Wire
Description: The publisher of LMD, Media Services, has released its latest coffee-table book commemorating Sri Lanka’s 30 greatest cricketers since 1932, which was when the then All-Ceylon team took flight on its first official overseas tour.
angelo (109) batting (62) bowler (27) arjuna (19) anura (13) batsman (6) batsmen (3) aravinda (1) atapattu (1) average ball (1)
Though Dr. C. H. Gunasekera led his country’s first overseas touring team to India in 1932/33, the captain was called back to the island during the tour. An outbreak of malaria in the capital and its hospital wards required the services of Colombo’s Chief Medical Officer of Health – and so his commitment and dedication to serve the medical profession and fellow citizens took priority over playing cricket for the country.
In a game against a visiting MCC team in 1935, the selectors picked five opening batsmen to play for All-Ceylon and left out two of the fastest bowlers (D. S. Jayasundera and Hilton Poulier) who were in the squad from the playing XI. So Mervyn Kelaart – principally a batsman – took on the task of opening the bowling and displayed his passion for the game.
In one match, Sargo was hit by Indian fast bowler Mohammad Nizar in the first ball he faced. He fell to the ground but rose to take guard once again. Jayawickreme then hammered Nizar for a towering six and four hits to the ropes in the same over! He was indeed a true lion!
Wire