Josephian cricket enigma
With the 11th hour controversy surrounding the team selection, the Josephian team took the field for the Battle of the Saints a dejected and de-motivated outfit. Permit me to voice the opinion of an old Josephian who has seen the good and the not so good of Josephian sports over the last few decades. This event easily is the worst of it all!
St. Joseph’s with the proud history of more than 110 years has always been discipline oriented. In recent years we suspended a very promising young star for a couple of matches for breach of discipline. He has now gone on to wear National colours. Approximately 18 years ago, the captain was dropped for the “limited-over” due to poor performance among other reasons. Even as recent as the current season, a Josephian player was suspended for one match for stepping “out of line”.
Moving to Royal College, the Principal and the Disciplinary Board of the College suspended seven First Eleven players for 3 or 4 matches also for breaching discipline. It is immaterial that the ruling was overturned later as the punishment meted to the seven Royal players were left too harsh. The fact is – the players received the message given that they ware not omnipotent and discipline is most important.
Now, what do we do at St. Joseph’s? During the match in the weekend prior to the “Big Match” an attempt was made by the father of a 1st XI squad member who was sitting out on the bench to take him home before the match concluded. This was contested by the coach. Words were exchanged between the coach and the father of the student. Thereafter, hush …. hush talks take place later between the parents the Rev. Fr. Rector, and hey presto – the student in question is included in the playing eleven for the “Big Match”. His performance during the season belies his inclusion, though admittedly he was injured for part of the season.
I remember in my day at St. Joseph’s, a student who was both a cricketer and a star in another sport, missing regular cricket practice. He was dropped for irregular attendance. Together with his father he approached the then Rev. Fr. Rector, who told him in no uncertain terms that he should first talk to the coach, the Master-in-charge and the Captain and sort the problem out with them before entering the holy portal of the Rector’s Office!
What happened at last week at the “Big Match” is in contrast to everything that we hold dear at St. Joseph’s! at the prize – giving of the College held just a week before, the good rector in his report states that the current deplorable situation in University educationist due to (a) politicization of the University system and (b) discipline among others, as the reason for the low quality standards. We wholeheartedly agree. But is not example better than precept! Should not the administration of the schools set an example?
Did the good rector concern himself about discipline or even about the boy who was deprived of playing, due to no fault of his? Is the good rector not responsible for the well being of all charges under his care and should he not ensure fair play by all. Has the College to bend over backwards to accommodate the whims and fancies of a few, who think they are owed special favours by the College?
Be that as it may, my appeal to the gentlemen in the Advisory Committee and the coach Dilan Ramanayake – you have done a wonderful job. Stepping down is not going to solve the problems prevailing, rather it will simply aggravate. You must, for the sake of the College and the sport that you played in true Josephian spirit in days gone by, please withdraw your resignations. The College, the students and the old boys need you! Keep up the good work you have done so far. There could be a hidden hand behind all this. Please do not create a vacuum in College cricket which could be exploited by those with vested interests, who will ruin the game of cricket and the College too. Please re-think as you must stay on!
God Bless you guys. Keep you chin up. St. Joseph’s College will prevail!