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Flamboyant Wicketkeeper Batsman Russell Hamer Passes Away – By Lawrence Machado Dashing wicketkeeper-batsman Russell Hamer, who played for Ceylon (later Sri Lanka) for many years, passed away in Colombo on Wednesday, March 27.  He was 76. The former Wesley College star, who had his share of health issues, was always a treat to watch on the field. He loved to entertain and had a loyal following wherever he played. A former Ceylon Schools representative, Hamer represented the country at the annual Gopalan Trophy against Tamil Nadu, with a highest score of 52 in the 1970-71 series. These matches were among the highlights for Ceylon and later Sri Lanka in the days before the country attained Test status in 1982. During a time when Ceylon produced crack wicketkeeper batsmen, Hamer was at the top of his game, playing a few limited over matches for the national team. This was a time ...