September 3, 2022 · 1:14 am

Whistle-Stop Cricket in Colombo as Inspirational Force

R Whitehead …. as rwhitehead61 … ……………….. https://wisdenblog.wordpress.com/2020/02/06/notes-from-a-small-island/ ………………….. with the title of this item and the underlining being impositions by the editor Thuppahi -who has also insertd the pistorial embellishments

Nicholas Brookes on the matches that played a pivotal role in the development of cricket in Sri Lanka.**

Until 1982 Sri Lanka were stranded on the fringes of international cricket: a small island, marooned. Life on the outside wasn’t easy, but Sri Lanka still had something to make most of the cricketing world envious. You might call it a geographical blessing. 

In the days before planes, the only way to get between England and Australia was by boat. It was an arduous journey that could take up to three months and required a stopover. With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, Ceylon (as it was called until 1972) emerged as the natural point of transit.

Don Bradman is met by SP Foenander on board ship in Colombo, early April 1930

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September 2, 2022 · 3:05 pm

A Cliffhanger! Sri Lankan Cricketers overcome Stiff Bangladesh Total

Andrew Fidel Fernando, in ESPNcricinfo, 2 September 2022, where the title runs “Sri Lanka: merely lucky, or back to punching-above-weight ways?”

In a match that swung wildly one way, then the other, the optimists among you had reason enough to believe this Sri Lanka team is resurgent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asitha Fernando (left) on T20I debut hit the winning runs for Sri Lanka — AFP/Getty Images Continue reading →

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September 2, 2022 · 3:16 am

Fighting & Dying FOR Britain during the Two World Wars

A New Book on  The Ceylonese Volunteers in World War I and World War II

 

 

 

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September 1, 2022 · 11:39 pm

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka: A Contest at the Bottom of the Ladder

Andrew Fidel Fernando with Mohammad Isam, in ESPNcricinfo,  01 September 2022, where the lengthy tile reads thus: “After Naagin dances and a broken door, what else do Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have in store?”

It is a knockout match, so perhaps we should ask the tough question. Is this a real rivalry? Pull on your criss-cross deerstalker hats, Sherlocks. Get your magnifying glass. Clasp your notebooks tight. We about to investigate.

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September 1, 2022 · 1:07 am

The Captivating “Story of Sri Lankan Cricket” by Nicholas Brookes

Martin Chandler:…. in CricketWeb, 14 August 2022, reviewing Nicholas Brookes: An Island’s Eleven: The Story of Sri Lankan Cricket, The History Press, 2022, 535 pp, Rating: 4.5 stars …. with highlighting emphasis imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi

In the final sentence of his preface Nicholas Brookes expresses the view; For as much as I’ve tried to ‘tell the story of Sri Lankan cricket’, this work is merely a starting point. This is, I presume, a reference to the paucity of existing literature on Sri Lankan cricket rather than an attempt to downplay his own contribution to that particularly genre. It is inevitably unfortunate and disappointing that, to date, none of Muttiah Muralitharan, Arjuna Ranatunga, Samantha Jayasuriya, Chaminda Vaas, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara or Rangan Herath have been persuaded to write an autobiography, but the game in Sri Lanka does at least now have a comprehensive history, and one I hope might become the touchstone for similar histories of the game in Ireland, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.

The full Sri Lankan training squad in Colombo with the bus taking them to Nuwara Eliya for acclimatization & training prior to the journey to England for the 1975 World Cup  with Asst Manager Neil Perera standing on the left and Trainer Raja Wickremasinghe and Manager KMT Perera standing on the right

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August 31, 2022 · 1:07 am

The Flinders Ranges in Australia: A Marvellous Place bidding for World Heritage Listing

David Penberthy in The Australian – “World recognition coming into view for the Flinders Ranges” 

It is one of the most ancient and fossil-rich places on earth, its centrepiece the gigantic Wilpena Pound basin, its towering gums the inspiration for Australia’s greatest landscape painter Sir Hans Heysen.

Flinders Ranges tourism operator Kristian Coulthard with visitors to the “gateway of the Outback”. Picture: Tourism Australia

But beyond South Australia, little is known about the Flinders Ranges, which lie just four hours’ drive north of Adelaide at what’s known as the gateway to the Outback.

 

 

 

 

 

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August 30, 2022 · 12:32 am

Homage to Andrew Symonds from Australian Cricket & Townsville

Andrew McGlashan in ESPNcricinfo, 28 August 2022, where the title runs thus “Roy 388: Townsville pays tribute to Andrew Symonds”

 Symonds‘ children were at the centre of tributes to him during the opening ODI between Australia and Zimbabwe in Townsville.
The outfield was emblazoned with Roy 388 – Symonds’ nickname and Test cap number – in memory of the former allrounder who died in a car accident west of Townsville in May.

Andrew Symonds’ family and friends honour him in Townsville  •  Getty Images Continue reading →

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August 29, 2022 · 9:20 pm

A Vale in Appreciation of Dr Lal Samarasinghe: Cardiologist, Aloysian, Exemplary Human Being

LK Hettiarachchi, A Vale in 2015

Dr. Lalantha Abaya Samarasinghe, M.D., of Saddle River, NJ passed away on Sunday, November 29, 2015 after a fierce struggle with a motor neurological disease. He is survived by his beloved wife, Rayani; his children Rushan, Dinuka, and Melanie; his children-in-law Tina Moyer, Sarah Samarasinghe, and Craig Balderston; and his grandchildren Sarah Moyer, Hailey Samarasinghe, Sawyer and Oliver Samarasinghe, and August and Gordon Balderston.

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August 29, 2022 · 7:43 pm

Gala Dinner in Sydney Gathers ‘Gold Dust’ for Children in Sri Lanka

Kumudini Hettiarachchi in Sunday Times, 28 August 2022, where the title is “Together they made it happen in Australia for the love of Sri Lanka”

Under the gavel went exotic and unique items such as works of art, a piece from Limited Edition cricket memorabilia, a Best of Sri Lanka holiday package and a bat signed by a cricket great……..and in the audience were celebrities, all linked by their love for Sri Lanka’s children.

  Legendary Australian fast bowler, Glenn McGrath, auctioning the bat Continue reading →

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August 28, 2022 · 12:17 pm

Way Back Then: The Zambesis of St. Aloysius and Galle

Rex Perera

Over sixty years ago, in 1960, a few Aloysians gathered together to form a musical group. It was organized by the highly talented Neville Wickremaratne hailing from a musical family. The teaming up of two brothers Mervyn and Rex Perera initiated this group into the work of  catering for parties of close friends. At that time the Band was known as the Rhythm Ramblers. When the college carnival (Golden Showers) started, a few more Aloysians joined the group. They were Ralph Gunathileke (box guitar) and Leon Cramer and Royston Watts, two Coormanites, on clarinet.

Seated: Joseph Orloff and Neville Wickremaratne. Standing: Leon Cramer, Ralph Gunathileke, Mervyn Perera, Rex Perera, Royston Watts, Anton Gunathileke

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