Cricket



not only charming but also ensures a steady stream of talented cricketers......"
New ground was broken when r.C.H.Gunasekera became the first local to play in the English county championship when he represented Middlesex in 1919. F.C. De Saram covered himself with glory when he represented Oxford University (Blues in 1934 & 1935) with istinction and became the only amateur in history to have scored 1000 runs on his first-class debut season (1934) at an average of over 50. In the same year, his brilliant century (128 out of a total of 216, the next highest scorer being D.F.Walker who scored 16) against the touring Australians with Bradman, and led by Bill Woodfull which included a bowling attack of the fearsome leg-spinner Clarrie Grimmett, is still talked of. Ceylon, as a cricketing nation, was raising its head.

But, the journey was just beginning, the journey that culminated on 17 March 1996 when Sri Lanka wore the crown of the World Champions in a type of cricket that took four more decades to emerge. Laddie Outschoorn (Worcestershire 1946-59) carried the torch in the English county championship by becoming the first Ceylonese to play professional cricket in their first-class circuit.He was soon followed by the likes of Stanley Jayasinghe and Clive Inman (both for Leicestershire) and the last of our countrymen to play in the English county championship, and shine, was Aravinda de Silva. One must also not forget the magnificent contribution made by Gamani Goonesena who played for Nottinghamshire and captained Cambridge University (1957). He not only led them to a convincing win over Oxford University in their annual fixture but also scored a record-breaking double century in the game. Goonesena established many University records and later represented the state of New South Wales (Australia) in the Sheffield Shield tournamen, the only Ceylonese to have played in the first-class domestic tournaments in England and Australia.

However, with due respect to our present cricketers, it must be mentioned that the players, circa 1940 -1970, if given the same opportunities, exposure and the financial incentives, would probably have done even better. Master batsman Mahadeva Sathasivam was, by all accounts, a genius of a batsman. Frank Worrell, the former West Indian skipper publicly announced that if he was to pick a World XI., the first batsman he would pick would be "Sathasivam from Ceylon."

Then, there was F.C.de Saram, Sargo Jayawickrema, D.S.Jayasundera, Robert de Kretser, C.I.Gunasekera, Stanley Jayasinghe, Vernon Prins, H.I.K.Fernando, Gamani Goonesena, Makkin Salih, Malcolm Francke, Bob Bartels, Mahes Rodrigo, Channa Gunasekera, Abdul Lafir, Michael Tissera, Ronnie Reid, and quite a few more who could have adorned any Test team.

Surmounting many odds, Sri Lanka were accorded Full Member status of the International Cricket Conference on 21 July 1981, and the first-ever Test, against England, was played at the P.Saravanamuttu stadium, in February 1982. The game where the Sri Lankans, led by Bandula Warnapura, dominated until the last day, was however lost in dramatic fashion at the post.

However in 1984, the Sri Lankans outplayed England at Lord's in a sensational display and gave further indication of their undoubted skill when they declared both their innings closed but were unable to force a win. And, it came in 1993 at the S.S.C. grounds when the then unknown Sanath Jayasuriya hammered the first ball he received from England left-arm spinner Phil Tufnell for a six to herald a Sri Lankan win by 5 wickets. The worm had turned.

The continuing terrorist war and the consequent economic problems were a drawback for international teams to visit the island. Overseas tours were difficult to obtain due to lack of "marketability" of our players. Yet, the general interest in the game amongst the public was astounding, thanks mainly to television. The game was being played on paddy fields, street corners and any available open spaces. During this period of bombs and mayhem, the only silver lining in the lives of the people is cricket.

The exploits of Aravinda de Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya and Arjuna Ranatunga are on the lips of schoolboys, housewives, pavement hawkers, politicians, business magnates and even religious dignitaries. Cricket is a national pastime as much as soccer is for Brazil. The joy, happiness and the euphoria of Sri Lankans living here and abroad when the World Cup was won in 1996 will never be forgotten.

Today, Sri Lanka as a cricket-playing nation, is a country to be reckoned with. 50 years ago, in 1948, when the Lion flag was hoisted over the island nation and the great Don Bradman's Australian team played a match against Ceylon, the pitch was found to be embarrassingly some two yards short! It was a big laugh for the Australians. Fittingly, it was the Australians that Sri Lanka trounced by 7 wickets in the final of the World Cup on that memorable night of 17 March 1996 at Lahore. Sweet revenge.

Today, the tag of World Champions has given a new identity to Sri Lanka. It is not only due to a bloody senseless conflict nor for the famed Ceylon tea that Sri Lanka is now known.From this country hails a set of cricketers who play the game in a manner to thrill the cognoscenti and the commoner, and who has brought honour and glory to their native land. A tribute both the cricketers and the people of Sri Lanka will always cherish and will be a landmark in the annals of our history.

Note:The best book on Sri lankan cricket is known as "Janashakthi book of Sri lankan Cricket".Please visit http://www.info.lk/lankaeshop to order on line