Watch out Sri Lanka!

Since the mid nineteen fifties when Sri Lanka – then Ceylon – started playing representative cricket at Under 19 and 20 age levels there has been a lot of interest, because the local sides have always been competitive and given opponents from around the world a run for their money. School cricket in Sri Lanka has had an organized coaching system and sufficient matches to produce quality cricketers.

This meant that the then test playing nations were matched at this age group. From the lack of professional cricket and inadequate domestic competition deprived the senior men of being equal to their counterparts. That has changed with time.
The world has realized like all sport the junior age groups are ever so important. Cricket is somewhat different because the mind has to transmit hundreds of different messages to the body for proper reaction. The mind has to be developed even at a young age to be able to do that. So it could be at any age between nine and eighteen that the techniques could be grasped. Bowlers develop later than batsmen.

“The standard of school cricket has deteriorated” is a phrase that is often heard around the country these days. Has it? It is not easy to answer. However with the current showing of the under nineteen team against Bangladesh and India there is cause for concern. Unquestionably there are far more schools that have taken up the game in the past twenty five years. This means the numbers playing have increased hugely. It is not quantity that matters though, but quality.

A noticeable change is that batsmen deviate from proven techniques at a very early age. There is a lot of emphasis on scoring runs. Sure, that is the requirement of batting, but if a player cannot defend his wicket and be at the crease, then runs cannot be scored. Runs can be scored only by being in the middle and not inside the pavilion!!

There is a method in building an innings. The best part of an innings is during the second and third hour. As you get older, mature and playing at a higher level, the longer the stay at the crease the earlier it becomes, until mental and physical fatigue really takes over.

Patience is a major requirement in building an inning. At present youngsters seem to be content on making twenty, thirty runs and not going on and on. That must become a habit at a young age. This is definitely a problem with the current under nineteen side. No player is making big scores. Eightees, hundreds and beyond is what is required from top order batsmen.

With bowlers it is now accepted that front on and side on actions can deliver effectively. There are still basic requirements in the approach and balance at delivery. The end result is not to be accurate and to be able to land the ball where desired. With it pace, swing, cut and bounce for the paceman and flight, spin and bounce for the spinner. All these have been the requirements over the ages, now done with some changes or variations.

All nations in the top bracket and nations aspiring to get there are taking junior age group cricket seriously. There is a lot being done to pick talented youngsters and develop them from an early age. Development means an overall improvement in their game and also building physical and mental strength.

For the young cricketers in this country there are plenty of opportunities and facilities. It must be remembered that other nations too are building on providing opportunities and facilities. In fact most nations are beginning to go ahead of Sri Lanka since the turn of the century. This has been clearly evident from the island’s inadequate performances in the past three Under 19 World Cup tournaments.

The most important necessity is to play on turf pitches from a young age. This should be both at practice and matches. There must also be pitches that are good, providing pace, even bounce and some turn as a game progresses. To play on such surfaces from age twelve, thirteen, should be the aim.

Other facilities such as indoor nets, bowling machines, gymnasiums, swimming pools are now part of the requirements for development in the game. The rest of the cricket world, are moving rapidly in this direction.

The alarm bells are ringing. Being humiliated by India and Bangladesh at under nineteen level does not auger well for the future. It is time to stand up and take notice before it is too late. The West Indies were laid back and are suffering now. Watch out Sri Lanka!