Badulla sports correspondent
The cream of former Sri Lanka 'caps' will be in action at St. Thomas' College, Gurutalawa Grounds, on February 7 to mark the program for the festival of cricket to coincide with the inauguration of the turf wickets.
C. T. A. Schafer will lead the 'Olden-Goldies' team while Michael Tissera will lead the 'Golden-Baldies' in this Masters ('Veterans') limited 40-over exhibition cricket encounter.
St. Thomas' College Board of Governors have organised a luxury bus which will leave Colombo from Ladies College Colombo 7 on February 6 to Gurutalawa via Ginigathhena. A picnic lunch has been organised by the Young Old Boys of STC at Nuwara Eliya. A cultural program which includes Kandyan dancing and ballet will also be conducted on this day at 6.30 p.m.
The turf wicket will be declared open on February 7 at 9.00 a.m. with the blessings of the Bishop of Colombo and this will be followed by an exhibition cricket match between the Olden Goldies and Golden Baldies.
The two teams will be represented from the following: C. T. A. Schafer, Michael Tissera, Anura Tennekoon, Mevan Pieris, Rohan de S. Wijeyeratne, Lalith de S. Wijeyeratne, Mahinda Wijesinghe, Vernon Tissera, Ralston Tissera, Guy de Alwis, R. L. de Alwis, Bradman Weerakoon, Marion Cooray, Ismetth Cassim, Ananda Medonza, Kumar Boralessa, Sylvester Dias, Arjuna Dias, Asoka de Silva, Maurice Perera, Geoff Wijesinghe, Mahesan Selvaratnam, Huzam Cader, Sheran Wickremasekera, Wathma Wickremasekera and Lalith Jayasundera.
Match Referee: Mr. P. I. Pieris.
Adjudicators: Messrs Bertie Wijesinghe and Vernon Prins.
Coordinator: Mr. Ismeth Cassim.
Arrangements have also been made to play another exhibition cricket match on Sunday February 8 between the Staff and Present Boys at the same venue.
Poor bowling, fielding leads to drawn games
Most of the inter-school cricket matches concluded last weekend, did not produce results and ended in draws. However, there were a few notable individual performances. In the bowling department, Wesley skipper, left-arm spinner Brian Senadhira returned the best figures of 10 for 88 against Kingswood.
St. Peter's however recorded a convincing nine-wicket win over the Nalandians. The architects of this victory were Jerome Fernando (97), M. Warnapura (match bag of 5/62) and Krishantha Perera (6/28).
There is an old cricketing joke about Francis Drake being the last bowler to be given any sort of honour. This joke tells that bowlers are ``silly-so-and sos'' that hurl balls for the batsman to belt to boundary. Sometimes, this may be true. But, one fact remains. Silly so and sos or not, they, the bowlers and fielders win matches. If my memory serves right, Surrey won the England county championship seven times in succession in the fifties because they had Jim Laker and Tony Lock, and not only because Peter May and Kenny Barrington scored many runs for them. This shows that bowlers can win matches.
Many of the school cricket encounters end in draws due to poor bowling and fielding performances.
Today we will discuss about the most important qualities needed for a fast bowler. Self-motivation is absolutely essential for fast bowler. The fast bowler should have the ability to bowl fast and must enjoy what he is doing. The aim of the run up is to enable the bowler to arrive at the wicket at speed and with momentum. He must also be sufficiently well-balanced so that he can discharge his power in the best possible way. Stamina and physical fitness are two ingredients that are very necessary to be a successful fast bowler. Ability to swing the ball at will and to be able to bowl a fine bouncer and yorker will be an added advantage. A paceman will love a fast and bouncy wicket. Despite all this, you must have a good captain, good fielders and particularly ag ile, fine set of slip fielders and a very safe wicket-keeper. A true fast bowler should always have that extra bit of 'devil', of course, without wishing to see a batsman injured.
Some of the finest schoolboy fast bowlers that come to my mind in the late fifties and early sixties are Sonny Yatawara (Ananda), L. R. Gunatilake (Wesley), Gamini Jayawickreme Perera (Nalanda, NWP-MP), Adrian Berenger (St. Anthony's, Katugastota), Mohanlal Fernando (Ananda), T. B. Kehelgamuwa (Dharmaraja), Cecil Waidyaratne (St. Benedict's), and Anton Perera (St. Peter's, Bambalapitiya).
The fast bowler should also be athletic. Further, flexibility of limbs is of vital importance to a fast bowler. He should be able to move freely in all muscular areas while not sacrificing vital explosiveness at the moment of delivery.
Through sheer experience as an opening batsman, I known that nobody likes batting against the ``quickies'' at any level of cricket. It is dangerous, during our era it was worse. We did not have any helmets and visors during that time. Therefore, it demands bravery and a quick clear eye in facing a fast bowler. It's a challenge.
Scientifically, recent electronic tests revealed that fast bowlers who hurl a ball at a speed of 90 mph gives the batsman about 0.6 seconds to play the ball. Half of it involves sighting the ball and deciding what to do. Can you believe that you have only 0.3 seconds to perform the stroke.
If a fast bowler can get speed, control and variety and if he can be devastating he is undoubtedly going to be a match-winner. A strong will, determination, fitness and guts is needed to become a good fast bowler. Remember, practice and hard-work will make you a perfect fast-bowler.
The famous Stanley Jayasinghe who represented Ceylon and Leicestershire with distinction was a superb batsman who can come to terms with any fast bowlers. But, there were instances that even Stanley Jayasinghe has succumbed to good and exceptional fielding. That is why I said earlier that bowlers and fielders will decide victory or defeat.
To conclude, I will relate this story centred round my University batch-mate and colleague on the teaching staff of Nalanda College, my good friend, Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, the President of the Sarvodaya movement, well-known renowned social service leader both nationally and internationally. Only few are aware that he played for Mahinda College in 1951. Sarath Hewagama, (1949-1953) that superb Nalandian leg-spinner, who excelled as a fine-allrounder, who happened to be an idol of mine, who played in Stanley Jayasinghe's invincible Nalanda team once related this incident to me.
When Nalanda met Mahinda on the Gale Esplanade in 1951 skipper Stanley Jayasinghe was not out on 111 (Nelson). He was about to set up a ground record at that time. He off drove a Mahindian bowler with all his might. But Ariyaratne, who was fielding at silly mid off for Mahinda brought off a brilliant catch to dismiss Stanley Jayasinghe. When ``Ari'' was congratulated for his outstanding effort, the unassuming Ariyaratne that he ducked the ball to avoid being injured but the ball stuck in his hands which ultimately lead to Stanley's downfall!