With the 2013/2014 Schools cricket season underway, the boys in blue and black have only one goal in mind.
For all the matches that they play throughout a season, the success of a Thomian cricket team is generally only measured by their performance in one game: The Royal Thomian. As such, 2013 would unequivocally be regarded as a disappointing one, as they relinquished the D.S Senanayake Shield to Royal College after a lapse of ten years. As this year’s team navigates its way through the new season, reclaiming the Shield will be their foremost ambition.
Change is the usual prescription for a sports team following a major loss, and the Thomians have certainly got that. A new captain has been joined by a new coach and a different culture has been instilled in the team as they look to make amends for last year. Both have previous experience in their respective posts however, and that will be an added bonus to the side.
Captain Madushan Ravichandrakumar is no stranger to the big occasion. This year will be his fourth Royal Thomian, and as always, his right arm leg spin will play a vital role. Part of the team that lost the shield last year, there are no doubts as to where his priorities are this season:
“Our main objective is to get the shield back and try and be the best team in the island. Everyone is coming back with a fresh mind and we have the hunger to bring the shield back.”
“We have a lot of talent in the team and have had a pretty good season so far. There are 8 coloursmen in the squad and the freshers have also performed well so we have a good all round unit.”
The Thomians have four players in the National Under 19 pool including Thilaksha Sumanasiri, who represented the national Under 19 side against India last year. Along with Madushan, he will be one of the pillars of the Thomian team this year, and his batting will be vital for the team’s success. The Thomians have the services of 8 coloursmen in the squad, but according to their new coach, no one’s place is guaranteed.
Mr Dinesh Kumarasinghe is certainly no stranger to the coaching role. He coached the College team from 1988 – 2003 before parting ways with the team. His return has been accompanied by a number of changes in the mechanisms and dynamic of the team, as he looks to bring Thomian cricket back to its former glory.
“The main thing he has done is instil in us the value and honour of playing for College” says captain Madushan. Mr Kumarasinghe agrees with this statement, pointing out that pride in representing the team is what brings out the best in a player.
As coach, Mr Kumarasinghe has brought about quite a few changes to the setup. “The main thing I did was place more focus on the fielding. During the last Royal-Thomian nine catches were dropped and that cost us the game”. An hour of dedicated practice has been allocated at the start of each practice session with view of remedying this. Mr Kumarasinghe has also emphasized the focus on the junior teams, nurturing talent and leadership from a young age. There has already been visible success in this department, with the Thomian Under 17 team recently being crowned all island champions. Whether any of these youngsters manage to break into the first XI team come March, remains to be seen; but with both talent and experience available to them, the school by the sea will definitely be looking for redemption.
Madushan Ravichandrakumar – Captain
Thilaksha Sumanasiri
Ramith Gunaratne
Danush Peiris
Sanesh De Mel – Wicket keeper
Deelaka Herath
Ishan Kularatne
Nipuna Gamage
Ravindu Thilakarathna
Helakamal Nanayakkara
Sahan Wijesinghe
Akthab Cader
