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MAIN COMMERCIAL PARTNERS |
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Cricket Operations |
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Cricket Operations Department takes responsibility for training, coaching, maintenance of major grounds, umpiring and administering tournaments.
Bandula Warnapura heads the Department with a supporting staff to administer the key areas.
Training
Max Cricket Academy conducts comprehensive training programmes for young cricketers regularly. A squad of 20 players is constantly in training. Residential programmes are conducted five days of the week. These cover academic training, cricket skills and body management.
Subjects covered under Academic Training include Physiology/ Motivation, Spoken English, Etiquette and Yoga.
To develop cricket skills, trainees practice at the nets as well as one to one basis. These cover batting, bowling and fielding. Equipment such as bowling machines is used. Video analyzing helps them to identify their strengths and weaknesses. Game sense discussion form part of the skills training.
The trainees also undergo physical training, pool training and training in the gym.
Academy squads undertake overseas tours. In 2006, a 14-member team toured Malaysia to play four ODIs against the national team of Malaysia. All four matches were won by the Academy team.
Jerome Jayaratne functions as Head Coach of the Academy.
Specialised coaching
Fast bowling
In order to build up a pool of fast bowlers, a planned programme has been set in motion. The programme began with Pace Ace 2006 when ten fast bowlers were identified for training in the Fast Bowling Academy. In addition, off-season programmes are arranged for bowlers to be trained at least five days a week for a period of five months.
The search for fast bowlers continues with experts touring the provinces and selecting prospective bowlers at the under-15 level.
Champaka Ramanayake functions as the National coach - Fast Bowling with Anusha Samaranayake to assist him.
Spin bowling
In the Spin Bowling Academy, squads are selected in different categories for training. These categories cover seniors, colts, juniors and cubs. 'Silicon Coach' video capturing and analysing software is used in training.
Programmes are also arranged for Level 1 coaches as well as premier club coaches and provincial and district coaches.
Consultant Spin Coach Ashley Mallet is contracted to visit Sri Lanka three to four times a year to train bowlers.
Ruwan Kalpage is the National Coach - Spin Bowling.
Coaching Junior crickters
District Coaches have been appointed to 22 districts to be in charge of coaching at district levels. Selected squads undergo training regularly and take part in district and provincial tournaments held for different age groups ranging from 13 - 17 years.
School cricket being a vital area in the development of young cricketers, regular programmes are held for school coaches at district level. Data relating to school coaches is being collected to issue licenses beginning this year. This programme is being done in association with the Ministry of Education and the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association.
Seminars are arranged periodically at provincial level for the benefit of school captains in association with organizations like the British Council.
Special attention is given to training junior cricketers in spin and fast bowling. The service of foreign consultant coaches is obtained to train these young cricketers.
Young cricketers gain exposure by playing against teams of other countries. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) arranged for Under-17 teams from Qatar, Oman UAE and the Maldives to visit Sri Lanka in 2006. The Sri Lanka Under-17 national team participated in the Golden Hope Tournament in Malaysia and became champions.
Curators
Much attention is paid to the proper maintenance of Test playing venues and other premier club grounds. SLC curators visited these grounds and assist in the preparation of pitches, particularly prior to the start of the key domestic tournaments. Advice is also given to major schools on the maintenance of their grounds.
Workshops are held for head groundsmen of leading clubs to keep them updated on the need for proper maintenance of grounds.
Anuruddha Polonnowita is National Curator. D A J Sampath functions as curator.
Umpires
The Umpires Committee plans and implements the activities relating to umpiring.
Refresher courses are held for umpires in preparation for an examination to decide on their rankings.
Seminars and workshops are held for referees and umpires to keep them abreast with ICC decisions in respect of cricketing matters like periodical changes in conditions of play.
Ronnie Gunaratne is Manager - Umpiring. |
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