The Originator of the “Battle of the Blues” – By S. S Perera
Source : THOMIANA Newsletter – May 2023
To the present generation of Royalists, it might sound strange that an Englishman was originally responsible for the duel. Ashley Walker was one of those Empireminded Englishman, who sailed East – not for business— not to make money—but to contribute to the game of cricket. He came to teach the Royalists of the 1870’s how to play cricket. How well he succeeded can be seen by the development of the game at Royal.
Ashley Walker went to Westminster College and then to Cambridge. He played in the Oxford Cambridge matches in 1864, 65 and 66 and was awarded his “Blue”. Later, he played for Yorkshire in the County Championships.
Ashley Walker arrived in Ceylon in 1877, as a Senior Assistant Master at the Colombo Academy, as Royal
College was then known. The Academy was then situated in San Sebastian Hill, Pettah. It is said that no
student who played cricket was punished by him for being slack in his work. How Royalists would wish for more of this type!! He has been called the “Father of Ceylon Cricket” and “father of Cricket at Royal”.
He was one who believed in friendship through cricket, inter-school cricket. So, he arranged the Royal
Thomian match with the very willing cooperation of Rev. F. T Falkner, Warden of S. Thomas’ and himself was a Cambridge man.
In 1879, Ashley Walker captained the Academy, as Royal was then known, against S. Thomas’ College.
The Academy won by 51 runs – Ashley Walker proved their undoing. At that time the Masters took part in the annual encounter. In 1884, Ashley Walker captained the Ceylon squad against the Australians.
Ashley Walker, a genial English gentleman, will be remembered by all Royalists for his contribution to cricket at Royal and for originating such a happy occasion where the rival schools meet in the friendliest atmosphere and where old timers can revive memories of by-gone days.
Courtesy: S. S Perera
