• Build-up to the game and reminiscing nostalgia

It’s that time of the year where the traffic cops at Cinnamon Gardens to the ice cream vendor along Maitland Crescent face their busiest three-days at a stretch where thousands of people from all walks of life from all over the world gather at the SSC in Colombo for a cricket match. This match is more than just a game of cricket, it is a legacy unmatched to any encounter. It is a well known secret that the atmosphere at the Royal-Thomian Battle of the Blues is something you’d never experience elsewhere. 

Today we bring to you some tales building up to the historic 146th Battle of the Blues, the oldest uninterrupted cricket encounter in Sri Lanka. Since 1879, it has survived two world wars, local insurrections, a brutal 30-year conflict and a global pandemic. The Roy-Tho is the second oldest in the world, preceded by the inter-collegiate encounter played between Prince Alfred College, Adelaide and St. Peter’s College, Adelaide.

This match is played for the Rt. Hon. D. S. Senanayake Memorial Shield, the first Prime Minister of Independent Ceylon. He donned the Blue Black and Blue Thomian cap in 1901 and 1902. The shield was first presented in 1928.

Battle Of The Blues - Tally

Played - 145

Royal - 36

S. Thomas’ - 35

Drawn - 74

Last week Royal College met their 2nd oldest rival Wesley College at Reid Avenue for the 133rd encounter played for the Sir Frank Gunasekera Shield. This traditional game played the week prior to the Royal-Thomian as a custom is the 2nd oldest uninterrupted cricket encounter in Sri Lanka, saw the Royalists have complete dominance against the lads from Campbell Park in a match marred by rain. Meanwhile the Thomians played their last game against the Anandians in a traditional encounter which was played as a 3-day game.

‘The Daily Morning’ spoke to leading figures of the two teams recently to get their view on the battle ahead.

Royal College captain Ramiru Perera: 

How’s the preparations in the Royal camp for the 146th Roy-Tho and what’s your message to the Thomian counterparts?

We are well prepared for the battle, and we’ve done pretty well throughout the season by reaching the semi finals of the top division 2-day tournament with two outright wins. We have three players who represented Sri Lanka U19’s including myself. I want to make myself clear, we are going out to the field not just to retain the shield, we are going for the win. 

I would like to thank our coaches and the advisory body for guiding us throughout the season and we will be going out to give our best, so I urge everyone to come and support us as we go for glory. 

S. Thomas’ College captain Kavindu Dias:  

How have been the preparations and build up to the big game in the Thomian camp?

We have been training for the past 8 months with a goal in our minds. We have Dineth Goonewardena who has scored 750 plus runs with 3 centuries and a couple of 90s. Aaron de Silva playing in his debut season has scalped 49 wickets and Abeeth Paranawidana has got 40. This time we would like to get a result. A Thomian victory would be perfect and we are looking forward to giving a good fight to the Royalists who are a pretty good team. This encounter has been happening for the past 145 years where it has fostered rivalries on the field and friendships that last a lifetime.

The Head Prefects of the two schools joined us in igniting the sporting spirit of the Royal-Thomian and shared some memorable anecdotes.

As the head of the student body, what are your thoughts this time around?

Royal College Head Prefect Charith Ahangama: 

It’s certainly going to be a Royal victory, we know that. During this season our boys have done tremendously well. Leading up to the Big Match the atmosphere is great with flags waving around and it’s lovely to see that back at college. The energy is pumping from the teachers to the students, even amongst the youngest boys who have been in school for less than a week! You can really feel the Battle of the Blues spirit, the March Madness as they call it coming to life. We are looking forward to the pageantry as usual. In terms of how the runs will be scored and the wickets taken, I’m sure it will be in Royal’s favour and I really hope so. 

S.Thomas’ College Head Prefect Lakdiv Goonasekera:

 It’s amazing to be a part of our lives at Reid Avenue and Mt. Lavinia. Just like Charith said there are the youngest of boys to the oldest who left college 50-60 years ago, one thing that brings us together is our desire to win, we’d love to see that shield back at S. Thomas’ but it’s the festivities, tradition, culture and the history. You can’t replicate it and it never will. It means a lot to us since it’s our last one (as students) and it’ll mean a lot more if it’s a Thora victory. 

What are your most memorable Battle of the Blues moments?

Charith: 138th Battle of the Blues Ganith Sandeepa scoring the winning runs, the atmosphere was out of this world with everyone swarming the SSC, it was truly a different feeling. Then the 144th battle with Dasis Manchanayake’s fabulous century as captain, it was very special to me because I was one of the sub-editors of the souvenir. There are so many festivities going on around the grounds so you pretty don’t know what’s going on in the middle at times, but word started spreading. Everyone knew that it was heading to be a Royal victory. These are moments that you would treasure for the rest of your life.

Lakdiv:  Rashmika Opatha’s century in 2016, even though we went on to lose that match. But to this day, my all-time favourite moment was 2019. The boys had rammed into the SSC. I was looking up at one person, that is our Head Prefect Shannon Ebenezer in tears while singing the college song. I can picture even at this exact moment. I never knew I'd be standing where he'd be standing, never expected it either. But knowing that I went through the same hardships he went through, and that moment really left me speechless. 

Your final message to the Roy-Tho fraternity?

Charith: For the 11 Royalists going into the field, wishing them the best of luck and to always keep their chin up, just focus on the game, because ultimately we want to bring our A-game. To everyone who’s coming, have fun, enjoy, spread the cheer, we would really love to see the Royal spirit and the Thormian grit. Most importantly enjoy the three days to the fullest. I'm sure there will be a verdict this time, looking forward to it and hopefully it will be something for the books.

Lakdiv:  To my boys, you may think that your support is insignificant. You may think every time you shout T-H-O-R-A, the team doesn't hear it. But trust me, they do. I myself, I've never had the luxury of being in the middle at SSC. But if I were to recall every conversation I had with anyone who has, they would say every little voice, they can hear, they can taste the blood. Do it. It goes miles. And the team really needs it. So be there. Do your part. To the team, I'm not going to say anything. The team led by Daiya, Dineth, Sadev, you all know exactly what to do. That's why you’ll have been doing it for the past 9-10 months. Just make sure you execute, because you all have practiced like you all have never won. Now it's time to go out there and perform like you all have never lost.

We also spoke to some Royalists and Thomians who have walked the hallowed hallways at Reid Avenue and the school by the sea and those who have a nostalgic bond to the Roy-Tho about their most memorable moments and what the Big Match means to them.

Ashan Peiris (2007 winning STC skipper): It is something I grew up idolising as a child at STC, wishing to be out there one day and to wear the blue, black and blue was a dream. I am truly blessed to have had that dream fulfilled and led the team as well and to enjoy much success as a player. It is something that we as adults look forward to year on year, reignites our passion for the game and the school and connects old boys young and old all across the globe. Currently as part of the joint organising committee, I love to give back and contribute in ensuring that the event is organised to the best of our ability in order to continue this historic event. Esto Perpetua.

Prashanth Indrakumar (RC Class of  2017): My most memorable big matches would be the 2006 big match when I was just 7 years old and also the 2016 big match. In 2006, I remember the last time where both openers scored centuries. M. Maligaspe (140) and S. Senaratne (104) and it was a high scoring encounter, Royal posted a mammoth 432/7 Dimitri Siriwardena reverse sweeped to hit the winning runs for Royal. It was a great Royal victory to witness as a 7-year-old kid. The 137th Battle of Blues (2016) was one the greatest comebacks ever by Royal after being down and out. Royal won in the final delivery of the game, it was indeed a victory against all odds and my best ever victory ever witnessed as a Royalist. The Big Match is pretty much the main event I look forward to at the start of every year. I've been to every big match since 2004. Walking around the grounds during lunch and tea breaks just brings back so many memories and enjoyment with friends, and the papare is top notch, which keeps everyone going during the entire day.

Kadhija Nazahim - a cricket enthusiast: The Royal-Thomian has always been something we’ve looked forward to at home. With my brothers being Royalists, I’ve always felt a sense of pride going to the matches with them, dressed in blue and gold! The 130th Royal-Thomian will always be special to me. As a 10-year-old, I had the joy of watching my brother’s closest friends represent the Royal 1st XI. Now, 17 years later, the excitement still continues. I can’t wait for the 146th Roy-Tho.

Akhila Seneviratne (STC Class of 2016): The Royal-Thomian to me has definitely evolved over time. As a schoolboy it was more than just the three-day match because for about a month we, as school van goers, would hoist our flags, occasionally have water fights with other schools (almost like playing capture the flag) and the hype really intensified on the Cycle Parade Day with all the pageantry. During my school days it was only the Boys’ Tent on all 3 days, walking down the streets in Blue and Black, we could barely talk after screaming and witness a victory or defeat in a very rare occasion despite being a 3 day match. Then in between the period of leaving College and Covid-19 pandemic, it was time to meet your friends again from either college. After Covid-19 pandemic, it took some time to bring that atmosphere back again but I don't think the same enjoyment is there as a schoolboy no matter which tent you go to. The cricket played in the middle is definitely the center point for me because they are the reason why everyone comes together, and a good game of cricket in good spirits is what matters at the end of the day. From being a schoolboy, adult spectator and now an OBA Ex-Co member contributing towards organising a tent, it's definitely hard to put into words the nostalgia associated and the different roles played at one of the grandest events over time.

Senuri Yenuka Premaratna (a cricket enthusiast): Approximately 18 years ago, I’d drop my father off at a very busy Maitland Place and watch him, ever so excited, walk through the gates of SSC. Now, I get off with him and walk through those very same gates. Whether you support the Blue, Gold, and Blue or the Blue, Black, and Blue, there’s always something different about the air in March! The parties, the spirits, a warm sense of pride, the cycle parades, trucking, stag nights, and batch get-togethers etc. From within the walls of school to beyond, and enjoying the three-day match as a “responsible adult,” times have changed, but one thing hasn’t: the grandeur of the Battle of the Blues. As my father once taught me many years ago, there’s only one other school better than the Red school – a spirit that first came to life in eighteen hundred and thirty five.

S. Thomas’ College Acting Warden Asanka Perera, speaking at the launch of this year’s big match in Colombo recently, made a noteworthy comment: “To the two teams, this game is yours, and don’t let all the fancy events take your attention away from that. A lot of external pressures surround the Royal-Thomian, but for the 22 of you, this is your game to battle it out in the middle according to the rules of the game. In the middle, you battle your heart out, but off the field, you come off as friends.”

The 146th Battle of the Blues is set to be battled out on 6,7, and 8 March the Singhalese Sports Club Grounds and the 48th Mustangs Trophy limited-over encounter on 15 March at the same venue. 

A win or a loss is only a result of how the game is played. The Roy-Tho has been a place where crucial battles are fought in the field and lifelong friendships made at the end of it.

PHOTOS ISHAN SANJEEWA