Winning the toss

In those days, the masters, too used to play in the inter collegiate matches. A. C. Edwards played for all Saints’ College in his capacity as a member of its staff. He was the safest and the soundest batsman and one could never forget his remarkably broad hat, his unperturbed and leisurely walk to the wicket and his unconcerned return to the pavilion after gathering at least a half century on every occasion. He was the terror of Richmond College and its supporters, in the great encounter between Richmond and All Saints’, which used to arouse tremendous enthusiasm on the part of everybody in Galle, up to about 1906. Mainly due to Edwards’s efforts, All Saints’ won every match between 1886 and 1898. He used to go first and generally return last to the pavilion.

In the memorable match between Richmond and All Saints’ Colleges in 1899, Richmond scored a glorious victory by an innings after a series of defeats. As usual Edwards went in, and to the great relief of the Richmondians (now Richmondites), he failed to come off in both innings! E. M. K. remembers shouting himself hoarse when Edwards was dismissed.

Alfred G. Nicholas, who was a member of the Richmond staff, was the recognised ‘Poet – laureate’ of the South. His compositions were really high-class and he used to contribute to many papers and magazines. He immortalised this victory by composing a beautiful song entitled ‘Winning the toss’, which was set to music by the revered Principal J. H. Darrel. It was melodiously sung by the college Eleven at the concert given at the end of the term thus;

Alack! the day for Edwards’ game,

That cricketer of ancient fame;

He’s in, the field is put about,

Both innings see him shortly out!

Chorus:

So here’s to Captain

and to crew,

To bowler, batsman, fieldsman, too,

We score away our previous loss,

Thanks to our Captain and the Boss.

Richmond College Masters’ C.C. Vs C.C.C. – 1910

The Richmond Masters’ C.C. were now without rivals and looked for new worlds to conquer. In 1909, Greswell arrived in Ceylon with a great reputation as one of the very best of England’s bowlers, and right well did he maintain the fame that had preceded him. Perhaps, he was the best bowler that we ever had in Ceylon as a permanent resident. The C.C.C. star was soon in the ascendant. Greswell became a terror to all our leading batsmen in the other first-class clubs, the majority of which were suffering from Greswellitis. The European Club went from strength to strength, and successively inflicted defeats on all the first-class clubs in Colombo. the S.S.C., N.C.C., the Colts and the rest of them; all went down, fighting, of course!

Greswell used to open the bowling and the necessity had so far never arisen to change him in any one innings. It was a matter of 10 or 12 overs and the trick was done. Clubs like the S.S.C., N.C.C., the Colts being bundled out for a meagre 30 or 40. Bowling analyses such as follows amply prove the truth of my statement; 9 for 44 vs. the Nondescripts, 9 for 26 vs. the Malay C.C, 8 for 7 vs. the S.S.C., 8 for 13 vs. The Colts, 10 for 36 vs. the Malays, 9 for 40 vs. The Tamils, 8 for 31 vs. Sports Club, etc.

The C.C.C. in 1910 were easily the champions of the Metropolis, having won every match against first class sides, mainly through the wonderful bowling of Greswell. It was just at this time that a happy, though an ambitious idea, struck me. I was the Secretary of the Masters’ C.C., and, with the full concurrence of my colleagues, I decided to throw out a challenge to the Colombo champions, as we had deservedly gained the title of Champions of South-Ceylon over three consecutive years. M.S. Gooneratne, whose guidance and assistance with regard to such matters I always sought, was let into the secret of my intention. We had some talk over the matter, and although he did not discourage me, he made me indirectly realise that it was very unlikely that the C.C.C. would accept our challenge for several reasons, one of them being the fact that the C.C.C. did not play whole-day matches in those days, against any clubs other than the D.M.C.C, D.A.C.C., and the Up-country Team.

I took my courage in both hands, and wrote a decent letter to the Secretary of the C.C.C. My delight was indescribable when, within three days of my letter, I received a most courteous and encouraging reply from Lt. Col. E.O. Mackwood the then Hon. Secretary of the C.C.C., cordially accepting our challenge to play the first match in Colombo, and offering us another date for a return match in Galle. I need hardly say that the Masters C.C. set to work at once in dead earnest and carefully trained and prepared themselves for the fray.

I remember getting up regularly by 5.30 a.m. before the boarders were up, repairing to the College grounds with two stumps, accompanied by my friend G.R.A. Fernando, fixing these stumps and keeping on pegging away at either end, G.R.A. and I, for about half an hour! This was done regularly for about three weeks before the great encounter, and I need hardly say that we noticed a considerable improvement both in the length, pace, and break of our bowling. We used to open bowling for our club as well as for the Galle Club then, and we understood each other to a nicety so much so that G.R.A. would refuse to bowl unless I was short-slip for him!

Eventually, to make a long story short, we went up to Colombo and the spin of the coin was in our favour,

we elected to bat at 10 a.m. on a Saturday. Our Galilean fame had reached the Metropolis for we noticed quite a large crowd even at 10 a.m., a crowd that swelled to several hundreds towards the afternoon. It was Ludowyk again who set the ball rolling. He with Dissanaika opened confidently by stepping out to Greswell, who trundled from the Asylum end, and rattling up 27 before Dissanaika was stumped by R. H. Williams off Greswell. G.R.A. Fernando joined Ludowyk who, however, was soon caught in the outfield off the other bowler. I filled breath, and a lively partnership ensued between G.R.A. and me, the score reaching 180 before I was caught behind the stumps off S. E. Gant-Cook, who had been put on in desperation after six bowlers had been tried.

A remarkable thing happened in this game. Greswell was changed for the first time since his arrival in Ceylon after he had obtained one solitary wicket for a 100 runs! He was however put on again towards the end and his final analysis read 5 for 130, which stood as his worst performance with the leather for over a decade. The bowling was completely collared and severely punished by almost every member of the team. A record total of 295 before lunch time was established. By that time, the writer had the satisfaction of contributing 76, while G.R.A. Fernando made 60, Blum Soerts 40, Small 28, and George Senaratne 25. I believe this total of 295, made between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., is still a record in a first class game, while it is certainly a record for the C.C.C. ground.

When the C.C.C. commenced their essay at 2 p.m, none of us dreamt that they would approach our total as we possessed a strong bowling and fielding side. W. E. M. Patterson (the Captain) and R. H. Williams, who opened the home innings, however, made things hum for us by batting magnificently and defying all our ingenuity. 100 was telegraphed in as many minutes without the loss of a wicket and without the semblance of a chance on the part of either batsman. I remember coming on to bowl for the third time and disturbing the off bail of Patterson with a slow curler at 121. He retired with 62 to his credit, but our troubles had by no means ended. Williams was dismissed shortly after for 60.

Almost every batsman laid the wood to good effect so that the score rose rapidly. Greswell made amends for his comparative failure in bowling by playing perhaps his finest innings in Ceylon and rattling up 70 in no time. I will never forget the hit, the biggest I have seen on the C.C.C. ground, made by him off H. Mant. The ball appeared to soar into the sky till it looked no bigger than an egg. It was a long-on hit from the pavilion end, ‘beautifully timed’ and executed with great power. Going diagonally well over trees close to the N.C.C. Pavilion; the ball dropped far out on the N.C.C. ground. I have seldom seen a hit go so high and yet so far.

The excitement was intense when the C.C.C. score had reached 240 for 5 wickets with only 45 minutes to go. It was at this stage that the visitors gave a remarkable exhibition of determination and magnificent fielding which was specially commented upon by the press, including the Ceylon Sportsman, the only Sunday paper at that time. The final stages were reminiscent of keen inter-collegiate cricket. Four wickets fell in 40 minutes, the total being 265. The last man whipped in with 31 runs to make to win or 5 minutes to play out time and make the game a draw. When the total reached 270, however, and there were only two minutes to go, the Galle Champions secured the wicket and thereby a glorious victory.

The papers acclaimed the Southern Province players as a great all-round side, and as men who taught the Metropolitan cricketers how to play Greswell. The total of 565 in a first-class game is, I believe, a record for a one-day match in Ceylon. At any rate, I am certain that this total is a record for the C.C.C. ground. I need not give the details in the return game played at the Galle the same year, but it is a remarkable fact that the masters triumphed again, this time by an innings, G.R.A. Fernando contributing a beautifully compiled 83, the highest score made up to that date against Greswell, displacing the 76 made by the writer just six months previously. In 1912, the Masters’ Club suffered defeat at the hands of the C.C.C. on the latter’s ground. After doing so remarkably well for about six or seven years, this Club, too, so far, at least, as cricket was concerned, more or less ceased to exist, primarily because most of the cricketing members left for fresh fields and pastures new.

This game we love so much has been truly described as ‘the finest game the wit of man has devised’. May the true spirit of Cricket prevail in all our encounters, both in and off the field. We do not often realise the important bearing cricket, played in the proper spirit, has on the formation of character.

A certain English writer said once that cricket had become an imperial asset. I should go further and say that it is a national asset and even a family asset. Its code of ethics and honour is so high that the expression ‘it is not cricket’ is commonly used in regard to any line of action or human conduct that is not perfectly straight, upright, and above board.