Category Archives: child of empire

September 3, 2020 · 5:00 pm

Lanka Premier League Shoot-Out Re-Jigged

Andrew Fidel Fernando in ESPNcricinfo, 2 Septmber 2020

Sri Lanka Cricket has announced fresh dates for the Lanka Premier League (LPL), which has now been scheduled between November 14 and December 6. However, government approval for a shorter quarantine period for players, officials and broadcast staff is yet to be secured; it is this hurdle that had forced the postponement of the LPL, originally slated to begin in late August. The SLC officials have asked that the quarantine period for those arriving in the country for this tournament be reduced to seven days, from the present 14-day period.

There is no known community spread of Covid-19 in Sri Lanka at present, but quarantine protocols have been incredibly strict PA Photos/Getty Images

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Filed under Andrew Fidel Fernando, backyard cricket, child of empire, cricket tamashas, performance, politics and cricket, Sri Lanka Cricket

August 31, 2020 · 7:02 pm

An Appreciation of PI Pieris …. Ian to Some, “PI” to Others

Mevan Pieris of S. Thomas College & SSC

Dear Michael, …… Read with interest Gerry Suraweera’s appreciation of Ian Pieris. Indeed when Arpico beat Lever Brothers in the Mercantile A Division cricket Final in 1976, PI was really happy. I still carry happy memories of this match having captained the Arpico team that year. The whole team ended up at my home that night for drinks and to share a simple meal of bread, butter and meat curry.

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Filed under child of empire, cricket and life, cricketing icons, memorable moments, performance, Sri Lanka Cricket, tower of strength, unusual people

August 5, 2020 · 5:28 pm

The Fighting Irish down England in High-Scoring ODI

Matt Roller, in ESPNCricinfo, August 2020, with this title “Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie set up famous chase as Ireland hunt down 329″

**Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie shared a second-wicket partnership worth more than 200 runs PA Photos via Getty images**

ireland 329 for 3 (Stirling 142, Balbirnie 113) beat England 328 (Morgan 106, Banton 58, Willey 51, Young 3-53) by seven wickets

Ireland pulled off their second win against England and their first ODI victory against major opposition since the 2015 World Cup, with Kevin O’Brien, the hero of Bangalore, hitting the winning run after centuries from Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie had laid the foundations.

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Filed under child of empire, close finsihes, cricket and life, English cricket, memorable moments, performance, tower of strength

July 4, 2020 · 3:27 am

Remembering Everton Weekes: Cozier and Chappell Speak

ONE: Tony Cozier in 2015: “Ninety years of Everton Weekes,” 26 Feb 2015

Of all the numbers stacked against the name Everton de Courcy Weekes in scorebooks the world over, 90 carries an unfortunate significance.

It was his score in West Indies’ first innings of the fourth Testagainst India in Chepauk, Madras, now Chennai, in January 1949. Ten more runs would have extended his overall record of five successive Test hundreds that has never been surpassed; he was cut short by a run-out decision by the square-leg umpire that Weekes now euphemistically describes as “rather doubtful”.

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Filed under child of empire, cricket and life, cricketing icons, performance, player selections, tower of strength, unusual people, West Indian Cricket

June 28, 2020 · 5:52 pm

Some Assessments of Muralitharan as Cricketer … and Philanthropist

ONE = Simon Barnes: “Muttiah Muralitharan as Cricketer of the Year 2006″

writing in 2007 on the year 2006 = https://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/350915.html

The time has come to grasp the nettle, to remove the mental and, to reject the frown, the shrug, the pursed lips and the quizzical look. Muttiah Muralitharan was, without qualification, the finest cricketer on the planet last year and, by implication, is one of the best cricketers that have ever played the game.

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Filed under bowling average, Bradman, child of empire, cricket and life, cricketing icons, cricketing records, cricketing rules, ICC, Mahela Jayawardene, memorable moments, murali, performance, politics and cricket, spinning art, technology and cricket, tower of strength, unusual statistics, work ethic

June 17, 2020 · 6:58 pm

The University College Cricket Team 1938/39

Seated l-to-rt: WA Wijesingha, CH Fernando (Vice-Capt), Professor Robert Marrs, E. Felix Dias Abeysingha (Capt), P. Roberts, M. Sivanathan

Standing l-to-rt: RJL Fernando, S. Coomaraswamy, L. Arndt, T Appadurai, B. La Brooy, D. Kannangara, MG Andree. R.joseph. A. Rajakaruna

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June 16, 2020 · 12:27 pm

Stanley Jayasinghe: Nalandian Schoolboy Prodigy and Outstanding Cricketing Man

Mahinda Wijesinghe, in Sunday Times, 14 June 2020, with this title “A Schoolboy who made the grade and played for the National team”

Stanley Jayasinghe (born 1931) was a household name in cricket in the 1950’s. Educated at Nalanda College Colombo, he captained his school in 1951. He was an outstanding right-hand batsman and a part-time off-spinner as well. He had the distinction of playing for Ceylon – whilst in school.

Stanley playing for Leicester

Two of his team-mates, opening batsmen Carl Obeyesekera and Ashley de Silva were also national players, the latter being a twelfth man. What an honour for the school. Just imagine having three schoolboys who were simultaneously national players. This indicates the standard of school cricket in that era. No wonder there were spectators galore including many a schoolboy who used to ‘cut’ school to watch their heroes in action.

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June 13, 2020 · 6:22 pm

Gamini Goonesena in Pictorial Mode

Photographs to complement Rohan Wijeyaratna’s classic account in Thuppahi = https://thuppahi.wordpress.com/2020/06/13/gamini-goonesena-leading-cambridge-to-victory-in-1957/

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Filed under Australian cricket, child of empire, cricket and life, cricketing icons, performance, player selections, politics and cricket, Sri Lanka Cricket, tower of strength, unusual people

May 18, 2020 · 5:44 am

A Critical Appraisal of the Gentlemen’s Game of Cricket

Sarath Gamini De Silva, in Island, 6 June 2019 where the title was different**

I am an ardent cricket fan, being educated at a school giving pride of place to cricket. The annual “Big Match” was one of the most looked forward to events in the calendar. My own experience in the game was limited to playing with the soft ball in the backyard with my friends. Whenever time permits, I watch cricket on television but only occasionally do I go to see a match. I am overjoyed to see Sri Lanka winning matches, which unfortunately is a rarity now.

McGrath vs Sarwa Lara reprimands Waugh

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Filed under Australian cricket, child of empire, confrontations on field, cricket and life, cricket governance, foul tactics, politics and cricket, taking the piss, verbal intimidation

March 16, 2020 · 4:29 am

West Indian Maestros at Whistle-stop Cricket in Ceylon in the 1960s

Trevor Jayetilleke, in The Island, 14 March 2020, with this title “West Indies cricket teams of the 1960’s and Frank Worrell”

Apropos the letter written by Mr. K. K. S. Perera and published in the Opinion Columns of your journal of the 4th March, please permit me to add my comments/observations to the facts expressed by Mr. Perera.