It was a big celebration, a golden milestone in the blue ribbon schools cricket match in Sri Lanka. The Royal-Thomian, known as the Battle of the Blues, was celebrating its centenary encounter. Since its inception, this big match has been played with so much pride and passion, and with a tradition of its own – much to …

Another epic battle, unearthed thanks to veteran writer and our Quadrangle columnist Neil Wijeratne. As we were looking for “Great Escapes” he mentioned having watched this match and making short notes of the game, especially the bowling brilliance of multi-talented Benedictine Ravi Irugalbandara. He was one of my childhood heroes. He was equally good or better in hockey and football. …

It was in the late 1970s and early ‘80s, an era I recall, that as a schoolboy, eagerly looking forward to Fridays. Not so much because a weekend was in sight but simply to watch another First XI cricket encounter. The first stop on a Friday morning would be a quick glance at the blackboard on the left …