Ranil Abeynaike, Canucks and Cricket

One of the exciting aspects of cricket for me is the commentary. Over the years a very select few have tickled my fancy. My expectations are the same as any cricket enthusiast - A good command of the English Language, a thorough understanding of the game, unbiased views and a keen eye is sufficient to satisfy me. The likes of Bill Lawry, Charles Colleville, Tony Grieg and from the Asian subcontinent the likes of Ravi Shastri, Sanjay manjrekar and Rameez Raja have kept me glued to the TV screens of late. A few however have represented Sri Lanka on international broadcasts and none deserve a mention. That's not to say Sri Lanka did not have any fine commentators of the game, I was blessed enough to have heard my former neighbour Skandakumar in action and Aubrey Ebert, two fine commentators who never hit the international stage.

It appears that international broadcasters have finally realised that there is more to cricket commentary in Sri Lanka than just Ranjith Fernando. I have no malice towards Mr. Fernando but years of hearing Ranjith stating the obvious and not being able to get his thoughts in sequence fast enough to construct a sentence has worn out the mute button on my remote control.

This post is not about Ranjith or my preference in commentators, it is to laud the arrival of Sri Lanka's finest commentator ever. Ranil Abeynaike without an iota of doubt is the finest English language cricket commentator Sri Lanka has ever produced. His knowledge of Sri Lankan Cricket and the game in general is refreshing.

Apart from Cricket commentary Ranil is a columnist for the Sunday Times. In last week's entry he wrote of his departure to Canada and his appointment as a commentator for the T20 series in Canada. He goes on to reminisce how passionate Cricket fans back in the day were, how they were glued to their Short Wave radios to tune into Ashes Cricket commentary and the plight of associate cricket nations struggling to find some normalcy.

A few excerpts of the article can be found below, click here for the article in full.

On his departure to Canada

The Canada Cup, as this twenty over tournament the Sri Lankan team is playing in was organized in a rush when the Champions trophy got called off. Not being a test playing nation Canada is not in a position to make arrangements to conduct a tour of this nature. It is an event organizer who has taken over that responsibility. That company has to sublet each of the arrangements to another professional organization and so it is non stop action when all has to be done within a few weeks.

My job as a commentator was confirmed only ten days ago! The e-ticket to fly reached me less than ten hours before the flight! The bags were packed thereafter and the journey half way across the world commenced. How much the world has progressed since they shot the movie “Around the world in eighty days”, some fifty years ago!!

In less than twenty four hours the destination, Toronto, was reached.

On Television's impact on Cricket and Sri Lanka's passion for the game.

Many men used to glue their ears on to the big radios to the voices of John Arlott, Brian Johnston. Lindsay Hassett, Alan McGilvray and others who used to describe those Ashes battles.

When a father is such a devout follower of the game, then the sport gets into the blood of a four or five year old. He does not have to be a participant or former participant, the keenness and enthusiasm is good enough an influence. That situation has changed now. Youngsters have the opportunity to follow the fortunes of the national team and all other international teams thanks to television. That is a huge advantage, with the game being brought to the doorstep.

On the reverse side it does not make you desperate to have it. It is there and so much of it, maybe even an excess, so why bother? The radio and the Ashes, was the only way then and it simply could not be missed. The coverage started early in the morning when played in Australia and when played in England the games went late into the night. This meant the entire household gets affected!

On Canada's development or the lack of it.

Let us not forget that Canada played in the first World Cup in 1975, with Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka had the men to take them on from strength to strength. Canada did not and they are in the same position they were thirty three years ago. So it is difficult for any nation to get close to the major playing nations. A few generations must absorb the sport before successful candidates emerge, to get on to the world stage.

By Hilal