Recall of Stanley & Chandra - a step in the right direction (25 July 1999)

25 July 1999

Recall of Stanley & Chandra - a step in the right direction

Neville

Prudent and progressive thinking are certainly not a mysterious gift possessed by a superior few. Anyone could lay claim to these, provided of course, the inner in a person is not only knowledgeable, but more importantly devoid of pettiness, prejudices, and radiatory motives.

If one cares to make a cursory glance at our administration of sports, it would be apparently clear that politicians, professionals, and businessmen have descended upon this innocuous field, not really to promote the sport but to further their personal interest, blow up their ego, draw media attention, and in most cases enrich themselves.

Cricket is the latest victim of this pretentious onslaught, which by design has kept the distinguished and deserving sportsmen of international repute and stature wasting their precious knowledge 'in the desert air'.

In fact they were cast into obliteration and oblivion while the mediocre and the average, with covert political patronage ran the sport in a riotous melodrama, and obviously with disastrous consequences.

Cricket is singulary lucky in that a whole nation's attention is focused on it, and the call for corrective measures when things go wrong is almost a national concern. Other major sports remain derailed and damaged beyond repair and destined to a slow but sure death, but who cares? In such a dismal scenario the Interim Board headed by the high profile Rienzi Wijethileka and its selection committee led by that charismatic former cricket star Sidath Wettimuny, have shown they possess not only knowledge but courage and conviction to do the just and right.

The appointment of Stanley Jayasinghe as the Manger of our A team now touring England could not have been matched leave alone be surpassed. This National star and Leicester professional has no equal amongst the living or the dead in this country when it comes to cricket - be it with the willow in the field or knowledge in training or for that matter leadership in team management.

Yet this extra ordinary man was kept in isolation by a designing few, both in the field and office, only to consolidate their unchallenged exploitation of the sport. Stanley is a store house of cricketing knowledge and has much to offer both to the sport and the player. He has instinctively behaved to the highest standards of sportsmanship, remaining unruffled by success and uncomprising in discipline.

Another commendable appointment is that of Chandra Schaffter as cricket manager of the senior squad. A fine Thomian who not only made an indelible mark for 'Esto Perpetua' but for the national team as well. If Stanley was all style in wielding the willow, Chandra was an art in motion with the ball.

Seldom have I seen an opening bowler in this country whose long run up to the point of delivery, was repetitiously rhythmic, quite apart from the conventional swing and sting of the pace. His art of bowling, underlining the wrist action, the shoulder swing and concentration which went into his deliveries were object lessons for the young.

Chandra bowled with a lot of 'head' and believed in consistency rather than the occasional special delivery. He knew the best balls do not necessarily get the wickets but consistent bowling counts more than the ability to bowl the occasional unplayable ball.

Simplicity and sobriety were distinctive characteristics of his silver haired cricketer of yore. Modest in the midst of the most fiercest competitive moments, yet so endearing to all at the end of the day, Schaffter was a man to be emulated. With vast experience in cricket management, and professionally in man management, Chandra would certainly be an exemplary manager.

While the recall of Stanley Jaysinghe and Chandra Schfter both so characteristically different to their immediate predecessors, and who by nature will not barter what is palpably right for the sport, but set the pace for the renaissance of this leagued sport.

To have broken through the shackles of an almost despotic hold on the team and to have chosen new leadership, needed both conviction and courage. The changes had to come and come they did without fear or favour. Well done Sidath and his team and as a precaution leave no room for any individual to grow too big for his boots.

In the same breadth let us gratefully remember the individual performances of Arjuna and Aravinda which have us not only a world crown but moments of national elevation and joy. It is management for popularity that undid the old guard and what a pity indeed. Even in plant life uncontrolled and unattended growth becomes unwieldly-in humans its unholy.

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