|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 7 December 2003 |
 |
|
 |
Magazine |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
It's that season once again. No I'm not talking about Christmas. I'm talking about that eleven men out all day in a field game called Cricket. Okay the One-Dayers are over, the first being wiped out by Sri Lanka and the other two by rain. By the time this article's out the first of the traditional five-day "Real Cricket" as it's called by some of the old dogs will be done with too. So it's just two big ones more to go. Sigh!
It's not cricket, or the cricketers. It's those cricket crazy fanatics. The ones who are obsessed they not only want but expect you to feel the same way about it too. This really puts you off the game. Then there are those Cricket Know-It-Alls whose superior Cricket Education makes you scared to even open your mouth on the subject for fear of saying the wrong thing, whatever that's supposed to be. Talking cricket in Sri Lanka has become as dangerous as talking politics. Then there the cricket Think-They-Know-It-Alls who like nothing better than bragging about this cricketer and that. That's another factor in cricket. It goes way beyond the field and the actual game. It becomes a pastime, part and parcel of a conversation, and everyday topic of discussion, specially during the match seasons. And for better or worse even those not so into the game people like me are dragged into it too. In the end of the day everyone is more or less infected with the fever.
Cricket Season means TVs on, radios blaring, people specially the men totally hooked up onto every ball. It's actually a more male prone disease. Just take a walk to Liberty Plaza or MC during a match. The game's extended into the place with hoards of men flocked around the TV shops trying to squint at what's going on the screen and the occasional unfortunate female who crosses by in front of it. I've even seen a man once stretching his neck out like an ostrich to catch the final glimpse of the TV while going up an escalator. What about the females? Well you do get the cricket infected females too. These Venetians no doubt influenced onto the job by having too many Martians around them, can be equally hooked onto it. So just what exactly do the girls find interesting in the game? Speaking to a couple of them here's what I discover. A - There is a lot more to the game than just watching a ball being hit around all over. B - You get to check out some cute guys. C - At times when shirts are taken off see some interesting finds such as pot bellies, hairy bellies, shiny sweaty bellies and jungles of armpit hair. D - You can do a study on facial expressions, specially that of whoever is bowling. E - Learn how to loosen up, through listening to the wicket-keeper's rattle. Practice talking in various accents. F - See if there's anyone you know in the stands. My education as to why I should tune into the game done, the girls get on into the serious issues in the game. Says Dhinanjalee "Younger blood is dying out. Most of those in our team are over 30. A very critical situation". "I'm actually supporting England because of this" confesses Ruvini. Says Carol "The general advice as to what changes should be made to the Sri Lankan team is to include more young, good looking, talented players into it". Another issue raised among the group of females was the factor of having two captains and vice captains to one side. "This is way too confusing" says Piumi "One-Day's, Tests, all should have one captain". Says Hasna "It's easier for everyone to take orders from one person all the time. The captain can have more say and there will be better discipline in the team". One of the best aspects about cricket matches in Sri Lanka is the fact that they are colourful. With the Barmy Army and er the Sri Lankan Army screaming for their team to win certainly hypes things up, builds up the competition and enriches the match. It's the English flag, Sri Lankan flag, painted faces, masks, paparapapa bands and banners flying through on Match-Days with no rain. On matchless days meanwhile the cricketers' host hotels are haunted by enthusiastic fans, fully geared up with autograph books, bats, pens and cameras. Cricket is a way of life over here. It's something for everyone, not just the upper-class. Just step into the streets on a Sunday and it's cricket everywhere. Six year old's, fifty year old's, twenty-thirty-forty year old's, a bat, ball and a wooden plank of a wicket, the guys are at their first love. Cars come. Cars go. But the road matches go on. FMM |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
Okay, so your wondering what I'm complaining about. With just two
matches remaining, the whole of Sri Lanka and maybe England's waiting
fervently for them. My prob's not with the game. If eleven people want to
sun bathe all day trying to get a guy with the bat, out all the time, only
to have another guy with a bat take his place, and to finally reverse
positions and take to the bat themselves, that's okay. That's the game.
Perfectly normal.
Cricket Season. You turn the radio on and it's more or less the every
half hour cricket update. You walk into a shop, and you hear the
commentators giving their vivid descriptions on what's going on.
"What a graceful sweep" "You don't get any better than
those. He's hit it over the stadium". "He just needs to slip a
few runs. Keep the clock ticking. There's no hurry".
