The Gunasekara Lineage in Ceylon Cricket – By Michael Roberts
Source : thuppahis
Alston Mahadevan is with Johann Gunasekara …. In FACEBOOK …………… https://www.facebook.com/groups/277933739075780/?multi_permalinks=923211474548000&ref=share …………………….. Cricketing dynasties of Ceylon Part 1 – The Gunasekaras
When Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon, cricket was nurtured by many outstanding cricketers and administrators including the three cricketing families, the Gunasekaras, the De Sarams and the Kelaarts. They had a significant impact from the turn of the twentieth century to the 1960s.
Dr Churchill Hector Gunasekara captained Royal College in 1912 and joined Cambridge University to study medicine. He missed becoming a Cambridge Blue due to WW1 but played county cricket when Sir Pelham “Plum” Warner, who captained Middlesex and England, invited him to play for Middlesex. Dr C H Gunasekara helped Dr John Rockwood to form the Ceylon Cricket Association in 1922 and formalise the cricket administration. He returned to Ceylon and captained the country in the 1930s. His brother D.B (Danny) Gunasekara captained Ceylon in 1909. His son Channa Gunasekara and his nephews C I Gunasekara and W L Mendis also played for Ceylon. Dr,D.B.Gunasekara ( son of D.B Snr) played for Ceylon against England in the early 1930s.
Channa Gunasekara a stylish and technically correct opening batsman, played for Ceylon in the 1950s.
C I Gunasekara made his international debut for Ceylon against Don Bradman’s Australians in 1948. He was a hard hitting batsman who captained Ceylon from 1961 to 1964. Dr Lewis Mendis was an accomplished opening batsman.
Ranjit Gunasekera, captain of the Royal College cricket team in 1968, is the grandson of D B (Danny) Gunasekara who captained Ceylon in 1909.
