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Fielding the ball by our cricketers with confidence, either when it is hit into the air or as it speeds along the green sward, does seem to be the concern and preoccupation of many a follower of our cricket here. Especially, when our widely acclaimed world renowned fielding has in recent times sunk to the abysmal depths of being a little below ordinary.

It's noticeably evident that the all important aspect of the game, fielding, has declined woefully in the national as well as the school level. This certainly, is not a pleasing prospect and does not augur well for the future. The responsibility therefore devolves around coaches and masters, to take serious note and arrest quickly the deteriorating standards in our fielding.

However, in the wake of such a miserable fielding environment, comes the heartening news that a commendable contraption to assist and promote better fielding, aptly referred to as 'Catch-It' comes into being.

This very enterprising and innovative, timely devise (Catch-It) in the cause of cricket, is the brainchild of Bertram Jayasuriya, the Director/General Manager of Mercantile Shipping Company Ltd. Necessity they say is the mother of inventions and arising out of a need 'Catch-It', will be a boon and prove popular at fielding practice and be as well as, a means to sharpen eye - reflexes, so useful in batting too.

'Catch-It', is a simple structure, where the number of participants, depending on the size of the particular model, can use simultaneously. One throws the ball at a particularly designed reinforced synthetic guts, connected to a wooden frame secured on to an iron frame standing upright. The ball on hitting the guts, comes back at a speed to be caught fielded by another participant or by himself, as the case may be, and helps not only, in honing catching skills, but helps get your 'eye-in', especially before going to bat.

The salient advantages of 'Catch-It' is that it could be easily carried being portable. The smaller version measuring 3ft by 2 1/2 ft weighs around 12.5 kgs while the bigger 6ft by 2 1/2ft weighs roughly 22.5 kgs/ 'Catch It' can be stored conveniently since the frame and stand are collapsible and can be kept in any corner without occupying hardly any space, unlike the old fashioned slip cradle. Since the ball is thrown against the guts, the ball is hardly damaged unlike when thrown at a slip cradle. No more will one have to hit the ball to a set of fielders in a semi-circle for fielding practice. With 'Catch-It' all can participate. The smaller version of 'Catch-It' can be used by 1-4 participants while the bigger version can accommodate 7 to 8 players.

The story of Bertram Jayasuriya, the man behind 'Catch-It', is that of an entrepreneur who hadn't much, but with the little he had, did much through the years to be the highly successful man he is, in his chosen field shipping.

For the benefit of the young, he is humble enough to say, that the measure of affluence and comfort he now enjoys did not come to him overnight. Looking back with a tinge of emotion he adds that it was a hard nitty, gritty grind, experiencing deprivation of one form or other, as a hosteller at Kingswood College.

Being a member of a family of 14 children, it wasn't easy. On completion of his secondary education he taught for awhile and then in 1961 quite determinedly took the bold step of leaving for England having paid a sum of Rs. 750 a passage fare for the vessel 'Vietnam' of Messagaries & Maritime. His success story began in England, where upto 1969 he worked and studied and acquired a degree of proficiency in shipping for which he had a liking. As an avid cricket enthusiast, during those 9 years in UK he played cricket for Lloyds Registrar of shipping and a club in East London. With sheer boyish delight he tells you that he had the privilege of seeing the reputed cricket stars of the world perform at Lord's and at the Oval. On his return at the end of 1969 he served the Ceylon Association of Steam Agents for a period of 11 years holding responsible positions and ending up to be its first executive secretary. To add to his already existing qualifications in shipping he went across to UK (1979-80) to do post graduate and a diploma course, in port and shipping and successfully qualified from the University of Wales. He brought his expertise and knowledge to bear, when he joined his present company mercantile shipping in 1983.

He is an unassuming, mild mannered genial person, conscious of his humble beginnings and has done much to assist many a youngster to find his feet and espouses the cause of different sports bodies and other organisations. He relaxes in his home in the company of his wife and son in his music studio indulging in Karaoke and has recorded many songs with digital qualities. He is toying with idea of doing something innovative in the field of music too.

Getting back to Bertram's 'Catch-It', it is after extensive research and many earlier prototypes, that the final product had a demonstrative launch at the SSC recently, which went down well with those of the cricketing fraternity, and should fare well when it is ready for sale.