The Royal Thomian is the longest uninterrupted cricket series in the world

Dishan Joseph Daily News 6 March 2024

STC Cricket Team of 1952

The Battle of the Blues is a spending cricket encounter. Over the decades this big match has transcended cricket and become a celebration of humanity. To me the Royal-Thomian is a sterling manifestation of brotherhood. Through brotherhood individuals find strength, comfort, and understanding in each other, fostering an environment of camaraderie.The bonds from our college days have been beautifully sustained decades later.I have heard many past cricketers, from both schools say “Cricket was our life. Cricket is always in our blood”.

Cricket history tells us about an old match in England. In 1837, the only two universities of that time, Oxford and Cambridge played each other for the first time to be labeled as England’s Battle of the Blues.The Eton-Harrow encounter, which is the only schools event somewhat comparable in England, was interrupted during World War I.

From vintage Ceylon the Royal-Thomian has a wonderful history which gives both schools a radiant distinction. Old records show us the original match was played between the Colombo Academy and S. Thomas’ College, Mutwal in 1879, with schoolmasters and schoolboys participating. Ashley Walker captained the Colombo Academy (founded by Rev. Joseph Marsh) while Rev. S. J. Meyrick, a member of the staff played for S. Thomas’ College, Mutwal. This encounter is not considered the first match as masters played for both schools.

History records S. Thomas’ College as the first school to play cricket in Ceylon. In 1864 it is said S. Thomas’ College played the first match against the Small Pass Cricket Club in Colombo, the result is recorded was an eight run victory for the college. More importantly this 1864 match has gone down in history as the first recorded Ceylonese cricket match played in the country. As the Thomian fraternity we take due pride in this fact.

Ashley Walker – a Cambridge ‘Blue’ arrived in Ceylon in January 1877 to take up duties at the Colombo Academy in Pettah (later renamed Royal College and shifted to Reid Avenue). Walker started coaching the Academy boys and organized the first Academy cricket team in 1878.

In 1880, the students took part and this first official encounter between the Colombo Academy and S. Thomas’ College, Mutwal (before shifting to Mount Lavinia) was played at Galle Face Grounds. It is recorded J. W. de Silva was the Colombo Academy captain and F. W. McDonnell the Thomian captain. In this first encounter Colombo Academy won by 62 runs.In 1881 Colombo Academy changed its name to Royal College.During early times the school principals stood as umpires.The principals ceased to be umpires in 1912, and gave way to past cricketers.

The Battle of the Blues match is played for the prestigious D. S. Senanayake Memorial Shield. Incidentally, D. S. Senanayake, who became the first Prime Minister of Independent Ceylon, donned the Thomian cap in 1901 and 1902. This shield was first presented in 1928. In 1879 the big match celebrated 100 years, and there was a carnival. During this year the match was extended for 3 days. Since then that tradition has been maintained. Two Thomians Mahinda Halangoda and C.P. Richards were the heroes of this match.

Arguably the most important quality for a batsman to have is the ability to pick up line and length early. It basically means that once the ball leaves the bowler’s hand, the batsman is able to quickly determine where the ball is going to land and how high and wide the delivery is going to be by the time it reaches them.The most elite batsmen will also have great decision-making skills, making them less prone to get out in ill-advised ways.If a batsman is adept at playing a huge range of cricket shots, they will be able to hit the ball into more areas of the field.Over the years both teams have produced some amazing batsmen, whose style entertained the crowds.

Galaxy of Stars

The “blue & black” legion created some cricketing legends. They are Hon. D.S. Senanayake (Prime Minister of Ceylon), Hon. Dudley Senanayake (Prime Minister of Ceylon),Michael Tissera (played his first match for STC aged 14 years and captained the team in 1957/58). Michael captained the Ceylon team subsequently. Other stars were AnuraTennakkoon (Captain Sri Lanka), Bradman Weerakoon, Lieutenant Colonel S. Saravanamuttu, Duleep Mendis (Captain Sri Lanka), Guy de Alwis, P. Saravanamuttu, Ranil Abeynaike, Shantha Kottegoda (Army Commander) and Jeewan Mendis.

Vernon Prins was a Sri Lankan cricketer who captained the Ceylon team in first-class matches. Prins attended S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, where he played for the First XI for several years, captaining the team in 1942–1943. He was our family friend, having worked with my late grandfather in the Sri Lanka Police.

Royal College can boast of great men who wielded the willow. They are J.R. Jayawardene (President of Sri Lanka).Jayewardene excelled in sports, playing for the college cricket team, debuting in the Royal-Thomian series in 1925. Sir John Kotelawala (Prime Minister of Ceylon). Young Kotelawala attended Royal College, Colombo, representing the school in the Royal–Thomian.

Bertram. R. Heyn (Army Commander) was another famous cricketer. He played for the cricket team at Royal College, debuting in 1930 and played in the Royal-Thomian. He played for the Ceylon cricket team and his most famous feat was getting Sir Donald Bradman out on his last appearance in Colombo, in a one-day match between Australia and All-Ceylon (1948). I had the privilege of meeting him on a few occasions, during the sunset years of his life.

Some of the other Royalist are Major Benjamin. W. Bawa (Solicitor General of Ceylon), M.A. Macan Markar – the first Professor of Medicine at the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya. Colonel Fredrick de Saram also played for Royal College. He later entered Oxford and made 1000 runs in the English county season. Another Royalist who excelled was Conroy. I. Gunasekera who made his appearance in 1938. C.I. Gunasekera can be considered as a versatile all-rounder. Eran Wickremeratne (Member of Parliament), Ranjan Madugalle- Sri Lankan cricketer and Chief of the panel of ICC match referees, Asantha de Mel (Sri Lankan cricketer) and Jehan Mubarak kept up the Royal cricket tradition.

Beyond the pitch

School cricket not only nurtures talent but also promotes inclusivity and diversity in Sri Lankan society. With a rich history and an enduring passion for the game, cricket has left an indelible mark on Royal College and S.Thomas College. Cricket serves as a unifying force, transcending cultural differences. Today it’s a national obsession that brings together people from all walks of life.

The glorious Royal-Thomian match is celebrated as a sporting festival, with fans of diverse backgrounds coming together, creating a vibrant and harmonious atmosphere. The sport’s ability to unite thousands under the banner of their favorite team fosters a sense of belonging and shared identity-locally and globally. Our Battle of the Blues has transcended boundaries, language, and religion, serving as a unifying force in a diverse nation.

The Royal-Thomian has set the benchmark and many other colleges have their big matches modeled on our sporting encounter. Cricket not only fosters skill development but also instills values like teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship. Team spirit fosters collaborative habits among students and motivates them to work together for achieving a common goal.“Team work makes the dream work”. At school and in life, team players will be drawn to organizations that recognize, reward and cultivate team work. All members who have played for the Royal-Thomian have excelled in the corporate sector and other fields of their careers. Moreover, today cricket has reached the grassroots level, providing opportunities for budding talents from diverse backgrounds to showcase their skills.

George Bernard Shaw said ‘Cricket is a game played by 11 fools and watched by 11000 fools.’ We don’t agree. Bernard Shaw would not have said this if he had watched a pulsating Royal-Thomian match. Perhaps this Irish writer never really understood the power and spirit of cricket!The pageantry and extravaganza which form a kaleidoscope of colour, the electrifying atmosphere in the crowd and the annual pilgrimage of old boys from across the world all form the spirit of the Royal Thomian.

The Royal-Thomian Battle of the Blues Inter-School Big Match has been filled with nostalgic memories over the years. Brotherhood creates a sense of unity and shared purpose. This collective force, driven by a common goal, allows for greater achievements.The Royal- Thomian matchis a symbol of unity, a powerful source of inspiration, and a cultural phenomenon that has shaped the lives of millions. Cricket’s influence brilliantly extends beyond the boundaries of the pitch. Esto Perpetua !!!

Forever One : A Thomian flashback of 1992

Dishan Joseph

A spectacular cricket encounter between Royal College and S. Thomas’ College is set to take place. March is the month of big matches in Sri Lanka. The Royal-Thomian match is laced with history and decorum, and has produced talented players to our national team for decades. Today as I remember the way we used to gel with classmates at the match venue (and other post match venues) will be cherished. My thoughts race back to the match of 1992. My first big match experience, as a schoolboy spectator almost 30 years ago. I was 16-years-old then and going for the match was a mark of maturity.

School closed early on Wednesday afternoon. The traditional days allocated for the match are Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The cycle parade was one of the main events that ushered in the Battle of the Blues season. There would be many other events hosted by ‘old boys’ of past batches, and these events created much excitement. Back in the day when there was no social media or Netflix these college events were really cool and appreciated by the students, old boys and their families. I can safely assume the girls from Ladies College and Bishops College also looked forward to the Royal-Thomian. The Battle of the Blues, still has the powerful charm to connect old friends.

A stern class master unleashed a warning that the boys should not misbehave and tarnish the good name of the school. Similar sentiments were kindly echoed later by Rev. Duleep de Chickera, who years later became the dynamic Bishop of Colombo. Our entire class had agreed to meet outside the school gate, and to proceed to the match venue. And finally that magical day- the first day of the big match. We dressed in shades of blue and black. Our transport arrived – a white Hiace van. Not many fancy jeeps those days. I am still bewildered as to how so many of us squeezed into this vehicle. As we passed Borella junction some traffic police officers gazed at the van in surprise. Songs were sung in vocal disharmony with much glee. There were no Facebook posts then or updates on Instagram. As we neared Serpentine Road, the traffic was moving slowly. People had come in their thousands to enjoy this amazing cricket match.

Policemen were deployed at the gates. The P. Sara Stadium was filled with students from both schools. As we approached the Blue and Black tent, the pulsating beats of the papare bands echoed. By 12 noon the bands tempo had reached a dazzling momentum, as some were in high spirits after having consumed various other spirits. Everyone was dancing or earnestly attempting to do so. The floor of the tent was littered with polythene sachets. A fat baldheaded soul was dancing at top gear and stepped on a polythene sheet. Suddenly, he was thrust towards the band with increased velocity. A comical crash resulted. The brass cymbal was sent into orbit landing on the head of a Police Sergeant. That agitated soul, who was standing for hours already burdened by match duty, unleashed a volley of uncouth warnings. Someone tendered an apology to that guardian of the law. The music came to a standstill. Seconds later the tent exploded with laughter and the sergeant now feeling comforted walked away. The papare band resumed their music as the girls swayed their hips and let loose their hair!

There were no burgers to snack on in those days. Of course there were Dutch Burghers watching the match. Pizza was not heard of in sunny paradise and would appear somewhere in the following year with a big bang. Yet the enterprising denizens of Wanathamulla (a locality of hardcore tough guys then many with prison records) had harnessed the culinary talents of their women. These women were the local version of those women one would see in the ghettos of America! The Wanathamulla lasses were bold and beautiful in a different sense. They were skilled with witty phrases and dark words that were taken out of their verbal arsenal when required.

Their cooking skills were not the best; however they sold an assortment of savories. You ate at your own risk, and dare not complain; the menu included devilled thoramaalu (seer fish) and deep fried chicken drumsticks encrusted with sauce. Of course there were other food vendors of reputed brands. For the Wanathamulla vendors the unsophisticated sales girls displayed smoothly oiled legs, and this was thought to be a sales tactic- by them. The ‘happy hour’ on unlicensed beer lasted many hours! Thankfully, I remained sober, to remember this narrative. I must mention that consuming excessive liquor is not a wise choice, as you must remain within your senses to enjoy big match!! Drunk and disorderly behaviour by anyone must not be tolerated at any big match. As the match entered its “sunset overs” there was a moment of silence and confusion on the field as the umpire seemed to be puzzled about an LBW decision. A wise Royalist shouted, “I say umpire, learn or depart.” Ripples of high energy laughter resonated from both tents.

The memories of that match were so intense. The unfolding years have impacted our lives in many aspects with classmates going overseas. Yet the bonds of brotherhood from school remain steadfast to this day. One must have fun but also firmly establish an academic interest in any field – remembering that knowledge has no compromise. School girls and other women who come for big matches, are mutual partners in our school journey; they must receive respect at all times. As you leave school, life will challenge you with greater encounters, than cricket. You must learn, establish good decision making skills and character. You must learn to ‘stay the course’ and remain in the bigger game of life. The Thomian flag must always fly with success.