Play the game like gentlemen

Tuesday, 21 March 2023 01:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

This week Royal College won the 144th Battle of the Blues against arch rivals S. Thomas’ by an impressive 181 runs. The trophy for the winning side was presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, an old boy of Royal. The Battle of the Blues, is said to be the world’s second oldest uninterrupted cricket battle, even older than the renowned Ashes Test series between England and Australia.

The Big Match season brings out the best and sometimes the worst in Sri Lanka. The camaraderie and brotherhood in which much of these sporting events take place between numerous “brother schools” speak of the best of the Sri Lankan character and spirit. Win or lose the manner in which the game is played is valued more than the outcome. Political and other rivals forget their differences during these big matches and are seen to share their memories and joys during these sporting encounters. What was for decades solely a boy’s domain has also moved into girl’s cricketing big matches now being played among a handful of leading girls’ schools. This is indeed a welcomed development towards breaking gender barriers and stereotyping.

The big matches also remind us of the unnecessary and pseudo elitism often associated with some schools and the usage of such divisions to stratify society. Even worse are the notions of sexism, toxic masculinity and justification of vandalism and hooliganism that goes on every year during this season. Supposed traditions of some of these schools are no longer suitable in a modern society. While President Ranil Wickremesinghe recently reminisced how in his youth he and friends would “jump in to” certain girls’ schools such acts should no longer be ignored or justified. The notion of “boys will be boys” have led to many of these boys growing up to be men who go through life assuming abuse, hooliganism and sexism are part of being a man. While such attitudes may have been tolerated and even celebrated in the past, they need not be today. The world has evolved and so should Sri Lanka.

Sadly, many of the men who have come out of the supposedly elite schools have not demonstrated the values they profess. A good case in point is the head of State. President Wickremesinghe has refused to give up his party’s leadership for the past 30 years even after facing devastating losses. He had reduced the once grand old United National Party into dust and still hangs on to its leadership. Even while having no popular mandate, he postpones elections. Some of those who surrounded the President in his “old boys” tent during the big match are the worst crooks, wheeler-dealers, racists and political opportunists in the country. If this is the crème de la crème of the elite schools who are supposed to be the natural leaders of the country then there seems to be something radically wrong in the values they inculcate and the men they produce.

The Royal and S. Thomas’ cricket teams deserve the congratulations for a game they played and the manner in which they did so. The young men have much to be proud of and it is hoped that they will exceed expectations and be better representatives of their elite schools and those who have come before them.