Schoolboy cricketers should be disciplined (15 October 1998)

15 October 1998

Schoolboy cricketers should be disciplined

By Premasara Epasinghe

Another school cricket season has begun. There are more than hundred schools throughout the island that will take part in the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Tournament. School cricket can be considered the cradle of cricket in the country. In short it is the base for the island's international stars. Therefore, the lovers of cricket and cricket authorities in general, should lay great emphasis on it.

To begin with there are few factors that are vital for the development of the personality and character of a schoolboy, and for that matter a schoolboy cricketer should be disciplined. What do you mean by discipline? It is the training of the mind and character aimed at producing self-control and obedience. A game of cricket is not thrashing a ball with a bat. There is more to it. It's a way of life. You must learn good manners and build your character and prepare to face the world in the future.

Due to various competitions, even school cricket has become a war. Main aim of some of the coaches, masters-in-charge and Prefect of Games is to win at any cost. This must stop. After all cricket is a game. Enjoy it, what does it matter who wins or who loses. Main thing that concerns is how you play the game. Therefore teach the children the good things in life and not the bad ones.

Another feature that we notice during a school cricket season is the parental and old boys interference. This happens mostly in the so-called "Elite" Schools.

Kindly allow the children to play cricket as you are aware a team comprises only eleven players. For a school what matters is a team, not an individual player. Sometimes your son may be a average batsman. But, if to balance a side, school authorities prefer a left-arm leg spinner, rather than a batsman, the spinner should play. Sometimes it may be a big disappointment for the individual parent. But you cannot help it. Cricket at times is a game of disappointment.

You may be aware, in August 1997 during the historic period in world cricket, in honour of their star Sanath Jayasuriya, the Union Bank Limited started Innovation - a foundation committed to achievement.

Once again, the Board of Directors of the Union Bank recognised the achievements of this cricket sensation Sanath Jayasuriya for his brilliant performance at the recently concluded Cornhill Test match with a very colourful ceremony. More than any thing, Union Bank should be highly commended in starting yet another first Rs. one million fund to promote outstation sportsmen and outstation cricketers. A big bouquet should be paid the former Royal paceman chairman Chanaka De Silva, Managing Director of the Union Bank Shan Shanmuganathan and General Manager Janaka De Silva and the Board of Directors for the initiative taken to promote the game at grassroot level.

There is a lot of hidden talent in the outstations. You should unearth them. Therefore, it is the duty of the Mercantile sector to promote the game in the outstations.

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