs wanting to buy the machine.

The former Thomian, SSC and Sri Lanka outstanding allrounder Bertie Wijesinghe who had a look at the machine at the SSC on Saturday was all for it and said that with its unpredictability - varying speed that the ball bounces back - is excellent for the improvement of fielding especially close in fielding.

According to Wijesinghe, 'Catch it', is a must for all schools playing the game. Wiejsinghe knows what he is talking about having been a clever and knowledgeable coach at all levels of the game.

Trevor Chappell, the former Aussie player who was in Sri Lanka helping the Sri Lankan cricketers to brush up their catching that had dropped alarmingly in recent times, was also impressed with the 'Catch it' machine and said that all schools and clubs in the country will do well in their close in catching department if they have a machine with them.

Another who praised Jayasuriya's innovation was former Sri Lanka cricketer, Test match umpire and a coach for quite sometime now, allrounder Dooland Buultjens.

Buultjens too was convinced that 'Catch it', is a must in every school and club.

Also impressed with the machine was Jayalath Aponso, the former Nomads allrounder, now coach of the club. 'Appu' as he is fondly called also had no hesitation in recommending the 'Catch it' machine to all clubs and schools.

Jayasuriya a former Kingswoodian who played junior cricket in the company of famous cricketers such as Clifford Ratnavibushana, Maurice Fernando and Owen Mottau had to give up the game to concentrate on his studies, is a keen follower of Sri Lanka cricket and its progress.

He was upset with the sudden deterioration of the Sri Lankan fielding especially the catching that prompted him to think and turn out this machine that will certainly help in the raising of the catching standards.

Wijesinghe said that had this machine been available during his time he would have been a brilliant close in fielder.

Source :: The Daily News (https://www.lanka.net/lakehouse/)