When Murali took cricket to Jaffna

[pj57]

(12-30-2020, 02:25 PM)stillwill Wrote:  

(12-28-2020, 09:49 PM)pj57 Wrote:  The big match between Jaffna Central College and St. John's College, Jaffna has been played since 1904, only second to the Royal-Thomian. Colombo schools played a few Jaffna schools as an annual fixture before troubles started. Cricket was quite popular in Jaffna before the troubles, I wouldn't say it was the most popular but it had a good following. Unfortunately a generation of kids couldn't watch the game and was lost to the game due to the unrest.

Don Bradman never went to India, Pakistan or Bangladesh but here he is in Toronto into 1932 playing a match. Does it mean anything?  No

Sporting culture always existed so cricket also existed. Like I said it was played in school and that's it. You can't really arrange cricket tournaments due to its expense while Football and Athletics required minimal equipment.

You are someone born during the last 30-35 years, so you are actually unaware of what happened before the troubles started.

Did you read the story of Kandeepan which is on this thread. He had tried to come to Colombo to play cricket more than 15 times but the LTTE hadn't allowed him, even threatening to kill his whole family. I am sure there would have been others who tried and failed. So I don't believe your story about kids not wanting to relocate. That's just a lame excuse to hide facts. Anyway, I believe improving infrastructure, like having more turf wickets and other improvements which will give more facilities and encourage kids to take up the game in the Northern province itself is better than trying to relocate them at a young age.

[JamisBanda]

I can understand why kids not wanting to relocate , it's a big gamble. only very few gets the benefit if they make it to international levels.

[pj57]

(12-30-2020, 09:11 PM)JamisBanda Wrote:  I can understand why kids not wanting to relocate , it's a big gamble. only very few gets the benefit if they make it to international levels.

That maybe so but there would be kids or teenagers like Kandeepan who want to relocate to improve their cricket, they should be given that opportunity.

[Perthman]

(12-30-2020, 02:46 PM)stillwill Wrote:  

(12-30-2020, 02:20 AM)Ishan Wrote:  I firmly believe there are some serious untapped talents in the North and the east. Its a pity even after 11 years since the war finished, SLC or the government hasn't tried to bring them to the national level.

Actually, SLC tried, even tried a bit too much I'd say. I don't blame SLC in this sense.There is always some coach coming to run trials and so on from independent clubs in Colombo. Batting talent will never come from there because there is no infrastructure to train and get good at or major interest for people to go and train everyday like the schools in South. I played for Jaffna Hindu College, we thought we were good because we were hyped and I realized when I came to Canada that some 3rd division team in Canada could have easily steamrolled us. You can harvest potential fast bowlers that bowl at good speed based on raw talent to bowl fast. The problem is they all want to bring the kids down south and most kids don't want to relocate in hopes of playing for Srilanka. They just want it in their own towns like Jaffna, Mannar, Vavunia, Trinco, Batticaloa and Ampara. The kids that actually do wanna play international and IPL are already down there. You don't hear about them because they play in lower divisions. Cricket is played for fun, it is not taken that seriously and wanting to be an international athlete and are all not really a thing. You have more chance of Hollywood finding actors and film directors though lol. Most kids have to start working once school is done, they have to take care of their families. They don't have the capabilities to play full-time cricket even if they want to. Most kids aren't stupid either, they know their talent, if they think they can play International then they will take the chance if not they won't go through the hassle.

Football Federation of Sri lanka has a better chance of succeeding in North and East. In 80s, couple of players from Jaffna, Trinco and Batticaoala played in Bangladesh, Kolkotta, Greece, Egypt and in a couple of Gulf countries "professionally". If Football was the #1 sport for 50+ years, all those men that played during that time will have some sort of experience to pass it down to the next generation right ? That's a lot of potential coaches and knowledge. The Football talent is not there anymore, but the resources are there.

Really good insight .

[samtheman]

If we pick these talented Jaffna cricketers from a young age and offer them school scholarships to some good schools in english or tamil medium (In south/colombo), why wouldn't they take it? Even if they don't succeed as a cricketer, with that school experience they can find a decent job somewhere. So win/win.

[JamisBanda]

(12-31-2020, 01:01 AM)samtheman Wrote:  If we pick these talented Jaffna cricketers from a young age and offer them school scholarships to some good schools in english or tamil medium (In south/colombo), why wouldn't they take it? Even if they don't succeed as a cricketer, with that school experience they can find a decent job somewhere. So win/win.

Sending your child away to boarding school is not something every parent/child comfortable with. that shouldn't be the only way for children form these parts to develop their skills, they should be able to do that in their area as stillwill says.

[Bada]

Stating the glaringly obvious, what's really needed is funding so they can have proper equipment, facilities and grounds. This is a problem in most areas in SL. Sending talent scouts once in a while is cool, but you have to give kids the opportunity to develop in the first place by providing those prerequisites.

[Charu26]

Its not just the north, this whole culture of needing to come to colombo and join a shitty club with shitty facilities to play cricket needs to change. It is unlikely to happen while Thilanga or one of his minions control cricket in this country.

Need to establish performance centres in all major cities and give them turf wickets to practice and play on.

[Bada]

I think there was a news report a couple of years ago about government granting LKR 100 million to SLSCA (School Cricket Association) which falls under education ministry. Looks like that didn't go to these areas. SLC helps SLSCA a little from time to time, but school cricket is mainly government's responsibility.

[Bada]

This
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2018/05/13/sports/rs100-million-pumped-schoolboy-cricket