A Landmark in Ceylon’s Cricket Test History: Beating India in January 1965-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Nirgunan Tiruchelvam, in ESPNcricinfo in 2013 — 14 August 2013 to be precise — with this heading “When the Lankans won a ‘Test’ in India” Sri Lanka’s rise in Test cricket is one of the finest underdog stories in the game’s history. England have played Test cricket for 126 years, while Sri Lanka have only competed for 31. Yet Sri Lanka has two batsmen with 10,000 Test runs while England have none. Sri Lanka have also produced the game’s highest wicket-taker: Muttiah Muralitharan’s career haul of 800 is more than double the tally of England’s leading bowler (Ian Botham with 383). Sri Lanka have won Tests in England, West Indies, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa. However, a Test win in India has remained elusive. Their score-line in India is appalling. They have played 17 Tests in India, ...

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Carlyle Perera: Captain Marvellous … Led University to Sara Trophy Triumph in 1962/63-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Merril Gunaratne, in The Island, 9 October 2022, with this title “Carlyle Perera: Doyen of University Cricket” Dr. Carlyle Perera of St Joseph’s College and University of Ceylon who died a few days ago was a gifted cricketer, well known in cricket circles in the 1950’s and 60’s. He left his imprint on University cricket by winning the Saravanamuttu cricket trophy in 1962-63. It was a unique achievement, for not only did he wrest the trophy from the monopolistic control of established clubs, but also created a record by achieving a feat unrivaled before or after by the University. Carlyle reached such dizzy heights with a band of exceptionally talented schoolboy cricketers who had gained admission to the University. It was an era when cricket was more a pastime than a full time commitment. But ...

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Ajit Jayasekera’s fond recollection of David Ponniah With photos of David’s visit to Sydney as Warden STC ( 2001 – 2008 )   Source:-stcobasydney Dr. David Arijunan Ponniah, Warden S.Thomas’ College, my friend, colleague and partner. I have been inundated with requests for speeches, articles and insights into my association with this magnificent cricketer and scholar, from the day he took over as the Warden of our great school. At least now, when some young Thomian stops me on the street and asks “hey, old man, what did you do at S.Thomas’?” I can proudly say, “I batted with David Ponniah”! David and I grew up at S.Thomas’ in the late ‘50s and ‘60s, when our school was churning out some of the best cricketing talent ever produced in its history. As little boys, we would watch in awe and admire the feats of the likes of Michael Tissera, Ronnie ...

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    CRICKET HISTORY, SRI LANKA – Notes from a small island Nicholas Brookes on the matches that played a pivotal role in the development of cricket in Sri Lanka. A close up of a mans face Description automatically generated Source:Wisdenblog – © John Wisden & Co. – © John Wisden & Co. Until 1982 Sri Lanka were stranded on the fringes of international cricket: a small island, marooned. Life on the outside wasn’t easy, but Sri Lanka still had something to make most of the cricketing world envious. You might call it a geographical blessing. In the days before planes, the only way to get between England and Australia was by boat. It was an arduous journey that could take up to three months and required a stopover. With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, Ceylon (as it was called until 1972) emerged as the natural point ...

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