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A collection of 39 posts

The Baileys Of Ceylon And Tasmanian Origins

The Baileys Of Ceylon And Tasmanian Origins

George Bailey's great-great-grandfather of the same name and son of Revd. Bailey, was born today in 1853 in Ceylon, and is the first Tasmanian Cricketer to represent Australia.

Sanga, The Wordsmith Who Made His Bat Talk

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Sanga, The Wordsmith Who Made His Bat Talk

Kumar Sangakkara, known for being well spoken and his fashion sense in bespoke tailoring apart from his achievements in cricket, turns 48 years today!

Aura-vinda, The Little Giant For Big Occasions

Aura-vinda, The Little Giant For Big Occasions

Standing at just 5'3, Aravinda De Silva who turns 60 years today packed a punch with every Pull Shot, and delivered the best all round performance in a World Cup Final

The Sri Lankan Head Coaches At The Asia Cup

The Sri Lankan Head Coaches At The Asia Cup

This year's edition of the Asia Cup, has three Sri Lankans as Head Coaches for their respective teams, which is also the most representation from a single country!

De Saram- The Colonel, Coach & Cricket Captain

De Saram- The Colonel, Coach & Cricket Captain

Born today in 1912, Col. F.C. De Saram not only led Ceylon Cricket in his younger days but also the 1962 Ceylonese coup d'état, and subsequently became a Coach and Selector.

The Captain Who Fought The Smallpox Outbreak

The Captain Who Fought The Smallpox Outbreak

Born today in 1894, Dr. C.H. Gunasekara is a hallowed name in Royal College Cricket like his other family members, and the first Ceylonese to play County Cricket in England.

The 'Keeper of Faith' and Promise to his Son

The 'Keeper of Faith' and Promise to his Son

Former Zimbabwe Captain Tatenda Taibu once 'came out of retirement' as an overseas player for Badureliya CC in 2019 because his son never had the chance to see him play!

The Day When Sri Lanka Braved Thomson's Fury

The Day When Sri Lanka Braved Thomson's Fury

50 years ago today, Sri Lanka showed their fighting spirit as they faced one of Cricket's deadliest duos - Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee in the World Cup against Australia.

'Karu Ayya' - A Genius In Lyrics And Commentary!

'Karu Ayya' - A Genius In Lyrics And Commentary!

Karunaratne Abeysekera who was born 95 years ago today, was not only a lyrical genius behind more that 2000 songs but also introduced Sinhala Cricket Commentary

Mathews - The Match Winner Of Yesteryear

Mathews - The Match Winner Of Yesteryear

Angelo Mathews who turns 38 years today, embodies many nostalgic memories from his 17 year long career as a match winning all rounder of generational talent.

Mahanama - A Big Name Who Walked The Talk!

Mahanama - A Big Name Who Walked The Talk!

Roshan Mahanama who turns 59 years today, is remembered for his fighting knocks and safe hands in the outfield for Sri Lanka, before he became an ICC Match Referee.

She Let The Ladies Play The Gentleman's Game

She Let The Ladies Play The Gentleman's Game

An Actress turned Administrator, Mrs.Gwen Herat will be remembered for her giant leaps in Cricket as the Founding President of the Sri Lanka Women's Cricket Association

Mahela - A Mastermind In The Shortest Format

Mahela - A Mastermind In The Shortest Format

Mahela Jayawardene who turns 48 years today, is an underrated example of format adaptation, with a strike rate in T20Is greater than Test and ODIs combined!

Aravinda's First Taste of England: Where Dreams Were Forged

Aravinda's First Taste of England: Where Dreams Were Forged

A 15 year old teenager stepped onto a plane for the very first time, full of excitement, on his way to England with his U19 cricket team. That was Aravinda de Silva's reality in 1981...

Karunaratne - A Frank And Underrated Opener

Karunaratne - A Frank And Underrated Opener

Dimuth Karunaratne, who recently retired on his 100th Test match and one of the most prolific openers to grace the field in whites for Sri Lanka, turns 37 years today!

Astonishing Feats Of The Bent Arm Bowler

Astonishing Feats Of The Bent Arm Bowler

With 1347 international wickets to his name, Muttiah Muralitharan who turns 53 years today is not your everyday tailender when looking at his batting and fielding feats!

When 'Hope' Finally Became A Reality

When 'Hope' Finally Became A Reality

After sharing sorrows as the losing side in four straight World Cup finals, Sri Lanka became the T20 World Cup winners on this day in 2014 at the Sher-E-Bangla Stadium.

A Life Around Cricket, Hockey and Insurance!

A Life Around Cricket, Hockey and Insurance!

Chandra Schaffter, founder of Janashakthi Insurance PLC and the oldest living First Class Cricketer who represented Ceylon in Hockey and Cricket, turns 95 years today.

The Bizarre Pitch That Bamboozled Bradman!

The Bizarre Pitch That Bamboozled Bradman!

On this day in 1948, Colombo came to a halt as more than 20,000 spectators surrounded the P Sara Oval to watch Sir Don Bradman score the same number of runs as the pitch!

Tissera - The Tea Taster, Cricketer and Manager

Tissera - The Tea Taster, Cricketer and Manager

'Deshabandu' Michael Tissera who turns 86 years today, didn't only taste tea but has also led Ceylon in the Pre-Test Era, famously tasting victory on Indian soil in 1965

The Banker Who Took More Than 500 Wickets

The Banker Who Took More Than 500 Wickets

Rangana Herath who turns 47 years today, holds the record for the most wickets taken by a Left Arm Test Bowler and the longest span of 19 years for Sri Lanka Cricket!

"That's it, all the way to the boundary for four!"

"That's it, all the way to the boundary for four!"

On this day in 1996, the captain's Late Cut towards Third Man saw Sri Lanka conquer the mighty Australians for their first ever World Cup win, inspiring future generations.

Origins of 'The Great Intercollegiate Match'

Origins of 'The Great Intercollegiate Match'

Ashley Walker, a First Class Cricketer and Royal College Master, wrote a letter to S.Thomas' College that led to the 'Big Match' and birth of School's Cricket in Ceylon.

When Sri Lanka Became the 8th Test Nation

When Sri Lanka Became the 8th Test Nation

On this day in 1982, Sri Lanka played their inaugural Test match as the 8th country to receive the Full ICC Membership, against England at the P. Sara Oval Stadium.

Battle of Helm's Deep Recording at Wellington

Battle of Helm's Deep Recording at Wellington

LOTR Director Peter Jackson had an unusual idea to gather as many people to chant in Black Speech, during the New Zealand vs England 2nd ODI on this day in 2002!