Battle of the Blues:133*

As published on Planetcricket

Cricket is often referred as a gentleman’s game but when it comes to matches, nothing is better than watching or being a part of a clash between arch-rivals – be it the Ashes or India vs Pakistan – the intensity in such games is so high that its unbelievable. Such games are known to generate some outstanding cricket and are the prime reason why cricket is loved the world over.

We all know how big a series the Ashes is for both Australia and England. They give, as they are expected, the best to help them chalk up victory. Careers are made and ruined in such series. Such tournaments are a cricket fans’ delight. Now, lets talk about one of the oldest yet little known rivalry of the game. A tournament between two high schools known as “Battle of the Blues” or “Royal–Thomian” is one of the oldest uninterrupted tournaments in cricketing history and if you think that it belongs to Australia, England or the undivided India, then you are way off the target. Battle of the Blues is a bilateral played between the teams of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia and Royal College, Colombo in Sri Lanka.

The Royal versus S. Thomas’ Cricket Match, is played over 3 days in March every year. The original match was played between the Colombo Academy and S. Thomas’ College in 1879 making it even older than the Ashes at 133 years old. In the first match, both schoolmasters as well as schoolboys participated. However, from 1880 onwards, only schoolboys were allowed to play. In the inaugural encounter, Colombo Academy (Royal College) was represented by J. W. de Silva, B. W. Bawa, B. de Silva, A. Jansz, C. Wellopulle, C. de Silva, O. Van Hoff, Wilfred de Kretser, William de Kretser, P. P. Jansz and A. Weinman while S. Thomas’ College comprised F. W. McDonnell, C. Wilkins, E. R. McDonnell, F. T. Ellawala, W. B. De Saram, W. E. Grenier, C. H. De Saram, D. Wendt, C. O. Siebel, J. Louransz and C. De Saram.

The winner of the tournament is awarded with the prestigious D. S. Senanayake Memorial Shield. Rt. Hon. D. S. Senanayake, the Father of Nation of Sri Lanka and independent Ceylon’s first Prime Minister, donned the Thomian cap in 1901 and 1902. The electric live bands, smoke bombs and the singing and dancing by thousands of die-hards of the two schools, the special tents, Colts, Stallions, cycle parade, and the traditionally exclusive Mustang enclosure makes it a much anticipated event.

14 players from both schools including the likes of Ashantha de Mel, Duleep Mendis, Ranjan Madugalle and Jehan Mubarak, have played for Sri Lanka in official Tests and/one-day Internationals since 1982, the year Sri Lanka played its first official match. The amazing thing is that even World War I and II failed to halt the series. This year’s series ended in a draw and the shield was awarded to the S. Thomas’ College as the holders. To date, the Royals have emerged victorious 33 times while S. Thomas’ College has managed to win 34 times. There have been 66 draws. It remains as the sporting show-piece of the year and one which the people desperately wait to witness.

Lets have a look at some interesting facts about the tournament:

• Royal were once dismissed for just 9 runs. Rain interrupted this match and the Royals refused to play.
• 45 centuries have been scored in the tournament.
• Royalists who played for Sri Lanka are Ranjan Madugalle, Jayantha Amerasinghe, Ashantha de Mel, Rohan Jayasekera, Roshan Jurangpathy and Jehan Mubarak.
• Duleep Mendis, Saliya Ahangama, Guy de Alwis, Ishak Sahabdeen, Kapila Wijegunawardene, Kausheek Amalean, Nisal Fernando and Aruna Gunewardene are all Thomians to have represented the country at the highest level.
•  Thomian Ishak Sahabdeen also captained the Sri Lanka hockey team in 1989.
• Thomian Wicket Keeper Carl Cooke’s effected a record 9 dismissals ( 6 ct, 2 st, 1 run-out) in 1923.
• Thomian Alfred Holsinger, who was Ceylon’s fastest bowler prior to 1900, was the first Ceylonese cricket professional. He started playing in the English League in 1899.
• The Royalist Ranjan Madugalle is Chief Match Referee of the Test and One-day International Panel of Referees and has refereed back-to-back World Cup final matches in 1999 and 2003.
• Thomian Dr. James Arthur Scharenguivel was the first Ceylonese to play for a foreign country – All Scotland and the first to score a century overseas in 1902. Duleep Mendis, the Thomian, is the only Sri Lankan to play and Captain a World XI (versus the West Indies in 1981/82).
• A postal stamp was released by the island nation on the successful completion of 125 years of the annual tournament.