‘I always love to roll along the green turf’
by Tissa Hewavitarana
There are many categories of
sports. One is a game of cricket. Cricket is a game of specialist
skills. The players are selected for their abilities on certain areas,
eg: batting, bowling, or fielding. I was born to a sports family where
they excelled in the game of cricket. So I grew up in the midst of
budding cricketers who dedicated their resources to the playingfield.
I start the day by rolling on to the green turf till fatigue sets in
I never had any schooling except on the playingfield. From my young days
I was groomed to play for big matches, eg. Test matches, one day games
and tournaments. I am small made and my body shape round and made of
cork and leather. My weight is on average between 155.9 and 163 grams.
My skin is red, but in one day matches I am dressed in white.
 The person who mostly care for me in the playingfield is the bowler.
They come in two types (a) the fast bowler and (b) the spin bowler. The
fast bowler a hasty aggressive type who takes a great delight in hurling
the ball at the batsmen in the hope of giving him a nasty body blow.
The spin bowlers are either former fast bowlers who have developed
cartilage problems or batsmen who are having a rough season with bat. My
task in the playingfield by the efforts of the bowler to prevent the
batsmen scoring runs or dismiss him completely.
This is normally done by clever bowling. A fast bowler with terrific
speed and accuracy in bowling could send even a star batsmen for a duck.
There are many ways to get a batsman out: he can be bowled, caught,
leg-before wicket, runout or stumped. The bowler has to send six balls
per over in turn from each end of the wicket. The six balls are called
an over! If it turns to be a maiden over, I become mad and anger sets
in. This means I was unable to get the batsman out.
During Test cricket and most domestic games that spread over a
multitude of days my health begins to decline to a point where I am no
longer usable and this influence the match.
Altering the state of the cricket ball outside the permitted manner
designated in the rules of cricket is prohibited during a match, and
‘ball tampering’ has resulted in numerous controversies.
I always love to roll along the green turf and bring best results. My
greatest ambition is to play for the national team to prove my skills on
the playingfield.
On many occasions my performance in the playingfield has brought my
side to heights of glory in the game.
My contribution to the game of cricket has been phenomenal.
First-class bowlers are born through me. I am proud and happy about my
achievements.
I am the happiest when I can dismiss many batsmen and help my team to
win in world cup competitions and numerous other one day tournaments and
matches. After all at the end of it all, the balance sheet has showed
more measure of profits than losses. I am proud of that. |
