Coaching clinic at Radella

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy sports correspondent

CRICKET: Over 160 young cricketers from the Nuwara Eliya District participated in a coaching clinic organised by the Cricket Coaching Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket in association with the Nuwara Eliya District Cricket Association held at the picturesque Radella grounds.

Conducting this coaching clinic was former Sri Lanka skipper Bandula Warnapura, Head of the Max Cricket Academy Jerome Jayaratne, Manager Coaching of Sri Lanka Cricket Malcolm Perera, Piyal Wijetunga (spin) Anusha Samaranayaka (Assistant Fast Bowling Coach SLC), Manoj Abeywickrema (fielding), Champaka Dahanayake (Fast bowling) and Sunil Fernando (Central Province Coach).

Malcolm Perera told this correspondent that this coaching clinic was a tremendous success as the turn out was very large and beyond their expectations. School cricketers from Nuwara Eliya, Hatton, Maskeliya, Bogowantalawa, Ambegamuwa, Ginigathena, Dickoya, Udapussellawa, Talawakelle and Kotagala participated in this coaching clinic. They were very keen and quickly digested whatever which was taught to them by those conducting this clinic.

Malcolm Perera also said that these school children underwent a lot of difficulties in travelling to attending this clinic. Some of them were from the far flung plantations and had left their homes as early as 5 a.m. and some had to walk long distances to board a bus. Some of the cricketers were talented and with proper guidance they should do well.

The Central Province Coach Sunil Fernando also confirmed that there is lot of raw talent in the Nuwara Eliya district which requires guidance and he intends to conduct similar coaching sessions for the young cricketers in Nuwara Eliya at specified places with a view of developing cricket in the area where very little cricket is played at Senior level at present.