KUALA LUMPUR – Schools have long been the cradle of Malaysian sports talent, instilling values like discipline, teamwork, and resilience. Yet cricket—a sport with a storied history in the Commonwealth—struggles to gain a foothold in the nation’s school system.
Unlike popular sports such as football and badminton, cricket is largely absent from school co-curricular activities, despite Malaysia’s notable achievements, including a historic Test victory against Australia in 1927.
That team, composed mostly of British-educated players, marked a high point in Malaysian cricket history, but the sport’s prominence has since declined, leaving the country trailing cricketing giants like India and Pakistan.
Interestingly, even non-Commonwealth nations like China have embraced cricket, establishing professional leagues that attract teams from Japan and South Korea.
The recent RM1 million allocation to the Malaysian Cricket Association (MCA) under Budget 2025, announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, offers a chance to rejuvenate cricket in Malaysia.
While the MCA plans to use the funds to strengthen the national team, veteran cricket coach and former school headmaster Jerome Fernandez argues that schools should be the priority.
Jerome, who coached in Kelantan for 32 years (1968–2001), and mentored two national cricketers—Mohamad Shukri Abdul Rahim and Mohd Saifful Hawari—emphasises the need for greater grassroots engagement.
“The MCA should collaborate with the Ministry of Education (MoE) to revive school-level tournaments, which are almost non-existent now,” Jerome told Scoop.
“Currently, school cricket events run for just one month a year, leaving aspiring players with no opportunities for the remaining 11 months. Many rely on private clubs to continue their passion, but this limits access, especially for children whose parents may not even know about the sport.”
Jerome also highlighted the lack of proper facilities.
“Grassroots players often train in public parks because schools lack cricket ovals. The RM1 million allocation could be used to improve facilities and organise more age-group tournaments,” he said when contacted.
As Malaysia prepares to host the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup from January 18 to February 2 next year, Jerome sees this as a golden opportunity to promote the sport.
“The MCA should organise bus trips for schoolchildren to watch matches for free. It’s a great way to spark interest and build future talent.”
Recognised for his dedication, Jerome was invited to lead the Malaysian under-17 team on a tour of Bombay in 2000.
Malaysia, drawn in Group A alongside India, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies, will face stiff competition in the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup. — November 23, 2024