MCA President plans to improve the structure of cricket

By Ranjan Anandappa

The President of the Mercantile Cricket Association Ashley Ratnayake urged some Mercantile establishments who have not yet joined their cricket stream of the MCA to join and compete in their tournaments. He said participating in tournaments will enormously help the players and the establishment in no uncertain terms.

For the MCA, cricket has been their strength. It amply manifests as almost every cricketer irrespective of Test cricket, Sri Lanka cricket or in any form of cricket being played in the MCA conducted cricket tournaments will boost management and give them fresh ideas in developing the game. Schoolboys who have just left school and in the Mercantile sector should not waste time, but begin playing in the Mercantile sector. They will have the opportunity of playing in tournaments and getting themselves established.

Addressing a press briefing at the MCA Auditorium and spelling out his sentiments, Ratnayake who had the honour of being the 23rd president of the MCA said that the long standing establishment which was founded in 1911 by the British, has maintained a high standard of discipline and integrity and his main concept was to preserve it at any cost. A few enthusiastic-Britishers formed the Association which was initially known as MCC (Mercantile Cricket Competition) at the Galle Face, Hotel Sports Club pavilion, on the 23rd of February 1911. The first known match was between Carson and Cumberbatch and Liptons on 10th June ,1911 at Galle Face which Carsons won.

The first president of the MCC (Mercantile Cricket Competition) was a very eminent personality at that time W. Orloof from 1911 to 1913. He was a barrister and had close links with the Queen of England. The last Englishman to hold office of the MCC, by then christened as the Mercantile Cricket Association was Bob Carter who reigned at the helm from 1958 to 1964.

The first Sri Lankan President of the MCA was the double international C.T.A. Schaffter who represented the country at cricket and hockey. He held office as the President from 1965 to 1969. He served as a Vice-President to the last British President of the MCA Bob Carter.

In an era where there is a tendency of discipline gradually disappearing in a so called "gentleman's", game, Ratnayake pledged that he will not tolerate indiscipline at any cost, irrespective of any individual. In the recently conducted MCA Inter-Academy cricket matches, this was very evident. Parents, coaches and at times spectators were not allowed to instruct the respective captains or players while the match was in progress. Coaches were confined to the dressing room and had no contact with the captains or the players while the match was on. The captains were given a free hand to take their own decisions , which will help them in decision making in the future.

Touching a bit on the history of the MCA, which was initially known as MCC and administered by very eminent people, the British, mainly the planting fraternity, Ratnayake while glorifying the past, wanted to keep up with the present trend while looking at the future with some new concepts. Among the new concepts of the Mercantile sector are putting up a new turf strip. The MCA had a turf pitch somewhere in the 1990's. But had to give it up due to improper maintenance. Since then they had to play on a matting strip.

From 1911 to 1964, the president's of the MCA were Britishers. In 1964, C.T.A. Schafter became the first local President of the Association. The present playground was formerly a Royal Ceylon Air Force base during the World War and was later converted to a cricket ground.

In the past, the MCA tournaments were played between nine or ten teams, namely firms like Browns, Walker and Greig during the era of the British. "Tournaments were known as semi -professional tournaments and they were played to an end. The longest duration of a match has been two weeks,as the match was played till a result was achieved. But it became very professional once the Sri Lankans took over as the Association took bold steps to improve cricket. Only the private sector companies who participate in at least in one MCA conducted tournament are exclusively eligible to join the Association.

"I am proud to say that every single cricketer Test or otherwise, have been employees of Mercantile establishments and have done great service to the country. For an example, I like to mention our World Cup winning team captain Arjuna Ranatunga, from the time he left school and started his career at Mercantile Credit and became the national captain, represented every single tournament which was conducted by the MCA.

Players like Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Tillekeratne Dilshan still take part in MCA tournaments if they are not on national duty ,that is the strength of the association." said the MCA President.