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| Tuesday, 22 February 2005 |
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Comment by Elmo Rodrigopulle Bens cricket in shame 'What ails college cricket?' That is the vexed question which former cricketers and Old Benedictines discuss and seek answers where ever they gather these days. This is because of the timid and disgraceful manner in which the present Benedictine cricketers have succumbed and lost four matches by an innings in the current inter-school cricket season. St. Joseph's, St. Sebastians, S. Thomas' and Ananda have batted only once and allowed the Bens two visits to the crease and yet they have capitulated with absolutely no resistance. True that it is not the winning or the losing that matters, but how one played the game. But what is irritating is that the Bens are not playing the game at all. Losing four matches by innings in an inter-school season has probably never been known to Bens cricketers in the history of their game. The Bens are blessed with a fine ground, good turf wickets and one of the best pavilions in the schools. Yet, surprisingly they don't seem to value these and are making a mockery of it, with efforts on the field that are driving away even the few Bens supporters who used to follow them. From what we see the Bens have sadly not been able to get their game together. They don't seem to be focussed or committed. They just seem to be honouring their engagements. Like one Ben said it is better for them to give the game up rather than disgrace the good that has been their game over the years. Bens teams of the past have lost matches but not disgracefully like the present lot. Winning and losing is a part and parcel of the game. But losing without a semblance of resistance is unacceptable. A loyal supporter Herbert Perera who has watched the Bens perform for over 50 years was a dejected man when I met him the other day. I asked him: 'What Herbert you look as if you have lost'. 'I have not lost. But it is disgraceful to see the Bens losing four matches by innings. This has never happened before', said Perera who however prayed that the Bens would hopefully turn the corner. Kenneth Dabrera, the one man cheer squad at St. Benedict's in the late fifties and early sixties who made several champion teams with his vociferous cheering was also lost for words. "Why don't the schoolboys rally round the cricketers and cheer them and encourage them as we did", lamented Dabrera. Leave alone rally and cheer, we don't see even ten schoolboys watching a match. It is up to those who matter to rally round the devasted Bens cricketers and get them focused again, otherwise we are afraid there would be no redemption for them and the game. Some blame the poor showing by the Bens to the chopping and changing of the batting and bowling order. When it comes to these aspects consistency is what is needed. The chopping and changing and experimenting should have been done during the third term matches. Once the season proper arrives, the Bens should have got their game together and rolled on, focused and committed. We are told that a few of the old boys unable to accept the fourth innings defeat at the hands of Ananda, had questioned the coach. The old boys acted this way because of the feeling they have to the school and its cricket. It was all in the heat of the moment and it was great that nothing untoward took place. Bens cricket went into decline with the removal of Udayananda Perera who coached them for several years. Soccer doing well While the Bens cricket is sinking, it is encouraging to watch the junior soccerites dilligently and dedicatedly training three to four times a week at the college ground under the expertise of former double international, D. Chandrasiri who sported Sri Lanka colours in football and basketball. Football was the number one game in the school and many were the champion teams that the late great Albert Fernando and Edward Jayawardena produced. Chandrasiri, a product of Jayawardena is emulating him. |
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