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Distinguished Ananda Cricketers of yesteryear (1886 -1960)-By Meghavarna Kumarasinghe Source:Sundaytimes In that historic year 1886 a Buddhist High School was started at No. 61, Maliban Street, Pettah for Buddhist Children by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott and C.W. Leadbeater, a foreigner converted to Buddhism became the first Principal. There were 37 students enrolled to the school. Cricket, in keeping with the English traditions, was the fashionable game in the anglicised Schools during that period. The Buddhist High School took to it, in its infancy. The school produced C.E. Perera, whose cricket brought honour to the country, N.C. Raju, D.J. Wimalasunendra and H.D. Peiris, all of whom wielded the willow with great success. J.G.R. Weerasinghe in 1892 was the first recorded captain of cricket, ...