The Royal - Thomian spirit will reverberate forever
Cricket in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) was started by Englishmen during colonial times as a means of relaxation during weekends. The game has undoubtedly left behind a rich heritage. In this background Sri Lanka has produced some cricketers, especially from Royal and S.Thomas’ who could easily match their skills against the world’s best Ranjan Madugalle later went on to captain Sri Lanka and Sudath Pasqual was included in the 1979 second World Cup team in London. This was my first World Cup mission. This tour became a reality due to Mevan Pieris, the former Thomian gangling bowler and other friends not forgetting Shaw Wilson of Royal.
Royal sent S. Thomas’ plunging into a seven wickets defeat in the 134th ‘Battle of the Blues’ at the SSC grounds over the weekend. No doubt in the years to come the feat of claiming a match bag of nine wickets by Chamika Karunaratne will be spoken in awe for many years and the Royalists will undoubtedly revel with glee whilst remembering this victory.
Cricket started in the meadows in England, for the right reasons, and it is a great leveller. Today the sport’s spirit has spread its wings far and wide - especially in Commonwealth Countries and Sri Lanka is one of them.
Cricket in Ceylon was started by Englishmen during colonial times as a means of relaxing during weekends. The game has undoubtedly left behind a rich heritage. In this background Sri Lanka has produced some cricketers, especially from Royal and S.Thomas’ who could match their skills against the world’s best.
The 134th Battle of the Blues is one of the oldest cricket games in the world barring the one in Australia where W.M. Woodful the great Austrian led this traditional Battle of the Blues. The game could be easily com- pared to the Eton-Harrow encounter in England.
Two old Royalists has left an indelible mark in the cricketing history of Oxford. They are late Col. F.C. de Saram and Gamini Goonasena. F.C. de Saram was the first to score a 100 for Oxford against against Woodful’s Australian team in 1930, if my memory serves me right.
FC coached the Thomians in the ‘79 centenary match with distinction and staged a great fightback to be remembered for all time. Gamini Goonesena led Cambridge to victory over Oxford with a brilliant allround performance. Late ‘Gamma’ could have played in any international team. Late Col. .F.C. de Saram, Mahesa Rodrigo and Goonesena were the pride of Royal, SSC and Sri Lanka cricket at that time.
Today I am feeble, my vision is poor, but I am still young at heart but my memory is still good. I am proud to say that this noble sport has taught me to play a straight bat on and off the field. In turn it has helped me to go places in life and maintain my professional integrity. To this, I owe a debt of gratitude to my lifelong friend, late Vernon George Prins, who was a prince among cricketers. He led the Thomians to victory over Royal in 1942 when Royal was led by R.S. Wickrematilleke.
The late Brig. John Halangoda a Trinity Lion’ in cricket was born and bred in the Hill Capital. He learnt his books and learnt to play the game at the school by the sea, S. Thomas’ Mt. Lavinia.
Going down memory lane one cannot forget the feats of Thomian fast bowler Lakshman Seneviratne who sewed up the innings, slowly but surely to frustrate Royal skipper Ranjan Madugalle and his team which had the late Guy de Alwis in the side. Guy played the role of an outstanding fielder in the team but played as a ‘keeper in the national team. No structure at S. Thomas’ is complete without mention of the 1979 gallant Thomian Centenary team marshaled by Col. FC de Saram.
I had a glimpse of the Royal-Thomian cricket encounter for the first time in 1943 at the P. Sara Stadium and was mesmerised by the spirit of the game forever. The game has taught me many lessons in life.
The star-studded Royalists were led by Ranjan Madugalle. He had Sudath Pasqual, Haroon Musafer, Rajiva Wijetunga, M.N. Perera, to name .a few and the team was strengthened by an ‘expatriate’ in Asantha de Mel (from Isipatana). The Royalists were coached by Gamini Salgado - a good reader of the game and an outstanding cricketer who opted to join the planting fraternity.
The game produced three days of nerve tingling cricket at the SSC ground, Maitland Place. Old boys around the world wended their way to capture nostalgic memories of this great battle. One cannot forget diehard supporter ‘Kadalay’ carrying the Royal flag, late DIG ACA Gaffoor ‘Uncle Gaffy’ to the school boys who kept the spirit of the game alive with his good humour and fine understanding.
Ranjan Madugalle later went on to captain Sri Lanka and Sudath Pasqual was included in the 1979 second World Cup team in London. This was my first World Cup mission. This tour became a reality due to Mevan Pieris, the former Thomian gangling bowler and other friends not forgetting Shaw Wilson of Royal. At present Wilson is a Warden in a High School in Melbourne, Australia. Shaw captained Royal in 1964. He was a cricketer, a gentleman and a coach par excellence. Royal were in control through the three day game. Batting first Royal made 321 for 8, declared and the Thomians made 154, made to follow on, bad light stopped play early on second day when opener Wijesinghe was hit on the head, with Asantha de Mel, Rajiva Wijetunga and Pasqual firing from all cylinders. The Thomians were in dire straits on the final day with a deficit 167 to avoid an innings defeat. It was proved right that cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties - until the last ball is bowled.
Former Sri Lanka President J.R. Jayewardene, a diehard old Royalist and a former Royal rugby skipper was there in full attire amidst overcasts skies to witness the game. The Thomians were led by Johan Pieris, a nephew of Cambridge Blue Ian Pieris, a past Thomian captain and a national cricketer and administrator to date.
This scribe has interviewed Bertie Wijesinghe the oldest old Thomian at 94. Bertie was a versatile sportsman during his time and did everything for nothing - country before self is his motto. Incidentally Bertie and late Lucien de Zoysa (Royal) were international commentators. The duo could match the world’s best. They were like poetry in motion.