News Item in The Island, 3 November 2025
Former All Ceylon cricket captain Mr. Michael Tissera was the Chief Guest at Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club’s 125th jubilee celebrations in Colombo on Friday. Mr. Tissera’s during his keynote address recalled his experiences of playing cricket at P. Sara Oval in the pre-Test era when he skippered Ceylon for some famous wins. During his address, he hoped that Test cricket returns to P. Sara Oval soon. Country’s first Test venue has not hosted a Test match since 2019.
Here are the excerpts of Mr. Tissera’s speech.
Mr. Ramesh Schaffter, President Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club, Members of the Committee, Distinguished members and Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good evening,
Thank you Ramesh, for the honour and privilege bestowed upon me. I am deeply humbled and to say my knees are not knocking would be an understatement.
The beautifully manicured outfield had a wonderful slope from the centre to the boundary that made stroke play a joy once the infield was penetrated.
At this time it is appropriate to appreciate the late P, Saravanamuttu whose vision for sport in general and cricket in particular for the nation, gave rise to the Colombo Oval. Thanks to that vision, the ground served as the Cricket Board’s venue for international cricket for four decades thereafter.
It therefore came as no surprise when the inaugural Test match versus England, was played at The Oval in February 1982.
One must not forget the facilities this venue provided for inter schools big matches throughout this period, in addition to Public Schools Athletic meets, and National Hockey Tournaments as well
Many Tamil Union players have represented Ceylon in the early years, none more famous than the mighty M, Sathasivam. Much has been written & said about his world class talent so I will restrict myself to two occasions I experienced. S. Thomas’ always played a practice match at The Oval in the week before the Royal- Thomian. In one of the five years that I was part of that “Satha” gave us the honour, I wont say of playing, but batting against us. He would have been well over 40 but what a delight it was to watch him, especially his footwork, at close quarters. I was also fortunate to see him make 160 for the Rest against the Mercantile side in the mid fifties and that was pure magic. Two others who readily come to mind are Sathi Coomaraswamy and Chandra Schaffter. Sathi was an all-rounder who opened bowling and was a very correct batsman while Schaffie had the most rythmic run up for a fast bowler that has been my pleasure to see. In later years the Tamil Union produced many Sri Lanka caps, the maestro amongst all, of course being Murali who holds the world record and whose arm has won the country many a match.
The Tamil Union also produced many who served the cricket board on various committees.
Chandra Schaffter was one who also served as Manager of the Sri Lanka team. Skandakumar was for many years Asst Secretary of the Board during the early challenging years under Gamini Dissanayake and then as Secretary with Cambridge blue lan Pieris as President. Their strong personal relationships with their counterparts, enabled the Board to have all Test playing nations tour Sri Lanka between 1992 and 1994 that gave our players the advantage of playing at home after five years of civil unrest. In later years Skanda as Vice Chairman and Secretary of the first Interim Committee on which I too served, was instrumental in negotiating the return of Dav Whatmore as our coach in 1999 that hugely benefitted a revamped young team with Sanath Jayasuriya as Captain.
Prakash Schaffter also served as Secretary of one of the later Interim Committees.
Now why do I consider the Oval my lucky ground.? Other than for my first match for Ceylon, a one day game at the SSC, all my cricket against International sides was at the Oval. Playing against Madras, Australia, England, Pakistan and the West Indies gave me the opportunity to battle against the best in the world.
The Mirror match in 1961 when six West Indians assisted by five local players played an exhibition match was memorable. I have never seen a crowd at the Oval as on that day and the organisers had to allow spectators to sit on the grass between the pavilion and the boundary rope to accommodate all who turned up. Sobers & Kanhai thrilled the crowd, as did Wesley Hall who ran in almost from the boundary. He bowled a ferocious last over with a couple of bouncers, Way above my head. With one ball left to end the match, I was on 98 and he bowled a lollipop of a full toss to make it happen. It was indeed a sporting gesture and for me an inning on my favourite ground that I cherish even today.
That success gave me the confidence to pursue my cricket on a strictly amateur basis as our jobs came first in those days.
A few years later I was honoured by being made captain of the Ceylon team and in the first match for a Board Presidents XI we beat Pakistan in a three day match and followed it up by winning the unofficial four day Test which I believe was the first time we had beaten an International side.
Four or five years later we beat England in a 45 over encounter and that was the first time we had won a limited over International game.
All of these triumphs took place at the Oval which I regard as my best cricket ground and it has been lucky for me. However I am disappointed that it does not hold Test Matches anymore .
For four decades the Tamil Union assisted the Cricket Board to fulfil its international commitment’s whenever a foreign team visited and it is only right in my view that Test matches should revert to their old home the Oval.
Crowd capacity will not be a problem for Test matches and if at all the ground will look fuller ,contributing to a better atmosphere.
What Lords is to the England and Wales Cricket Board was what the Oval was to Sri LankaCricket.
May that relationship be restored.
Thank you again Ramesh for the privilege extended to me this evening and I wish the club every assistance to return to its original position of prestige.
Thank you.
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