Whenever a household comprising a Royalist or a Thomian is filled with the resounding cries of ‘where is my flag’ or ‘where on earth is that lucky t shirt that I wore on the third day when we won’ you have to take it for granted that the Big Match more formally known as the Battle of the Blues is around the corner.
The three days of the Battle of the Blues which has a rich history of 135 years (this year being the 135th encounter) provides the perfect platform for a beautiful game of cricket as well as a gem of an opportunity for the two schools to showcase the vibrant camaraderie they possess. Old boys and present boys alike flock to the SSC grounds in hope of rekindling old friendships and igniting new ones as the young men who carry the weight of the two schools on their shoulders battle it out in the center in order to bring praise and glory to their respective alma maters.
Playing the ‘Big Match’ and watching the ‘Big Match’ are two completely different things and this writer did not have the luck or the talent to play the big match. However as a recent ‘old boy’ coming from the school where blue and gold runs in our blood I have had the opportunity to witness many of the encounters between the two schools. The feeling of being part of a massive boy’s tent decorated in beautiful shades of blue and gold along with the feeling of passionately screaming your heart out along with your school mates is honestly a feeling that cannot be put into words. The mere thought of the way over 5000 boys chant the letters R-0-Y-A-L sends chills down my spine and to this date is one of the most amazing and adrenaline pumping memories I have of the Big Match.
As an ardent fan I have always wondered what it might feel like for the cricketers from both schools to go out there and battle it out in the middle and as much as I could write page after page about my experiences at the match as a loyal supporter this article is centered around some of the great players who had the magnanimous honor of donning the simple but beautiful blue and gold cap over the years and their memories of the Battle of the Blues which they unanimously claim to be one of the most defining, and memorable experiences of their lives.
ThePapare.com was able to get in touch with Chulaka Amarasinghe, Anushka Polonawita, Jehan Mubarak, Andrew Perera, Sukitha Senaratne and Maneesha Tantrigoda who provided brief but useful insights in to their personal big match experiences.
Chulaka Amarasinghe
Chulaka who is better known by his nick name ‘Chula’ represented the College team from the year 1980 to 1983. He is a four year coloursman who captained the ‘Big Match’ winning side in the year 1983. He together with Rochana Jayawardena who scored 145 runs and had a match bag of 9 wickets ensured a much anticipated Royal victory after 14 years. His strong captaincy and good performances throughout the season led to him being recognized as the School Boy Cricketer of the year in the same year.
Interestingly his most memorable experience came in the year 2006 when he coached the side led by Nadun Punchihewa that won the big match after about 15 years. He stated ‘This win was even more special to me than the win we secured while I was captain because it was one of the most finely contested games of cricket that witnessed a special effort by our boys that got us over the line’
As a former coach his advice to this years team was as follows. ‘The fielding in the Royal Thomian is the most crucial aspect of the game so work hard in the field and also remember to strive to be the team that rises to the occasion as it is only the team that has the guts and the perseverance to strive forward that will be successful’.
Anushka Polonowita
Anushka is an exceptional sportsman who represented the College tennis and cricket teams. He is a four year coloursman who represented the team from the year 1993 to 1996 and he had the honor of captaining the side in his final year. He scored a brilliant 77 at his debut big match in the year 1993 and completed the rare feat of being able to score over 1000 runs and capture over 50 wickets in a season which he achieved during the 95/96 season. He was an exceptional character both on and off the field and he reached the pinnacle of his career as a school boy when he served College as the head prefect during the year 1996.
‘I have had tons of amazing memories as far as the Big Match is concerned but my favorite was in the year 1996 when Yasas Dharmaratne and I put on a cracking 254 run partnership’ he stated. This partnership continues to hold the record for the highest partnership at the Battle of the Blues. It must also be mentioned although irrelevant to the Big Match that another one of his finest moments came in the year 1996 when he captained the team that defeated a Trinity side comprising the formidable and legendary Kumar Sangakkara.
As a member of the current College cricket advisory committee his advice was as follows. ‘ Have great pride in being lucky enough to be a part of the few people who get the opportunity to represent Royal College and let nothing but a Royal Victory cross your mind in the days to come’. Give it your all and make College proud’ he reiterated.
Jehan Mubarak
Jehan is a talented a left hand batsman and an equally gifted right arm off spinner who represented the College team from the year 1997-2000. He is a four year coloursman and has the spectacular achievement of amassing over 1000 runs and capturing over 50 wickets in a season which he achieved in the year 1998. He vice captained the College team in the year 2000 and he also represented the College swimming and water polo teams. He has also represented the National Cricket team in all three formats of the game.
Speaking with ThePapare Jehan stated the following. ‘My most memorable experience as far as the Royal Thomian is concerned was when I played my first Big Match in the year 1997. The feeling of walking through the tunnel and on to the grounds for the first time is a feeling that I cherish to this date and the memory of witnessing a boys tent painted blue and gold with all the flags and festivity is one that I hold very close to my heart’.
‘My advice to the current team is to go out there and enjoy the cricket and the occasion as this is an experience you will never have again no matter if you go on to play cricket in the future or not and also irrespective of if you win or lose, perform or fail embrace the moment and play your heart out for College’ he reiterated.
Andrew Perera
Andrew is a three year coloursman who represented the team from the year 1999 to the year 2001. He was the wicketkeeper of the team and had the honor of being awarded the ‘best freshers award’ at the one day international between the two schools in the year 1998. Apart from being a gifted cricketer he was also a well rounded individual who went on to become the head prefect in the year 2002.
His fondest experience of the Big Match came in the year 2001 when he had the opportunity to feature in a 140 run partnership with Malinda Thotiwilage. He also had a brilliant game behind the wickets with a total of 3 crucial stumpings.
His words to the team were as follows. ‘The big match has so much of tradition and prestige so embrace and enjoy the three days as after it is all done and dusted you will be a part of history. So get in there and make every moment count, and play every minute like it is your last.
Sukitha Senaratne
Sukitha Senaratne is an aggressive left handed batsman who is remembered for his heroics with the bat in the 2006 Big Match which paved the way for a well deserved Royal victory. He is a two year coloursman who represented the team in the year 2005 and 2006 and has the special achievement of being able to score over 1000 runs in the 2006 season.
Sukitha took ThePapare on a trip down memory lane as he recalled the sorrowful memories of the loss the team suffered in the 2005 Big Match. He stated that the 2006 team had a very different attitude and their sole aim was to win back the coveted D.S. Senanayake Shield that they believed should be in one place and one place alone which was back at Reid avenue.
‘Winning the Big Match in the year 2006 and being part of a 218 run partnership with Malinga Maligaspe is easily the most memorable and amazing experience I have as far as the Battle of the Blues is concerned. We played as a team who had a goal and a mission and the fact that we were able to redeem ourselves after the loss in 2005 made it even more amazing as the sense of achievement we felt and continue to feel as a team is beyond words.
His advice to the Royal College team was simple. ‘Play positive, play hard and go for the win and nothing but the win from ball one’.
Maneesha Tantrigoda
Maneesha is an awe inspiring left arm leg spinner who believes that the key to success lies in hard work and determination. He represented the College team for the first time in the year 2007 and went on to serve as the vice captain of the team in the year 2010. He accomplished the rare feat of being able to take over 100 wickets in a season during the year 2010 and many batsmen who were a part of that season still have vivid memories of his consistent bowling.
When asked about his most memorable experience he stated the following. ‘The year 2009 was the closest I came to being part of a team that could have won the match and although it isn’t the most amazing memory it’s definitely the most unforgettable as I still remember how we scored over 300 runs and bowled the Thomians out for only 99 runs only to have them bat again as we fielded from the last session of day one to the last hour of day three which took away our hopes of winning’
‘My advice to Chamika and his team is to remember that the Big Match is unlike any other match. It’s a completely different ball game where boys turn into men and champions are made so do not get intimidated by the pressure you may or may not feel instead try your level best to overcome all the fear and anxiety as this is what makes the difference between a good team and a great team’.
ThePapare thanks the above individuals for sharing their time and experiences.
Only one question remains and that is as to if the ground will be painted Blue, Gold and Blue or Blue, Black and Blue and as much as I am personally hoping and praying for a Royal victory may the game of cricket flourish and may the best team win.
