BLUE-BLACK-BLUE
- PAST AND PRESENT
A critical bird eye review of the
Royal Thomian series of the late nineties and the early 21st
Century, merits comparison with all its disparities and achievements. To
begin with txamine the standards of cricket then and now.
School cricket which is the cradle
of Sri Lanka's national team currently and very regrettably does not contain
a single Thomian in its rank and file when compared to the Glorious past.
The golden era of Thomian cricket which dominated the Sri Lankan national
team whether they were batsmen, bowlers or wicket-keepers had outstanding
personalities in the caliber of Vernon Prins, Michael Tissera, P I Pieris,
Neil Chanmugam, Reid Brothers, Anura Tennekoon, Mevan Pieris, Duleep Mendis
and Saliya Ahangama to name a few.
Regrettably, individuals appears
in the horizon here and there who sacrificed consistency for brilliance.
Manoj Mendis and Upeka Femando are two of them. A gradual degradation of
standards does manifest.
Compare the dedicated coach in
Shelton Gauder, Orville Abeynaike, George Poniah and Lassie Abeywardene.
They dedicated more to Thomian cricket than for their personal life. The
dedication, discipline, and commitment to Thomian Cricket is beyond
comparison, from which the 'Thomian Grit' and determination which enimates
their zest and loyalty to the game. But as at today the coaching has been a
"Profession" - a square peg in a round hole - these are hard facts which are
stubborn and difficult to stomach but it is the hard truth. A corrective
adequate and pragmatic approach is necessary for Thomian Cricket to survive
for it to be upgraded.
Examine the total outlook approach
to the game of Cricket. In the good old days Royal-Thomian was played for a
duration of 6 hours on two days Friday/Saturday. Then by late 70's early
'90's the time span was extended. We had results — the approach was result
oriented.
However, with the passage of time
and the occurrence of the Centenary game the time frame was extended to
three days — net result a spate of dredgary and boring draws. It was win at
any cost or shutters down when defeat was glaring, gone are the days of
sportsmanship and of sportive declaration. Currently, the Royal-Thomian
series had taken a turn of a social gathering than the game of cricket
itself. The current players are just going through the motions of exercise.
The lack of dedication, Thomian Grit, Thomian resistance and stubbornness
are features of the glorious past which has to be reawakened and rekindled
so that Thomian Cricket may attain the heights of the glorious past.
This sad situation is brought
about by the respective administrative authorities in introducing the
Lemonade series decision on 1 inning points — hindrance for result
orientation.
Let us examine the attitude of the
current boys of the college at cricket matches. As spectators it's the old
Thomians young and old of the recent past that grace it along. The
cricketing grounds when matches are played today, unlike in the past
whenever Thomians would be present on the ground on both days, spectator
enthusiasm is in its very low ebb today.
This aspect has to be revitalized
for Thomian cricket to resurge and to be reckoned as a major force in the
Island's future cricket.
OVER TO
YOU WARDEN.
Esto Perpetual!
Sasi Ganeshan
