The blue ribbon of Sri Lankan Big Matches, the Battle of the Blues between S. Thomas’ College (STC) and Royal College is all set to take place for the 144th time on 16, 17, and 18 March at the Singhalese Sports Club (SSC). As the hype grows for the pinnacle of school cricket, the crowds are ready to return to the stands after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
The Roy-Tho is not just the second oldest cricket encounter in the world – there are many other factors that make the Roy-Tho special. The Sunday Morning Sports will look into one of those factors – the Bulankulames, a cricketing family of four generations starting from the 1920s all the way up to the 2020s.
Bulankulame is not a new name in the field of cricket and certainly not within the walls of S. Thomas’ College. It is a family that produced two captains (so far) and six cricketers who played the Roy-Tho within a span of 100 years. The latest to etch his name in the history books in Senadhi Bulankulame. The Sunday Morning Sports had a chat with both Senadhi and his father Anura Bulankulame about this great cricketing dynasty.
Following are excerpts from the interview:
Tell us about your grandfather. Do you have any interesting anecdotes about him?
Anura: My grandfather P.B. Bulankulame played for S. Thomas’ College from 1917-1920. He had the unfortunate distinction of captaining in 1919 and 1920 and losing during both years, which he used to joke about when talking about college cricket. The 1919 match incidentally finished in one day. His brother L.B. Bulankulame captained Royal College in 1910, making them one of two sets of brothers to captain opposing schools.
My grandfather passed away when we were small and when his grandsons had just started playing leather ball cricket. Whenever he used to visit us he made it a point to watch us play softball on the lane in front of the house with friends. In hindsight, he would have spotted some talent, seeing me and my brothers.
I remember an article he wrote in the centenary cricket magazine where he wrote in reference to losing the Royal-Thomian under his captaincy: “I have three grandsons and they look to have the potential to play for collage one day and they will hopefully set the record straight.” I ended up captaining and winning a Royal-Thomian and having the fortune of scoring a hundred in 1987. My elder brother Dhammika scored a hundred in 1984 and my younger brother Suresh played in the winning side of 1988.
Tell us about your father and his school cricket career.
Anura: My father P.B. Bulankulame Jr, fondly known as ‘Patchy’ by his friends, played from 1954-1956. He scored 33 opening the batting with Ronnie Reid, who scored a record 158 in 1958. My father was an all-round sportsman and had colours in cricket, rugby, hockey, boxing, and athletics.
The service to college was everything to him and he left his plantation career at its peak in the early ’90s to coach junior cricket at the college, once his sons left college. In an era where private coaching was not widely accessible unlike now, my father’s advice, guidance, and motivation was probably key to the successful school cricket careers that my brothers and I had.
What was your career in school like and what did you achieve?
Anura: I came through the junior ranks and played in the Under 13 and 15 champion sides and the Under 17 runners-up side. My first exposure to first eleven cricket was in 1985 when I played five third-term matches, taking 25 wickets as an off-spinner. However, I was not selected to play any further matches during that season.
I came back in 1986 as an all-rounder under the captaincy of S.K. Jayasingha and opened the batting at the Big Match with Peter Wijeratne that year. In 1987, we had a strong side again under S.K. Jayasingha and became the best all-island team that year. Personally, it was a great year for me as I had the fortune to score a century in the Royal-Thomian and to set a record with my elder brother Dhammika for being the only set of brothers to score centuries.
At the end of the ’87 season, Bertie Wijesinha, one of the two head coaches, left and Trevor Edwards took control as head coach in 1988. In 1988, I had the opportunity of captaining what was arguably the best team STC had produced. We beat Thurstan College in only one day and had a dream run, winning consecutive matches against St. Joseph’s, Trinity, St. Peter’s, and Royal College after a 24-year break.
The Big Match that year was over with only 55 minutes played on the third day; the Mustangs Trophy was won by 2.40 p.m. To this day, the 1988 win is the highest winning margin for STC in the Royal-Thomian series. We ended up being the best all-island team for the second year running in 1988.
What is your best memory during your school career?
Anura: There are several best memories: having had the privilege to play in 1986 as a fresher and walking in to bat with my senior partner Peter Wijeratne, to have scored a hundred in 1987 and be involved in a 160-run partnership with my childhood friend Vishan de Mel, and then to have led the team to victory in 1988 after an amazing season are top of mind. However, the win against Trinity College that year will always stay with me because the match had an exciting finish where the last wicket was taken in the last ball of the match.
Tell us about your brothers and their cricketing careers; did you play together?
Anura: Dhammika, my older brother, was the best batsman in the family. He scored an amazing 1,260 runs in a 14-match season in 1984 and ended up as the most popular schoolboy cricketer in ’84. Suresh played in the 1988 winning side with me and created a unique record of being the only third generation wicket keeper-opening batsman to have played in the Big Match, following the footsteps of my grandfather and father. He also has a unique experience of playing in a winning team, a losing one, and in a drawn game.
How did you feel when Senadhi took up cricket?
Anura: Senadhi took up the sport at a young age under the keen eye of his grandfather. We were so happy when he got the call to play last year under Ryan Fernando. It was a culmination of hard work put in by Senadhi which got rewarded. My father would have loved to see him playing.
How do you feel to be a part of this great cricketing dynasty?
Anura: The Bulankulames have become part of Thomian cricket history and the Royal-Thomian at large. Four generations spanning over 100 years have played for the college, starting from P.B. Bulankulame in 1917 and now my son Senadhi Bulankulame in 2022. Bulankulames have played in 20 Royal-Thomians from the 143 played so far. It is a proud achievement.
What made you choose cricket?
Senadhi: My earliest recollections of college cricket were overhearing my grandfather, father, and my uncles reminiscing about their exploits and talking about the greats of both schools when March Madness came around. This was a steady dose of cricket, which probably ended with me catching the cricket fever and aspiring to someday play for the college and experience it for myself.
How did your father and grandfather influence you in cricket?
Senadhi: Both my father and grandfather were my first coaches. They played a big part in my growth. Sadly my grandfather passed away when I was playing for the Under 13, but I am always reminded by past cricketers of how good a junior coach he was. My father is one of my best friends, as are my mother and sister, of course. I think this relationship has helped me to listen to and absorb the advice to improve my game.
Did you feel any pressure to do well in cricket since you come from a cricketing family?
Senadhi: When I played junior cricket, I clearly remember my father saying that it did not matter whether I played in the A, B, or C team, but what mattered was that I got game time to improve. He told me to be prepared to play anywhere and get the experience, because when it came to the Under 19, it would not matter which junior team I had played in. I think this line of thinking eased a lot of pressure and allowed me to get to where I am today.
What are your future aspirations in cricket?
Senadhi: My immediate aim is to contribute towards the success of my team and bring glory to the college at the 144th Battle of the Blues. I have a further year ahead to play for the college and I hope to take things one day at a time.
What are your team’s prospects in this year’s Big Match?
Senadhi: We have a strong and well-balanced team, led brilliantly by skipper Romesh Mendis. The batting this year has been consistent with Romesh Mendis, Mahith Perera, and my opening partner Thisen Eheliyagoda leading the way. The strong pace attack is spearheaded by Nathan Caldera. We are hopeful that we will be able to deliver a positive result this year.
How has the school and coaching staff assisted in your career growth?
Senadhi: The school has provided the team with facilities which are second to none. Dinesh Kumarasingha has moulded us to be a well-drilled and strong unit and has developed well-thought-out strategies to face any challenge. The other coaching staff – N.I.C. Perera, Lasith Randunu, Dilshan Gunawardena, Omalka Fernando, and Anusha Samaranayake – have done a great job to get us ready during the season for the Big Match.
The other supporting staff and ground staff have done an amazing job during the season. I also wish to thank Thushara Cooray, our official scorer. The Warden has been at the grounds regularly to watch us play and his blessings and advice have inspired us to do our best.
Can you recall any specific advice your father gave during your career?
Senadhi: His advice was to play with passion and to enjoy. He told me that on the day I lost the passion for it and no longer enjoyed it, I needed to stop playing and do another sport. He was also quite open in saying that I need not play cricket just because he had played. This allowed me to play my own game and enjoy the journey.
Do you have any unforgettable memories in your career so far?
Senadhi: The feeling I had when I got to know that I was in the final eleven to play in my first Royal-Thomian is one I can never forget. Walking in to bat with my fellow fresher Janidu Abeygunawardena in the 143rd Battle of the Blues was exciting and I will cherish this memory always.
When playing in 2022 under Ryan Fernando’s captaincy, I created history for myself by including my name alongside my father’s, grandfather’s, and great-grandfather’s, making it four generations that have played for and opened batting for the college. I have a few more years to play for the college and I hope I can make special memories on the field of play in the coming two Royal-Thomian editions and bring glory to my alma mater.