North Park Secondary School undoubtedly stands tall amongst the athletic giants of Peel. One of the keys to North Park’s tremendous success has been the junior and senior boys’ cricket teams. With only 2 losses combined this season, people can’t help but wonder what makes the North Park cricket teams so successful.
When asked why he believes his team is so successful, the captain of the junior team, Sparsh Patel, explains, “I feel like we all have a lot of talent and everyone brings a different skill set to the team. Our fielders work really hard, our bowlers are exceptional and our batters are always chasing and always set scores high.” As soon as you walk into a practice, the effort of each player is notable, and how they all are working to make sure they can contribute to the championship effort.
The success of North Park cricket can be attributed to their team-first mentality. Everyone puts the team’s success over their own personal statistics. The captain of the senior cricket team, Aarvan Kuieskar, expressed just how this team manages to create chemistry year after year, regardless of personnel change. “We practice as a team, and we believe in giving everyone a chance in ROPSSAA. We always find spots for everyone and make sure they feel welcome and relaxed, as this team did for me when I first joined.” Bad sportsmanship is simply not welcome on the North Park cricket teams. Mr. Budhram has a policy of ‘stomping it [bad sportsmanship] right out’ as soon as he notices any trouble, through either one-on-one conversations or team discussions.
All schools have teams, but why is the chemistry in our locker room so much deeper than other schools? Mr. Budhram, the coach of both teams, conducts tryouts at the start of the school year, long before the beginning of the season. This extra practice time allows the team members to get to know each other, and their strengths and weaknesses. When asked about this method, players were overwhelmingly satisfied with the early tryout system, as it helped them build confidence and connections, as well as improving their skills.
The up-and-coming grade nine all rounder, Adhitya Rajesh, had this to say about how this team has affected him outside of cricket: “It [moving into high school] has been great because the grade tens have been very helpful. And I have also made friends and relationships with teammates that I otherwise wouldn’t have.” The North Park cricket teams take pride in their welcoming and home-like team spirit.
Players expressed how leadership has played an important role in their development, both athletically and socially. Key bowler for the junior cricket team, Prithvi Krishna, said, “[It] feels like the [junior] team from last year. We have improved a lot since then because of the grade tens, and now we’re teaching the grade nines, making them better, so they can lead next year.”
When interviewed, every player expressed how hard-working and diligent the team was. They have all bought into the system and both the junior and senior teams are looking to win championships this year. Mr. Budhram also expressed his delight with this year’s teams’ dedication to practice and improvement. He said, “[the players] are dedicated to the team and dedicated to their sport. lot of students outside of school, they practice, whether that’s on the field, at home, on the weekends; they practice to get better.” Many players also agreed with this sentiment, and many of them gave examples of their extra dedication to the craft. They practiced at lunch or on the weekends together to make sure they can perform when the time comes.
The team was often credited with playing smart, whereas many opposing school teams simply showed up and played the sport. According to multiple players on the junior and senior teams, their teams are always discussing strategies and playing the mental game, unlike their competitors. Ranodeep Dutta, a bowler on the senior team said, “I’m a bowler, so when the bowling side isn’t doing well, I try to lead with energy, so they know the game isn’t over and so they can have high hopes and perform well.”
The teams change year after year, yet we see North Park achieving great success regardless of their roster. This can be attributed to the unique and rigorous tryout process. Mr. Budhram explained what he values when selecting players: “I value respect, I value the learning attitude, I value team players, people who support the team, who support other players, who do what needs to be done, even if they have to sacrifice, for example, playing time.” Cricket is a team sport, and it is important that the players understand they are playing with the team. Being amazing at cricket is great, but it should not come at the expense of sportsmanship.
So how can you be a part of North Park’s great cricket teams next year? Well, Mr. Budhram suggests that you come in with an open mind and ready to learn. He said teachability is the most important trait in any player. You should also be ready to put in work to improve yourself. A good work ethic is a great way to stand out and hopefully be selected for North Park’s prestigious team for the next season.
THE NORTH STAR 