SLC focus on enhancing the standard of club cricketers

Jerome Jayaratne, Director Cricket, SLC explaining the objective of the programme (Pic courtesy SLC)

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), in its ongoing efforts to enhance domestic cricket performance, provided local clubs with state-of-the-art performance-enhancing equipment, including skinfold calipers and pocket radars with smart displays.

A total of 17 clubs and the Four Centres of Excellence of the SLC received skinfold calipers, enabling trainers to assess players’ body fat percentage by measuring subcutaneous fat thickness at specific body locations.

This tool helps track fitness progress and assess body composition, ensuring the players maintain peak physical condition for competitive cricket.

Additionally, clubs were provided with Pocket Radar devices that offer precise ball speed measurements and other performance metrics. These tools are essential for both training and competitive analysis, allowing real-time performance monitoring.

The equipment was distributed during a special ceremony held at SLC attended by senior SLC officials, including Dr. Jayantha Dharmadasa, Vice-President of International Cricket, Ashley de Silva, CEO, Jerome Jayaratne, Director of Cricket, Chinthaka Edirimanne, Head of National Cricket Operations and Pramodya Wickramasinghe, Consultant Convenor, Major Clubs.

“It is important for the clubs to focus on player fitness, and apart from building the skill set of the players, a weightage should also be given to maintaining the fitness levels of the players; hence any player to get national recognition should fulfill the fitness criteria set by the selectors,” said Ashley de Silva, CEO, SLC.

SLC, to make the distribution productive, will work with the clubs by training fitness trainers and coaches of the clubs in the effective use of the new equipment.

“This skinfold testing equipment will help clubs measure, evaluate and implement necessary steps to keep players fit and prepare for competitive cricket at all times,” said Jerome Jayaratne, Director of Cricket at SLC.

“The Pocket Radars will enable coaches to consistently measure bowling speeds and monitor various aspects of player performance in real time,” Jayaratne added.

The introduction of these advanced tools marks a significant step in strengthening Sri Lanka’s First-Class cricket system, enhancing the player standards in terms of fitness and performance.

The distribution program was held at SLC with the participation of club representatives and SLC Super Provincial Coaches, reinforcing SLC’s dedication to elevating domestic cricket through technological advancements.

Among the clubs that received the equipment are CCC, Colts, BRC, Chilaw Marians CC, NCC, Ragama CC, SSC, Moors SC, Negombo CC, Tamil Union, Badureliya CC, Panadura SC, Bloomfield, Kurunegala YCC, Ace Capital CC, Negogoda S & WC and Police SC. 

(SLC Media Release)