Life and times in sport

Groundsman Alagasamy contributed a lot to SL cricket

BY PREMASARA Epasinghe

ALL this time, in my column, "Life and Times of Sports", I featured many a sportsman and a sportswoman. Today, I move away from this tradition, and write about another important cricket personality, without whom, we are unable to play this noble game of cricket.

It is true that there won't be a game without players. They are the key actors. But, there must be a stage for these actors to perform. This stage is constructed by groundsmen. They are part and parcel of cricket. Today, we dedicate this column to one of the finest groundsmen in Sri Lanka.

Irulapan Gnamuttu Alagasamy

He is undoubtedly, one of the best groundsmen on the laying of wickets. He is the delight of all curators.

Although so many other things in cricket have changed, it is remarkable to note, the length of the pitch has always offending been 22 (twenty two) yards, that is from the very first time, any length was mentioned. This distance is specified in the earliest code of laws, which presumably drawn up in 1744.

Preparing a wicket is an art

Preparing a wicket for a first class, Test or One Day International is an art. They say preparing a wicket is looking after a new-born baby or a child.

Mowing, scarifying and Brushing, Aeration, Watering, Rolling, Fertilizer Application, Preparation of the Square, Preparation of the Pitch, Match Day, Pitch Repair and Renovation and Maintenance of the outfield etc. are key areas in preparing a turf wicket.

Family background

Alagasamy was born on 8th April 1934 at Tirunelweli, India. His beloved parents are G. Irulappan and G. Vairamuttu. When he was a child, they came to Sri Lanka as plantation labourers. He grew up at Yatiyantota Estate, Weriyagala. At the age of 15 years, he came to Colombo looking for employment.

First Baptism - RCGC

"I first started my career as a labourer at the Royal Colombo Golf Club in 1948. It was my first baptism in ground work. I really worked hard and learned the basics. I must tell you, my success was due to hard work, dedication and commitment.

I always maintained a very high code of discipline and I was obedient to my seniors and club members and staff. This is how I started my life in Colombo", stated pencil slim Alagasamy.

Joins CH&FC

After working for a period of nearly 4 years at RCGC, he joined CH and FC in 1952. At that time, CH&FC grounds was at the Race Course, Colombo 7 premises.

There was horse-racing at that time. The club was exclusively for Europeans and they played Rugby Football, Hockey and Soccer. He used to maintain the ground with other labourers.

A name wined with cricket

Today, Alagasamy's name is coined with cricket. How did this happened?

"I consider 1958, as the year that changed my destiny. I joined the Colombo Cricket Club (CCC) and came under the experienced groundsman Omar Deen, the ever-green Bloomfield ground boy who served at Nalanda during the 1956-1957. I am thankful to him. He taught me the finer-points in preparation of a turf-wicket," stated Alagasamy.

Dr. N.M. Perera - an ornament to NCC & Cricket Administration

He served the Colombo Cricket Club from 1958 to 1960 and then joined Nondescript Cricket Club (NCC). It was the late Dr. N.M. Perera, who took him to NCC. N.M., was a live a member of NCC, where he played cricket and tennis.

He was a jewel of man and an ornament to cricket, who served as a highly respected President of the Board of Control. Cricket was run at that time democratically, with the assistance of the Cricket Club representatives.

To quote Charles Dickens "It was the Best of Times". Peerless, N.M., great gentleman, never mixed politics and sports. Although he was the Leader of the Lanka Samasamaja Party, "Parippu Mahattaya" of Ruwanwella never discussed politics at the club.

The grateful villagers at Ruwanwella, Yatiyantota, Deraniyagala and Dehiowita fondly called N.M., as "Parippu Mahattaya" as he untiringly served the poor people of this area, distributing food-items during the Malaria Epidemic.

Late Gamini Dissanayake, Bernard Soysa and Lalith Athulathmudali were great leaders who gave their best to NCC, as Presidents.

"I may fail in my duty if I do not pay a tribute to the ground secretaries of NCC in 1950s to 1960s.

The late Jimmy Vanderkoon, Bertram Perera and K.M.T. Perera, served the club with distinction as ground secretaries.

There are many others who served the club with distinction, who were very particular about the wickets and the grounds. Ranjit Fernando was a tower of inspiration to me" stated Alagasamy.

How to lay a turf wicket

"Alagasamy, I think the readers will be grateful to you if you briefly tell them how you lay a turf wicket" I posed this question.

"The area covering the turf should be dug about 2 1/2 feet. The first layer must be filled with granite (Kalugal). Then, you must use a charcoal layer, and on it, a layer of about 5 to 6 inches, pot clay must be spiced all over and prepare the turf. It is like looking after a new-born baby.

You have to watch him grow very carefully and especially for the first six months, you have to look after the wicket with lot of care. Watering and cultivate grass must be done. Rolling is very important.

You must never allow roots to grow on the surface of the turf. The weeds must be immediately removed. We plant "Blue Grass".

You will be sometimes surprised to hear that we collect the "Blue Grass" from the General Cemetery premises Borella. You get the best grass here. We bring lot of gunny bags which contains Blue Grass. We pay the labourers a very reasonable sum", stated Alagasamy.

Anuruddha Polonowita, the Chief Curator of Sri Lanka Cricket always call Alagasamy to assist in preparing wickets for International Matches as well as key first class matches.

Alagasamy has prepared wickets at all International Test and ODIs venues in Sri Lanka and have done the Uyanwatta Stadium, Matara.

Vernon Prins - Prince of Captains

In long association of with Sri Lanka cricket, he has seen two generations or more cricketers. He consider's late 'Vernon Prins' as the "Prince of Captains" in Sri Lanka Cricket Circuit.

Michael Tissera, Ranjit Fernando, Ranjan Madugalle, David Heyn, Anura Tennakoon, Aravinda De Silva, Sidat Wettimuny are some of the technically sound batsmen in the top bracket according to him.

He considers Brigadier Dr. H.I.K. Fernando as the best wicket-keeper.

Among the fast-bowlers Ravi Ratnayake, Rumesh Ratnayake and Asantha De Mel, left-arm spinners Ajith De Silva, A. Polonowita and Daya Sahabandu, off-spinners Abu Fuard, Muralitharan are the best he have seen in Sri Lanka.

His wife Sivanammal passed in the late 1990s and that was a big blow to him. Alagasamy was a dutiful husband and a father.

Unassuming Alagasamy a fine human being have two daughters and a son. They are Wasantha, Pathma and Manohar.