I still remember how as a little boy I used to run with my friends and play high catches or soft ball in the lower school play area that over looked the big club grounds, which at that time seemed a sea of green stretching towards the ocean.
A square of greenish-brown lay in the middle, a little elevated from the grass with two sets of stumps erected from time to time, that I used to admire as I walked into my classroom in the morning. At that time little did I know that patch of green would become home to me.
I would long for a Friday where I could see “Aiyas” play cricket with much intensity. From far I would know that we were fielding, as many would wear the blue black and blue Bradman cap that I used to envy and long to get a closer look at. Over time I learnt of a few stars who represented our side, and shouted their names when I recognized them playing during the interval or for a brief moment where I watched a game after school before running to catch my van back home.
Cricket slowly but surely became an obsession. When I wasn’t playing with my neighbours Rajeewa and Prassanna who to date are my best of friends I would hang a sock with a ball on a branch of a tree and hit it till the neighbours complained or the barking of dogs that created much of a racket forced me inside. My mother fondly reminds me how I couldn’t walk on the road without running in front and bowling an imaginary ball to an invisible batsman or playing a shadow stroke to an oncoming delivery. Even my Birthday parties were cricket outings at the nearby church that had a big yard which was conducive to play. I would never miss an opportunity to have bat or ball in hand.
My dad was my biggest cricket supporter, fan & friend. From taking me shopping to buy my first junior bat and kit bag, to encouraging me at every junction, not to mention picking me from practice as much as he could or being present at every game I played, I owe my cricketing success at college to none other. He used to play mercantile cricket for a lower division at Sri Lankan Airlines and whenever he could he would take me to the MCA where 30 over matches were played. I used to idolize those moments and cheer him on. I loved the attention I got from my dads colleagues who teased me as the next budding star in STC. I used to eye the senior bats they possessed and whenever I could I would grab one and play some shadow strokes with much purpose.
At the age of 10 I enrolled in under 11 cricket practices under Mr. P. Silva who turned out to be the father of one of my best friends and cricketing idols at college, Kaushal Silva. Some days were limited to batting drills. I still remember with a sense of frustration of how there was no batting against real bowling. All we used to do was stay in a long line and practice the forward defensive or the back foot defense in three steps. We did it so often that I heard the words – Bat up, one, two, three…etc in my dreams. Nevertheless I am so grateful for that drilling of sound technique into us which was the foundation of my batting in years to come.
As a kid I was more interested in being a fast bowler than anything else. I loved to run up and send the ball down as fast as possible and see the stumps of batsmen cartwheel. I built up quite a reputation as a quick bowler during my junior days which was sadly cut short due to injuries, that only allowed me to significantly feature as a bowler in one of the four big matches that I played in. I was so keen as a kid, I remember being pulled up by Mr. N.I.C. Silva for virtually grabbing the ball out of the captains hand and demanding to bowl.
I fondly remember my first experiences at a big match. I used to be covered from head to toe with wrist bands, caps and gollywogs cheering the college team on till my voice went hoarse either at the boys tent or the grand stand. Nilanka Peiris, Upeka Fernando and Bhathiya Karunaratne were some of my favourites whom I longed to see in action while growing up. One memory in particular was very significant. In 1999 as a mere 12 year old I witnessed one of the greatest innings by one of my childhood heroes ; Meshadh Peiris. He scored a 100 in 1999 where he came in when the chips were down and smashed the Royal attack to all corners, which set up an unlikely but truly significant win. From that day onward in my dreams all I could see was me emulating that effort and celebrating a Thomian win with a hundred.
Till the age of 15 I was not very keen on batting. However I remember my dad always telling me to concentrate on it and try and seize an opportunity to bat up the order or score some runs when I got the opportunity. Mr. N.I.C as we called him too for some reason spotted some talent and believed in me. He sent me to open the batting once in an under 15 game and groomed me to be an all rounder. I owe him much. He was instrumental in putting me into the 2nd eleven squad when I was only 15 and allowing me to practice with the main squad of 20-30 players at the big club grounds. I learnt and matured much with that experience and before I knew it I found myself opening for the 2nd eleven team. I was the youngest in the side and under much pressure as not many of the seniors were in favour of my inclusion at a young age.
Slowly however I blended in. The big club grounds slowly became a regular feature in my day. After school I would run and change and share my lunch with whoever was around and bat/bowl/field and play tap rugger or do fitness drills till we literally fell on the grass with exhaustion. The bus rides towards Ratmalana/Moratuwa was always eventful as more than half of the squad travelled in that direction. The seniors used to make us juniors do dares like stop an outstation bus and ask the conductor what time it was. Looking back today I miss those days much. Life was much simpler then when balancing studies with the heavy training programme was our main worry.
One of the biggest setbacks I faced emotionally that made me doubt myself was in the mini battle that year. That was my first experience of a big game against the Royalists. Opening the batting, at the game played at our back yard in mount, I took guard and was clean bowled first ball for a duck. I did not know what happened. I was probably over anxious, my feet didn’t move and that ball was full and on target. I still remember how I cried that night. Not even my dad’s re assuring words were of any comfort. Some seniors made snide remarks how certain other players could have played and how they knew I would not match up and how I was too young. Mr. N.I.C. however comforted me and backed me up. He continued to have confidence in me and worked hard on my bowling the following year. I surprised myself when I was included in the first eleven squad of 2003-2004 and found out that I was playing the first game of the season as the first change quick.
Looking back at my cricketing career at college if I was to choose the day everything changed or the turning point if you may call it would be the day we travelled to play D.S. Senanayake College at their home ground. On a under prepared square turner of a wicket we were shot out for a low score and asked to follow on. I went in at number 09 in the first innings and was not out at the end of that innings. I don’t know how he did it but Mr. N.I.C. convinced the late Mr. Ranil Abeynaike to send me at number 03. He argued that I had a good technique to negate the two spinners they possessed. I remember Kaushal being concerned as well and probably not too much in favour of that decision at that time but he was shot down and reminded that he too was only 15 when he played for college and it was just fair to give me a chance.
I mustered all the courage I could and walked in at number 03 and somehow intended to prove that I was good enough to meet the task at hand. Eventhough I didn’t score more than two boundaries that inning I batted for over two sessions and scored a dogged 45 facing more than 200 deliveries that ensured we drew that game. I was greeted with much applause and appreciation in the dressing room at the end of that inning which I cherished. The next game on a much better batting track I was sent in at number 03 again and I batted with more confidence. I scored a 90 and played a rank bad ball straight down deep mid wickets throat and was unfortunate to miss out on a fresher hundred. Seizing those two opportunities changed my whole cricketing career. I went on to play more as a batsmen who could bowl that year and continued at the number 03 slot for the next three years at college. I even represented the national under 19 team as a batsman at number 03 under the leadership of Angelo Matthews that toured to UK & India in 2005.
Having gone through the ranks since grade 09 as a reserve, water boy and the official scorer in Dilshan’s year, playing under Kaushal in 2004 that led up to the 125th battle of the blues was truly a phenomenal experience. The pressure was immense and until two weeks before the game I still did not know if I had done well enough to make it to the side. There was stiff competition and Royal were set to field a very formidable side thus there was no room to gamble. However age was my friend when it came to selection and I got the nod to play.
That feeling is absolutely indescribable. Walking to the SSC a day before the game to see your name up on the giant scoreboard next to your teammates just makes goose bumps rise all over your body. The blessing of the team at the college chapel, awarding of colours at the college assembly and moving into residential camp happened all too fast. I would have much liked to savour those moments and let the feeling sink in. After the cycle parade was over it finally dawned on me. I would take the field the next day wearing that precious colours cap that I so longed to wear.
We would be awarded the colours blazer at 6am before the traditional breakfast hosted by Warden. This was indeed such a special moment, when I slipped it on amidst small applause from my team mates, and It surprisingly fit well. A childhood dream had come true.
There was pin drop silence on the way to the SSC, a common factor that was to follow in the next three years as well. Being awarded that colours cap and wearing it and running on to the field is a memory that I will cherish for a lifetime. To date I try to relive that moment at every possible old boys game. I sometimes find myself taking it out of the cupboard and staring at it with a smile on my face. I was truly honored and privileged to play 4 years, Captain College and experience all three possible outcomes at a big match.
I must specially thank God for enabling me to bring back the shield we lost in 2006, and Captain College to victory in my final year and leave on a high note. The moments I spent on the cricketing field at college are undoubtedly the best and most cherished to date. Scoring not one but two centuries and being able to emulate Meshadh, my childhood hero is also a memory that I am truly blessed to hold on to.
I wish the current Thomian team all the very best for this year. If I could offer one piece of advice to the team or any young cricketer it would be to seize the opportunity and never stop dreaming. Enjoy and cherish these moments you spend on that field of cricket as much as possible for after you leave college and look back, there is nothing more that you want to do than relive those memories. The blue black and blue blazer you get to wear is special, wearing that cap for the first time gives a pleasure that supersedes the feeling an Australian might feel when awarded the baggy green. So wear it with pride treasure it, savour it, for I sure do miss it!
Esto Perpetua
