It is pertinent to remind school cricketers at this stage that they should always remember that they represent their respective schools and it is up to them to play the game in the true spirit, not only according to written laws but in harmony with an unwritten code of chivalry and good temper.
It is true that you must play hard and your ultimate goal is to win. However, it is of utmost importance that on the playing field, as well as outside, you must display true sportsmanship. Winning at any cost should not be the theme.
Cricket is a way of life. Therefore, as students we must learn its finer points and prepare for our future. What we learn in the cricket field should be a transfer of training to our real life. Remember that when the great scorer comes to write against your name, he will write not whether you won or lost, but how you played the game. This should be your philosophy. After all, there is absolutely no sense in spending so much of money and time for school cricket if we cannot produce a fine gentleman, at the end of the day.
School cricketers must be humble. They should always respect authority. As you are aware, the umpires are the custodians of the game. If not for umpires we cannot play cricket. We must always respect them. It is true that they may make a mistake very rarely. If they do not make a mistake in their career there is something wrong. To make an error is human. As cricketers you must always respect and obey the verdict, given by the umpires. Never get upset even if you are given a bad decision. Cricket may be a game of disappointment at times. The beauty is how you take the challenge.
This reminds me of an interesting incident happened in the first-ever St. Anthony's Katugastota-Nalanda school cricket fixture, played way back in 1957, forty one years ago.
The formidable Antonians led by that charming personality Rangit Doranagama, piled up a mammoth total of 325 runs with bespectacled S. W. Seneviratne completing a fine century. Nalandians who went into bat on the first day, faced 17 overs in an hours batting, and scored 13 for no loss with Sarath Silva (5) and yours truly (4) not out. I still remember Rangit, tried seven bowlers to dislodge us but we were determined to stay on.
Day two was a memorable one for the Nalandians. I was virtually enjoying a batting treat at the non-strikers end. When Sarath Silva blasted the Antonian pace attack into pieces. My role was to push a single and give strike to Sarath. When the total was at 127 Sarath drove powerfully to the covers and Doranagama flung to his right picked up and hit the stumps before Anton Rambukpotha reached the wickets. Sarath Silva (91) missed a valuable 'ton' by 9 runs. The scoreboard read Nalanda 127 for 1 wicket and my poor contribution was only 23 runs, at that time. Chandrasiri Weerasinghe and I were associated in another partnership of 55 runs, when I miss read a ball from left arm-spinner, Heenbanda and I departed scoring 37 runs.
After my exit, stylish right-hander Daya Illukkumbura joined the master batsman Chandrasiri Weerasinghe. They made merry out of the Antonian attack which included some of the best in school circuit at that time such as Adrian Berenger, Steve and Charlie Joseph and the scoreboard read 300 for 2 wickets. After Daya Illukkumbura reached his half a century, he drove a ball and was nicely snatched by Sheriffdeen at gully, the present eminent and reputed Professor of Surgery Dr. A. H. Sheriffdeen. Knowing that it was a bump catch, very correctly, he never appealed. But, S. W. appealed and Bakleman, a highly respected umpire, like Dodwell de Zoysa during that era, ruled Daya out. He muttered some words and stood his ground. The non-striker Chandrasiri gave a signal to Daya, and he walked crest-fallen after scoring a stylish half a century. Our master-in-charge Mr. Stanley Munasinghe, a strict disciplinarian, gave his mind and nearly suspended the entire team for the incident. We all met Mr. Bakleman and apologised to him profusely and promised never to repeat such acts in the future.
Fatherly figure Mr. Bakleman, an old Benedictine who played cricket at a very high level in the early 1930's advised us how to play the game and what all cricket meant.
The strict discipline instilled by our teachers, coaches and umpires contributed in no small measure towards our success. It should be emphasised that most of us took their worthy advise and reached high standards both in the game of cricket, as well as in our professional careers later. Nalanda team consisted of big names like Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, Nihal Amaradara and Prema Mahawatta.
The first Nalanda-St. Anthony's encounter was a memorable one for all of us. Chandrasiri Weerasinghe, the batting artist scored an elegant unbeaten 135 runs. Both teams produced cricket of a very high standard and more than that a firm, solid foundation was laid to a true friendship and bond between the Antonians and Nalandians.