A psychologist can tune our cricket to winning ways

Apropos my 'COMMENT' headlined - LANKAN CRICKET NEEDS A PSYCHOLOGIST appearing in the 'DAILY NEWS' on October 23 has had quite a few responses: One from former Ananda College Captain Nihal de Silva all the way from USA. De Silva who captained his school in 1963, is a practising psychiatrist in USA and is very familiar with sports psychology and what it takes to win at all costs. De Silva, appreciating my comments on the need for a psychologist for Sri Lanka cricket, says - 'Glad you finally highlighted what Sri Lanka needs. Talent being equal what makes the difference is the mind set.

Keen observer

'Right on I have been a keen observer of how we lose or perform poorly simply because we lack the strength of mind. Cricket after all is a mind game at the end. Thanks for the piece.

Being familiar with sports psychology, we hope that Sri Lanka Cricket will take De Silva's sound advice and get down to batting for a psychologist for the game. SLC cannot make excuses such as lack of funds to employing a psychologist. It was also encouraging to read what former Minister of Sport and now a Member of Parliament Lakshman Kiriella said in Parliament speaking during an adjournment debate on match fixing.

'The services of internationally renowned psychologist should be obtained to strengthen the Sri Lanka cricketers psychologically, especially before they go for important games.

Psychologically balanced

'Speaking further he said that it is important to keep the Sri Lanka cricketers psychologically balanced, especially in a situation after they lost tournament finals on four occasions'.

Sri Lanka once employed a psychologist in Gerald Koch when, if my memory serves me right , a team toured Australia. We were thrashed by innings in the practice games and the Aussie media bashed the team's poor showing and gave them no chance in the Test matches that were to follow.

But the Manager on tour, the irrepressible former Sri Lanka champion off spinner and all rounder Abu Fuard obtained the services of psychologist Koch who changed the mind set of the team and got them to perform brilliantly after that. No surprise that they proved themselves in the Test series. I was there and can vouch for the turn around.

Sri Lanka Cricket also once employed Dr. Rudi Webster as a

psychologist for the cricket team. So it could help raise Sri Lanka cricket to a new level if a sports psychologist could be employed.

Rainy welcome

The New Zealand cricketers led by Ross Taylor are here and welcoming them was the welcome rain after a long drought.

Thankfully the World Twenty20 went off without much of an interruption. Now that the Kiwis are in town it would be interesting to recall the trauma that teams suffered on two previous tours here when bombs went off at the Pettah Bus Stand and opposite the Taj Samudra Hotel where the Kiwis were housed and which prompted some of the Kiwis, some of whom have never seen or experienced such gory scenes before, to fly away.

They certainly could not be faulted. But what was admirable and

exemplary was that the few Kiwis who stayed back went through the series. Sri Lanka Cricket will always be grateful to them for that magnanimous gesture.

Unacceptable

But what was unacceptable and which at that time was condemned in the strongest possible terms was the unsporting behaviour of the Sri Lanka team of that time during a Test match at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground. The Kiwis led by Martin Crowe who should be thanked profusely for continuing with the tour - they would not have been faulted had they aborted it, after the bomb blasts - were shocked by the behaviour of that Sri Lanka team, who resorted to blatant cheating to win a Test.

It happened like this: the Test match between New Zealand captained by Martin Crowe and Sri Lanka led by Arjuna Ranatunga was played at the SSC.

Still vivid

The incident is still vivid in my memory because I was at the scene of action. Martin Crowe was the batsman and the Kiwis were struggling to save the game with their depleted set of cricketers. Crowe lunged forward, played a defensive stroke.

The fielder at silly point who took the catch, what is best described as a bump catch, threw the ball up in glee and claimed a catch egged on by his team mates. Umpire Ignatius Anandappa who was the head umpire and who was unsighted by the fielder ruled Crowe out believing the fielder.

At that time there were no third umpires or TV replays on giant screen like now. But to everyone watching the action on TV, it was a clear bump ball catch taken by Asanka Gurusinha. Why the fielder had to resort to blatant cheating is even now described as inexplicable and condemned in the strongest possible terms.

Irresponsible act

That irresponsible act was a black mark on the game and it shamed Sri Lanka cricket and sullied the good name of the country. Those who were actors in that disgraceful episode are today pontificating on what is taking place in the cricket scene and portraying an holier than thou attitude.

Crowe who could not believe the outcome was stunned by the blatant cheating, refused to leave when ruled out. In those days the game was played to the axiom that the umpire's word was law.

With the game being held up there was pandemonium. Finally saner

counsel prevailed and the culprits who performed this shameless act had to tuck their tails between their legs, reverse the decision and the game continued. Crowe went on to play, probably one of his finest centuries in Test cricket and although losing the crowd stood up to Crowe and his team and gave them a well deserved rousing cheer.

Dastardly act

The victorious Sri Lanka team was seen trooping back to the pavilion, heads down probably shamed by that dastardly act that left a black mark in the game and shamed all former cricketers who played this gentleman's game with great respect and honour. While there is no room for that kind of disgraceful behaviour now, the Kiwis need not fear of bombs going off, thanks to our sporting President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya who freed the country from fear and allowed all forms of activity to proceed, including sport. The Kiwis are here to play sport and in Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayewardene they have a cricketing icon who plays the game hard and to the rules and the cricket loving public will always remember the Kiwi cricketers who stayed back braved damage to life and limb and played the game though bombs were going off.

[email protected]