P Epasinghe: The gentleman, that's Murali (10 Sep 1998)

10 September 1998

The gentleman, that's Murali

P Epasinghe

The proper blending of skill and motivation results in good performance. You may be endowed with excellent skills, but, without the appropriate motivation a good performance cannot be achieved. When the team spirit is high, players do well consistently. Consistency is undoubtedly the dream of every player. In short, it is the trademark of champions. The secret behind the success of the recently concluded English Tour by our cricketers was mainly due to team spirit, which resulted in excellent performance.

To begin with, we must congratulate Ranjit Fernando - the Manager, and Roy Dias - coach who did a tremendous job in building the team into a winning outfit by infusing in them team spirit. The players were behind them and these two were a tower of inspiration to the entire team. They designed the game plan in a very professional and successful manner. Even in tense moments they were unruffled and acted diplomatically. The part played by physiotherapist Alex Kounturi is also highly commendable. The team was hundred percent physically fit. In the good old days physical fitness of some of our cricketers was at a low ebb. But today it's not so, thanks to physio - Alex who has done a marvellous job. Well done!

Although they play a very vital role, master-in-charge of cricket and school cricket coaches are very often forgotten characters. School cricket is the cradle of cricket, in Sri Lnaka. It's due to the hard work of school cricket coaches and masters in charge, that some of the outstanding Sri Lankan cricketers were produced. There would not have been a Stanley Jayasinghe, if not for master-in-charge of cricket and Prefect of Games, the late Mr. T. Kandaswamy and Gerry Gooneratne. There would not have been batting maestros like Michael Tissera and Anura Tennekone, if not for the late Mr. Lassie Abeygunawardana or Orville Abeynaike.

There are instances in the present day, that some cricketers, when they represent their country and rise to fame, they tend to forget their past coaches and teachers. Some even forgot their schools. This happens when their big head expands in the vapourings of flattery. Sometimes, they do not care or recognise the coaches who toiled hard in bringing them fame today. There are a few who even do not want to "Sir" them.

Muttiah Muralitharan, presently the world's best off-spinner showed the world that he is a "Cricketer par excellence" and a gentleman, when he honoured his school cricket coach Mr. Sunil Fernando at a reception held last weekend at St. Anthony's College, Katugastota. According to reports, Muralitharan, did not forget his beloved cricket coach and presented him with a cheque of Rs. 50,000. It is not the rupees and cents that matter, but the gratitude of "Murali" which came from his heart which mattered most. By this act, "Murali" showed the world what cricket philosophy had taught him, and what he had learned from this noble game. My good friend, unassuming Sunil, with tear-filled eyes accepted the gift and hugged his greatest cricket star. Marlon Vonhagt, Ruwan Kalpage and Pial Wijetunga are some of the Sri Lankan cricketers produced by Mr. Sunil Fernando.

Muralitharan did not forget his "alma-mater" too. He presented a handsome donation to St. Anthony's College, Katugastota, which was accepted by Principal Rev. Fr. Hilarian Fernando. Muralitharan was honoured with the "Super Eagle" which is the highest award an Antonian can achieve.

"My father is in politics. So is my younger brother. My elder brother is the Chief Executive of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board. That's a different matter. I have not gained from politics. When they attack, they attack our whole family. Is it reasonable?" - These were Arjuna Ranatunga's remarks he made on arrival at the Bandaranaike International Air Port last Friday.

In a democratic society, criticism is a MUST. It will help a lot. But, malicious, destructive criticism can ruin anything and everything. What we need today is constructive criticism, which will help to boost the morale of the cricketers, and not personal, individual attacks on them or their families, which I feel is unethical to say the least.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)