Mendis’ ‘cricketers record book’ indispensable

Richard Dwight

Reputed cricket coach, Nelson Mendis, counts a well sustained, unblemished record of hitherto 46 years, in the guiding and disciplining of young cricketers to play this great game in the way it was intended to be played, as gentlemen and, to forge in the process lasting friendships, with victor and vanquished.

Apart from instilling in them the basic and fundamentals as required in cricket, not forgetting the ethics and etiquette that go along with it - Mendis has now gone even further, with the future of the young aspiring cricketer in mind, to meticulously compile and publish the “cricketers record book”.

The launch, of this painstaking pioneering effort of Mendis, a first by a coach, was held on Tuesday at the C.C.C. amidst a gathering of young cricketers, parents, coaches, well-wishers and friends - quite a number in fact, that bespoke of the high regard and esteem, with which he is held.

The former Sri Lankan cricket captain, Roshan Mahanama, the renowned opening batsman and currently a member of the I.C.C. elite panel of match referees, in his address as chief guest, observed that history has shown that all successful men have had great teachers and, that it was equally true of sportsmen, who had the benefit of noble coaches.

With a touch of humility, Roshan, made it known that the little he achieved as an international cricketer, was mainly because of Mendis who taught him the rudiments of cricket, and also impressed on him to always play with a straight bat, no matter where or when, to be the gentleman first and cricketer later.

Roshan said the practice of maintaining records from the first match he played in his formative years, to the last in 1999, was inculcated in him by his guru, guide and friend, Mendis. It’s these records maintained by him for two decades he said, that stood him in good stead to write his autobiography, ‘Retired Hurt’.

He commended ‘Cricketers Record Book’ to the young as indispensable and that it should form a part of the youngsters cricketing gear.

The former Sri Lankan all rounder, Kumara Dharmasena, a class I umpire who was the guest of honour said that he was an insignificant lad playing cricket at the far end of the Nalanda College grounds, with an improvised bat, when Mendis noticed his determination and fighting qualities that led Mendis to draft him to the pool of Nalanda players and the rest was history.

The author of ‘Cricketer’s Record Book’ Nelson Mendis, the Director of coaching C.C.C. school of cricket, addressing the youngsters present said “you have chosen to play this great game, be it in your neighbourhood school or club, remember that you will not be able to learn all about this wonderful game within a week or year, but keep striving, playing until you achieve success”.

He concluded by saying that if he coached the way he did those days now, he wouldn’t last a day - for he used to chide and reprimand errant lads but you cannot do that today.

Nelson Mendis, is a level IV Diploma qualified coach, the recipient of the ‘Golden Lion’ award for junior coaching.

He coached the national U-19 team of Nepal in 1999 and the national U-15 team of Malaysia in 2000 some of the successful cricketers who were taught their basics from Mendis were, Bandula Warnapura, Roshan Mahanama, Asanka Gurusinghe, Hashan Tillekeratne, Anura Ranasinghe, Kumara Dharmasena and Hemantha Devapriya.

The ‘Cricketer’s Record Book’ which is meticulously compiled, provides the young cricketer the facility of maintaining records of his/her individual performances, match by match, for a whole year/season.

It also enables a player to set one’s personal targets for the year, and provides an opportunity to analyse one’s performances during the season whilst working towards achieving such targets with confidence, and with the guidance of the coach.

This ‘Record Book’ will not only list the statistic of your achievements, but also, more importantly allow you to record the details of your batting, fielding and wicket-keeping performances with emphasis on why or how you succeeded or failed. The book which is reasonably priced at Rs. 375 is now available.