Free hit introduced in sixes tournament

The 17th Munchee Glucofit Cricket Sixes, conducted by the Old Wesleyites Sports Club, will include the 'free hit' for the first time, in addition to the four-run penalty for bowling a no-ball.

The tournament, sanctioned by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA) which is to be held at Campbell Park on October 16, 17 and 18, will have six combined school teams from outstation districts among the total of 36 participants.

The only schools cricket sixes of its kind has had an uninterrupted run for the past 16 years and according to the chairman of the organising committee, Naveen de Silva, two women's teams will also feature in an exhibition match to add more glamour. "We have done all the possible things to preserve the value of the tournament," he said.

In order to promote the tournament to new heights, a painting competition, namely 'Munchee Glucofit Cricart' will take place on the second and final days of the competition, featuring young artists from Wesley College. This is being done to evoke interest and bring more students to the venue.

According to the organisers, the competition will be open to other schools from next year.

In addition to the two main awards, which are the Munchee Glucofit Champions Trophy for the winner and the Old Wesleyites Trophy for the runners-up, a new trophy will be presented to the most well-disciplined team on and off the field. Eight members each from the winning and runner-upteams will receive individual trophies.

Lakshman de Silva, the group managing director of Ceylon Biscuits Limited, stressed his concern on attracting spectators for a school sixes tournament of this magnitude. "The only drawback I see about this tournament is the inability to draw schoolboys to come and witness the matches. In the past few years, we have noticed that as sponsors and we are concerned this year of attracting more spectators to the venue."

The defending champions, Prince of Wales, could expect tough competition from other school teams participating as 36 teams will be allotted on a first come first serve basis. From the 36 teams, nine will represent Under-19 cricketers who will play in a combined district team. These teams will represent the districts of Polonnaruwa, Nuwara Eliya and Bandarawela, Badulla and Moneragala, Ampara and Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Jaffna, Anuradhapura, Hambantota and Vavuniya.

Two leading international schools have also been invited to take part this year. All teams will compete with branded coloured clothing provided by the sponsor. For the first time in their history, Cricinfo, the premier cricket website, will provide live ball-by-ball updates of all the matches. The draw of the tournament will take place on September 29 at the Wesley College main hall. In addition, the newly re-laid turf wicket at Campbell Park, sponsored by Sri Lanka Cricket, will be declared open on the final day of the tournament.