Sports

Sports

Just a while with Tony Opatha
By Bernie Wijesekera
He was a cricketer with immense talent. He was not a tear-away speedster, but was a bowler who just knew what to do to jolt even a good batting side out of their depths. Just to delve into some of his incredible achievements one can recall – with figures of seven wickets for five runs young Tony Opatha sent Thurstan crashing to 18 all out in the year of 1967 at Bambalapitiya. Then on his ascendance to division one cricket his bowling forced the Tamil Union to declare at 9 for 9 after he had bagged six wickets for five runs, which included a hat-trick. Well … that is Tony Opatha.

In a family of four brothers Tony was first lured towards cricket while watching his father representing the Railway team then a very strong side in the government services league. Tony explained “I started under the tutelage of former Antonian cricketer, the late Ranjith Doranegama who was the junior coach at St. Peter’s. First they tried me as a wicket-keeper and then as an off spinner till I graduated to the first Xl team. At that time our senior coach was Dr. H.I.K. Fernando – the then all-Ceylon wicket-keeper batsman. After seeing how physically strong I was he suggested that I should try my hand at fast bowling, which I took to like a duck getting to water.”

The former fast bowler continued “I remember the year 1967 was a great year for me. Besides that bowling feat against Thurstan, I helped my school win the Joe-Pete. I remember St. Joseph’s was captained by Anil Peiris. Then straight from school I joined the Sinhalese Sports Club team captained by Ian Peiris – a seam bowler himself. This team had stalwarts in the caliber of Anura Tennekone, Sarath Wimalaratne, Neil Chanmugam, Mevan Peiris, C.H. Gunasekera, Lareef Odroos and Nihal Kodituwakku, but still I was good enough to find a place in the side”.

“I remember Ian Peiris taking a personal interest in me and helped me to fill-up some of the dents in my armour. Besides that I even improved my batting techniques while playing for the SSC. In 1968 under Ian Peiris SSC won the P. Saravanamuttu Trophy. Then from the SSC I moved to the Colombo Cricket Club and while representing them only I sent the Tamil Union reeling to 9 for 9 which I think is still the lowest total in premier cricket. By that time I was a regular in the national team too.”

“Then by 1971 I had moved to the Nondescripts Cricket Club along with Ranjith Fernando who was the man behind the stumps in the national team with us.” Tony exclaimed “I can remember this year over some issue there was a huge exodus of players who migrated to the Colombo Cricket Club. This left us with a host of young enthusiastic players to make up the final Xl. I still can remember I bagged 89 wickets during the season and still we managed to bring home the P. Saravanamuttu trophy. From this I learned no one is indispensable.”

“However after I had represented Sri Lanka in the second World Cup I decided to call it a day at the age of 29. What led to it was that we had got full Test status and we were preparing to play our inaugural Test against England. Then in the trials I bagged 5 wickets and scored 43 not out. At that time besides me there were a host of young fast bowlers like Vinothan John, the Ratnayake’s – Ravi and Rumesh along with Asantha de Mel. Ironically the selectors decided to go with only de Mel into the game. I was disappointed.

Thereafter I went on a coaching cum playing stint with Holland, but all this culminated in my organizing the rebel tour to South Africa under Bandula Warnapura in which team I was the manager.”Speaking about the present day cricket in the island Opatha said “At that time we had no foreign coaches and all the benefits the present-day boys are getting.

It was almost a do-it-yourself thing. However no doubt the present day lads are performing like real professionals and they deserve all the rewards they get. Now what they only have to do is prove their mettle while playing away from home and reach greater heights at International levels. At present Tony Opatha is attached to the Fingara Town and Country Cricket Club as executive director and head coach.

Top