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| Sunday, 10 October 2004 |
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I travelled by bus after matches - Opatha by SRIAN OBEYESEKERE Former Sri Lankan cricketer Tony Opatha, while offering Sri Lankan cricketers the most sophisticated camera facility, cited a typical 'through the mill' example of himself of how 'I used to travel by bus after international matches' unlike today's cricketers who enjoy all the luxuries. The 56-year old former pace bowler, who played for Sri Lanka from 1971 to '82, who called himself 'a 500 rupee cricketer in my time,' said he was the happiest at the turn around, but felt that modern day cricketers were not making maximum use of the available facilities. "The sophisticated camera is something new. Only Australia has it. And it will facilitate a long way in players seeing and correcting their mistakes". It shows both ends - one for batting, and one for bowling. It will come into use shortly with the setting up of the multi million rupee worth Ceylinco funded Fingara Academy at Old Kesbewa Road, Nugegoda. Opatha, its Executive Director said that it was a brain child of his endorsed by Ceylinco boss Lalith Kotelawala. Opatha went down memory lane when 'I used to chop wood, run daily at 5.30 a.m. on the beach and bowl at a single stump for 1 1/2 hours before practices to stay fit.' "There were no gyms, we did not have cars and waited at the bus halt to catch a bus home after a match. I'm not complaining. It's so great that players today have everything with the money in millions pouring in. But I feel they are not trying hard enough. I don't think they are making 100 % use of the Cricket Board nets to train on quick wickets. We are very good at home, but still struggle to play on quick tracks, particularly away from the body abroad," he noted. Gold mine for some He claimed that some of the retarding factors for failure was too much cricket. "It is a question of where the Board is looking. Is it 'money-cricket' or 'cricket-money'. Cricket essentially cannot go forward without change. The theme should be for the 'new'. Everything should be new every three years from those who man the Board to the coach. But unfortunately some, some who have never really played the game, are motivated by the money factor at the Board which has become a gold mine for them," he claimed noting that as it is he could not see any tangible results in so much as the administration equipping itself to replace the top five to six players who are 30 plus when they retire. He could not see any real support bowler for Muttiah Muralitharan or batsman for Sanath Jayasuriya. Despite so much available talent, he felt there was a bit of a mix up. "There are about five good pace bowlers unlike in my day when I had to virtually singlehandedly spearhead that department. But sadly I cannot see the best use made of them. For instance young rookie bowler Lasith Malinga is not been made full use of. It was a pity to see this side arm, lightning fast bowler who can generate so much bounce being a passenger in the recent ICC Champions Trophy. He is a sure match winner in the one-day version of the game, not tests. Why the hell won't they play this guy. Very sad indeed because he is among the five fastest bowlers in the world, and in fact I recommended him 2 years ago when I saw him bowl. For one, I can see that there are far too many selectors like the saying goes,' too many cooks spoil the soup.' The maximum should be three with Asantha de Mel to guide them". He felt that it was not the national team that needed coaching expertise. "You cannot correct those aged 25 or 27. It is from the school level to the youth teams that expertise is needed. The main team only needs someone who is a good motivator," said Opatha who represented Sri Lanka for 12 years before the country gained Test status. But he was elated that the fruits of the likes of Aravinda and Muralitharan had been borne by 'our early struggle.' Opatha, who has been a coach for 26 years abroad since retirement, had Holland, Ireland, Denmark, Bangladesh and blacktownship schools in South Africa seek his services. He says that Holland, where he spent most of his years, has shown promise for the future. Today, there were many Dutch cricketers playing county cricket in England, but what they lacked was professionalism. The Fingara Academy which is under construction by an Australian firm will be a multi sports complex. |
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