 My school life was spent in a playground - not in class
 It was in the town of Middlepeg
in England that I was born. It is an undulated plain covered with grass,
through which runs a small river towards the South. The ground gradually
ascends on each side with various swells till it comes to the foot of
the steep mountain clothed willow trees.
On the little elevation not very far from the foot of these
mountains, most of these are neat cottages ideal for temperate climates
with chimneys, wooden floors and glazed windows.
I grew among neighbours who had big names as Cedar, Oak, Satinwood,
and Pinewood.
My life span is usually between 15 to 20 years. The willow trees have
been planted and harvested specifically for bat making. From my tender
age, I was subject to many changes. Once we had reached maturity we are
cut into 28-inch lengths. The 28-inch length trunks are then cut into
what are called clefts which are large cricket bat shaped pieces of
willow ready to be shaped into a proper bat. Prior to shaping however
this ‘green’ cleft of willow has its ends dipped in wax and is then
air-dried upto a period of one year.
My height is restricted to 38 inches and my waist 4.25 inches with
the ‘swell’ at the bottom. All bats are one piece willow and handles are
solid willow or ash. My school life was spent in the playground and not
in the classroom. My favourite game is cricket. Cricket is one of the
great sporting tests of athleticism, character and cunning. Some say
it’s the greatest of all games.
Cricket is beauty combined with grace and skill and can be played by
almost everyone. A game of cricket is played on a green turf and
consists of two teams of eleven players.
 Before the start of the game a win is tossed to give the winner of
the call the right either to bat first, or to field first.
The object of the game is to score more runs than your opponents. The
batsman wields me to fend off any ball that comes near him and despatch
it with uncanny accuracy to pre-selected parts of the boundary. It can
be four runs or a sixer.
My greatest ambition was to play for the national team and exhibit
some first class strokes at Lords’ England. A true measure of the esteem
with which I was viewed by the cricketing fraternity was a poll taken
among first class cricketers at Lords’. To say that the 60,000
spectators went stark raving with cheers and flags fluttering chants of
“Ooh, aah, ooh, aoh and hurrah!” rocked this historic venue. I feel
proud and happy about my achievements. First class cricketers are born
through me.
But I don’t think too much about what I have achieved so far or what
lies ahead. I prefer to focus on the present. I am happiest when I can
make many runs and help my team to win. There is no point just sitting
back and saying that I have scored many international hundreds. There
are always new challenges ahead.
- Tissa Hewavitarane
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