| About Me: |
Damith S
Sri Lanka
Location: Singapore
I strapped on my pads, took my bat and walked out with a mixture of confidence and nervousness.
It was my first competitive game, I was keen to make an impression. I took guard, surveyed the field.
After prodding away at the first few balls I felt set.
So when the short one landed , I was in position to pull it in a jiffy.
The bat came down with precision.
Only that I missed it. The ball actually hit my box and I was given out. LBW.
It may not have been the greatest start, but hey, I learnt.
Never pull a short ball before you are off the mark.
And if you do, make sure you are wearing a good box, 'cuz that shit hurts.
Before cricket got serious, it was all about the cricket with the neighbourhood lads.
We had this narrow lane, see. So straight hitting was important.
Some houses, we knew we wouldn’t get the ball back. So you were out if you hit into those backyards.
Yeah, we bred 'em tough back in Colombo.
We owned that lane. Cars would stop so we could complete overs.
Ok that didn't happen but it would have been cool if it did.
Dawn to dusk we would play, only stopping for Rice and curry. Rain or shine.
Workers from nearby houses that were being newly built joined us in the evening.
Those were the best damn matches we ever played.
I remember there was this one mean motherf%$^r who could swing the tennis ball without ever taping it. He was quick as shit. I played him the best. People respected me for that.
The sort of respect Steve Waugh had, only better.
I was an all rounder back in school. But my bowling was better. I had a mean streak for the young f%$^er that I was. Once I kicked a fielder in the ass for dropping a catch off me.
True story.
My school was important. Royal College – remember it.
We play this 3 day school match against another school called St.Thomas’s. It’s the greatest cricketing rivalry after the Ashes. Look it up. Longest running cricket game in the history of cricket, after that fight for that useless little urn. That is pretty cool, eh.
For 3 days school was abandoned. We drank and partied with the Pappara bands- the ones you hear at every cricket ground in Sri Lanka. The best bit was when we jumped in to the girls schools during the pre-match cycle parade. Good times.
When I wasn’t playing cricket, I'd be reading about it or watching it.
1996 was a particularly good year for watching.
Meanwhile, I got my self a degree, married my college sweetheart and moved to Singapore, where I reside now baiting my time till I get on the field again.
Hopefully I’ve matured and the fielders arses can roam free in the outer.
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