Sent in by Kumar Gunawardene
Those friends thou hast ,
And their adoption tried,
Grapple them to thy soul
With hoops of steel
William Shakespeare
One of the many joys of a sojourn in Sri Lanka is catching up with friends of yore ,reminiscing or even chatting idly, usually over a long drink; Bora’s choice a good red, mine a single malt. Both well matured like our friendship.
Talking of wine brings to mind a tale of our early days in London. A relative of mine gave us a gourmet dinner and being the sophisticated man he was, served a fine French red.
Our tastes in this field were very basic then and Bora whispered “machang your cousin has given us a Kahata wine” O Tempora O mores
Our relationship goes back to the days of the Lower Fourth ( sixth standard) in the school by that capricious turquoise sea. His mien then as now was that of a cherub albeit with a mischievous streak. Slowly but steadily our friendship matured through school, medical faculty, journey to Britain with our wives, diverging professional pathways to a lifelong intimacy.Through all these we have kept in touch and rejoiced whenever or wherever we meet.
Fables of our entwined lives abound but like those of Scheherazade, must await another day or maybe a night.
At STC we belonged to a clique of five, all of whom achieved eminence in later life; their misdemeanours at that time could not have presaged their subsequent renown.
An encounter Bora delights in relating is that of his Royal-Thomian ticket. He cherished it and would gaze lovingly and stroke it anticipating the pleasures he would enjoy at the Wanathamulle Oval. One day it went missing, but being an astute sleuth, he located it in his desk mate’s wallet. After duly retrieving it, Bora gave him a resounding slap. What follows is excruciatingly funny.The mate took off his glasses, folded them neatly, placed them on his school bag all in slow motion. He then countered the whack with more than good measure; this stung much more than the loss of the ticket. In a few days, however all was forgiven and forgotten and to this day they are the best of friends.
Bora has all the attributes of a good friend. Loyalty, sincerity, trustworthiness, good humour, amiability amongst many others. However I enjoy most his storytelling. He is a raconteur par excellence. Whenever a half smile forms on his lips I know to anticipate a hilarious tale; always related in a bland matter of fact manner, like another of our good friends, the late Sunna.
We met many times this year and shared many a yarn. First at Lareef’s daughter Sabrina’s wedding; on the beach at the resort, Cyril, Bora and I lounged on armchairs and fanned by the ocean breezes swapped mainly cricket stories. Next was at the sumptuous batch reunion organised by Pram. But best of all was at the ODI at SSC. The cricket was entertaining, but the heat was overwhelming and sleep was tempting. However Bora kept me awake with many an anecdote whenever I was on the verge of nodding.
Here in his own words are his wit and humour proving that he is as good an exponent of the written as well as the spoken word.
“ I met Dr. David Weatherall the famous academic in Colombo at an a SLMA reception.
During the course of the conversation I mentioned that I found “The Oxford Text Book of Medicine “ very useful. He then proceeded to explain to me how he got involved in editing this book.
Price’s Book on Medicine, which was our bible on Medicine when we were students was edited by the Physcian to the Queen. Parts of it were reviewed by an American Physician who was a good friend of David. After reading a few chapters, the American returned the book to David with the words ”God Save the Queen “ written on the last page.”
“Before the HIV epidemic anaesthetists and surgeons were quite liberal in transfusing patients post operatively. Post HIV but ,before a screening test was available, clinicians became very conscious of of the risk of HIV via blood transfusion. Goodenough an American Physician published a number of articles recommending guidelines for the conservative use of blood post operatively.
I made a presentation at a meeting on this topic and quoting his guide lines ,
concluded my talk by saying what is good enough for Goodenough is good enough for me “
The best is saved for the last.
“I was invited to make a presentation on “Transfusion related Acute Lung Injury”
at the Annual Scientific meeting of the Sri Lankan College of Anaesthetists. To keep the audience awake I started my talk with an anecdote I picked up from an American Professor a few months earlier. I told the the audience how delighted I was with the attendance, because the last time I gave this lecture there was only one person in the audience. I was wondering whether to abandon the talk. However I felt for the single member in the audience and proceeded to to give this lecture. At the end of of my talk when I was packing my bag this lone member came up to me and said please stay as I’m the next speaker.”
“In the sweetness of friendship
Let there be laughter and sharing of pleasures,
For in the dew of little things
The heart finds it’s morning and is refreshed”
Khalil Gibran
Thanks Kumar. How refreshing to read this amusing and in a way touching tale of friendship. I love this quote from an unknown author on friendship -“A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.” Bora and you Kumar exemplify this sentiment. I am so pleased that you had a great time in Sri Lanka but sad to be reminded about what I missed. Hope to see more of your literary talents soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mahen,for your remarks,and once again for your advice which helped me to re-engage in the blog.Good friends are rare and their importance is captured ,so beautifully by the comment.”A single rose can be my garden,a single friend my world.
DeleteI look forward eagerly to yours and Rohini’s mutual creations.I in turn will try to contribute more often,now that we are virtually stranded in SriLanka.Qantas has cancelled ninety percent of it’s international flights.
Kumar-
DeleteMahen is just teasing ! Look forward to more of your fine writing and poetry.
Rohini
DeleteKumar, welcome back to the blog. We did miss you. When the world is ravaged by Covid-19 and separated and divided by barriers it is so lovely to hear of the bonds of friendship that has survived well beyond the biblical count of three score years and ten. It is heart-warming to see such closeness. In the photo, literally and physically you two cannot get any closer. I recognise in the background the elegant Chapel of the Transfiguration of Christ and the well manicured lawn in the hallowed precincts of STC.
ReplyDeleteMy memory goes back to the days when I was a cricket enthusiast at Wesley. I have walked passed the Chapel to the breezy wicket round the corner which was a veritable graveyard for visiting teams. I’ve had the good fortune to watch Lareef Idroos, then a 15 year old rookie, mesmerise batsmen with his wily spin and unplayable googlies. He was, even then, a magician with the ball. Ah! Those were the days.
Despite the years I can still smell the noxious fumes of the red Leyland CTB bus that took me to Mt Lavinia.
We have always enjoyed Bora’s anecdotes and humour which he delivered with a poker face. I sat with him at the last London reunion. He was just getting into his stride when last orders were called.
Friendship is a rich divine gift. May your friendship last for evermore. Meanwhile, Kumar, stay with us and enrich our blog.
Dear ND,Thank you for your generous and perceptive comments.One of my profoundest regrets at being unable to access the Blog was the inability to respond to your splendid articles.I was particularly overwhelmed by your pen portrait of “Kira”,Dr K.S.De Silva.My acquaintance with him was fleeting too, when he substituted for a physician on leave .He epitomised ,in my mind’s eye the ideal physician.Competent ,committed and compassionate but also empathetic with patients and also callow pupils like me.Quite a contrast ,to some other consultants whom we thought were formidable and distant.In fact many others like Drs Austin ,Anthonis and Medonza. were quite the reverse as I discovered when I had to get their signatures for the second time having lost my signature book..I approached them with trepidation but they all obliged with no questions asked.
DeleteAs you observe ND, Bora and I have been very close over the figurative biblical span.One of his most admirable traits is helping out literally a fallen mate.During our first Law-Medical I was blitzed on toddy and cheap arrack.The toddy had to be sucked via a rubber tube from a barrel heated to boiling point in the midday sun.Now just thinking about it makes me shudder.I could barely stand.Bora lugged me to his home somehow on CTB buses.Tuk Tuks were not not even conceived then and taxis were beyond our means.I slept overnight at his home and returned home the next day a sadder and wiser man.
My mother admonished me saying your father kept up all night pacing up and down the verandah.I had not dared to call as that would have been a dead giveaway.My father did not say anything ,but never again did I repeat this misdemeanour.
We were a clique of six and not five as mentioned in my post.Sadly one of my closest buddies, Jit son of DFDeS is no more.We always sat next to each other in class and were inseparable.He was gentle ,good humoured and easy to please ,quick to laugh and like his father went onto become a distinguished surgeon in USA.We shared amongst other things a love of books .He introduced me to the Companion Book Club in UK.We could purchase a book each month from several selections.The long conversations we had,while waiting for his car on our half day ,Wednesday remains an indelible memory.He would somehow squeeze me and other friends in his car and we would continue to chat animatedly till we were dropped off.The day I got news of his demise remains one of the darkest days of my life.
I often wonder how we bonded so easily at that age and formed such durable life long friendships.Perhaps at that age we were like our minds fresh with few constraints and prejudices.
Will follow up with more on STC on another day
Hi ND
DeleteYour visit to STC Mount brought back memories of Narendra Abeysooriya (cousin of Sunil Abey) Wesley college cricket captain 1960.Narendra was a close friend of mine at STC Prep Colpetty and I played cricket under him along with the late H.N,Wickremasinghe and Sentil Sinniah in 1952.Subsequently he went to Wesley and I entered STC Mount.
In 1953 I was delighted to meet him near our chapel and accompanied him to the big club to watch the Wesley V STC cricket match.
Enjoyed recalling the Prep school days and what I can remember of the match are the two captains P.I.Pieris(STC) and ?Brian.Claessen(Wesley)
Virus permitting hope to see you at lords.
Esto perpetua STC non Covid 19 (moreat statim)
Adios
Bora
Best wishes
Bora
Bora
Hi Bora
DeleteWelcome to the blog. Nalendra Abeysuriya was in the boarding with me. The peak of his achievement was captaining the school 1st XI cricket in 1958. He went into tea planting in Dickoya. Nalendra passed away at the young age of 44 years in October 1983. I think both his brothers went to STC. One became a Neurosurgeon and the other a prominent lawyer in Colombo.
Senthil too was in the boarding for a couple of years. He captained Ist XI cricket in 1959. We are now in close contact. He lives in Devon and I've stayed with him on many occasions. In the UK he played cricket in the Thames Valley League. Senthil retired as a Banker with Natwest. I remember those glorious games Wesley V STC. P.I Peiris and Dan Piachaud days. Incidentally Dan P 's son played cricket with my son for Bedford School. Was LR Goonetilleke too at STPrep? He was the Wesley fast bowler who went on to play for Ceylon.
I hope there will be cricket at Lords this summer
"Ad astra per aspera"
Take care
ND
Hi Kumar and Bora
ReplyDeleteI too recognise the background ,the chapel of the transfiguration. In fact when I was last in Sri Lanka my brother Panchan whom many of you know gave me a painting of the chapel which he had purchased from a famous painter. Though I was a couple of years ahead of you guys I still remember vividly walking to the chapel for the daily service before college started the periods as we called the 45 minutes lessons those days. Many of my class mates have passed on , and a few that i know that are alive I keep in touch. I totally agree with ND and Speedy, friendship is a rich divine and a gift takes time to cultivate, but is what keeps all alive.
Blessings to all
Rajan (Patas)
Hi Ranjan,Thank you for your nostalgic comments.Did you join STC in the Lower
DeleteSchool or later?As I recall we had a chapel interval of about fifteen minutes around ten o’clock.I was much intrigued by the line of boys walking quietly in a very orderly fashion to the service.One day I decided to join them!!Dora Janz ,our .
graceful and motherly class teacher of 1B advised Kumar ,as you are a Buddhist you don’t have to go.I replied my mother said I could go.Dora very cleverly said ,please bring a letter from your mother.And that was that.
My mother in her wisdom realised early that my brother and I needed to be well grounded in our culture.Every weekend we were sent to the nearby Bellanwila Temple to be taught Sinhala and Buddhism.We were very fortunate to have have come under the tutelage of Ven M.Vajiragnana one of of the most erudite monks I have encountered.He became the chief prelate of Great Britain and was honoured by both the Queen and the Pope for his work on inter-religious amity.I must have been a good student as I got a distinction in Sinhala at the SSC exam.
We didn’t have classes for Buddhism ,but I recall vividly the civics/ethics classes conducted by Mr V.Hensman on the chapel steps.
You, would also remember Rev Bowyer Yin our chaplain ,an exotic figure to us. Not only did he fashion an excellent choir based on the Kings College choir ,but was an outstanding maths teacher.My brother revered him and visited him in Sin, a short time before he passed away.
His half brother was Leslie Charteris who was the author of the Saint series.Our quirky class social club was named after the Saint, and counted amongst its members Bora ,Mano Ponniah and Romesh Narayana. Our parties were brightened by lots of pretty girls.;we had to drum up Dutch courage by imbibing many a glass of Rockland gin.
You would also recall the feisty Miss Bay.She had a Baby Austin ,in which she conveyed to and from school,little boys packed to the rafters.I cannot vouch for this story ,but here goes.
Bora who had recently acquired an expensive football was fooling around with it when BWRT kicked it right into the oncoming Miss Bay’s car;she promptly confiscated the ball.Bora was hopping mad and may have had a furious exchange with his good mate;but Miss Bay had luckily returned it a few days later!!!
Such are few of the tales of our pleasurable childhood.
Hi Rajan,
DeleteMy profuse apologies for misspelling your name .The fault is not mine bit with the iPad auto correction 😁😀
I do remember visiting the Chapel of the Transfiguration of Christ aeons ago and do recall the colourful mural behind the altar. I am told there is now a new mural done by the English cricketer David Paynter which is breathtakingly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteDear ND ,
DeleteThe cricketer you are referring to is Eddie Paynter who was a good left hand batsman and excellent fielder in Douglas Jardine’s bodyline team.
Our distinguished artist was Srilankan; Sinhalese mother and English father.His last major work was the mural in the STC chapel;but his definitive work was the murals in the Trinity Church;his Alma Mater.
He was also an acclaimed portrait painter; his painting of our most eminent old boy Mr D.S.Senanayake hangs in our school hall.It captures beautifully the rugged but benign nature of this great man.He had also painted Jawaharlal Nehru ,by invitation,and this picture hangs in the Indian Prime Minister’s official residence.DS would never miss a Royal-Thomian or the Old Boys day.The story goes that while he was batting for the old’uns,he fell flat on the ground.Donald Fairweather who was the umpire helped him to his feet and was brushing his bottom,when a train passed by providing a hilarious and rare spectacle for the passengers.
Like you ,I too travelled by the red double decker buses from Dehiwala to the 7th milepost at Mt Lavinia for five cents.One day to save the fare we were walking when a big black limousine stopped by.Through a half opened window came the shout “ machang get in I’m also going to the match” It was Monty Gopallawa in his father’s Rolls Royce ( William G was Governor General).Such was the bonhomie amongst us regardless of rank.
Finally,while the chapel in Mt Lavinia is an Anglican architectural gem ,so is the the original chapel in Mutuwal.Well worth a visit.
Kumar
DeleteGreat to hear from you and of the Paynter murals. I recall a visit to the Trinity College Chapel too but many many years ago as a schoolboy visitor. Its design is most unusual for a Christian Chapel with its multitude of columns carved in grand Kandyan style. The building is suited for our hot climate being so airy. Being so very long ago I cannot remember the murals or the altar. My cousins who went to that fine school proudly says that its architecture is considered as one of the finest in the country.
It is so wonderful to reminisce. One of my abiding memories of the Faculty is my first evening bash in the Mens' Common Room. Towards the end of the evening none were sobre. A final year student Ranjithan Luxmajothy Tambyrajah sang "Come and see the wild west show" at the top of his voice with several inebriated lads singing aloud and dancing around him. It was much later I found he was yet another fine product of your school and also a much respected Head Boy. He later became a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Singapore and sadly passed away in 2008. May he RIP
Dear ND,The Trinity chapel is modelled on the Magul Maduwa ,the King’s audience hall ,next to the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy.The Independence Memorial hall is also based on the Magul Maduwa.Very good images of all these are available in Google photos.
DeleteI played in Asgiriya with the under sixteen cricket eleven ,and have visited Kandy many times but regretfully have never visited the Trinity Chapel.But I have seen the magnificent George Keyt Murals in Gotami Vihara Borella many times.The murals in the Bellanwila temple are also superb.
I remember Thambyraja from STC, though I didn’t have any interactions with him either at STC or the Medical school.Head cops were considered exotic beings!!!Even some prefects paraded around with exaggerated self importance.Chummy Sinnetamby ,who later became a neurosurgeon for sometime,once gave me one hundred lines for some trivial offence.When I handed it to him he had forgotten the reason for punishing me!!!
You will recall Shakespeare’s lines.’Life is but a walking shadow,a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,And then is heard no more ....”
I remember the Chapel too although I never attended STC Mt Lavinia. I was at STC Kollupitya and went on to Royal College on realisation of the truth!
ReplyDeleteKumar,
ReplyDeleteSo nice to see you again-
This is very entertaining and so well written- concluded elegantly with the simple yet beautiful quote by Khalil Gibran- It was a great pleasure to read.
“Friendship is always a sweet responsibility” by the same author .
Rohini,
DeleteWe would love to hear stories of your Ladies College days; the escapades ,dancing music,tennis and the British Council.
Hope you will oblige when you have time and when the iPad issue is fixed.
You too write with such delightful flair.
Kumar,
DeleteYou seem to know a great deal about the fun and games I enjoyed during my school years - and I can guess the source as well !
With my dear school buddy and “partner in crime “ at your doorstep there can be no pretence of having been studious !
There will not be enough time nor space to write about all the crazy things we did in those carefree and wonderful days - I think you’d have a fair idea !
On another note- just as much as you’ve cherished your friendship with Bora (whom I didn’t come to know in med school) , I am certain Bora knows what a gem he has found in you . Enjoy yourselves in sunny SL and make sure you keep away from Corona.
Zita bringing up the rear as usual would like to say, that I read this a few days ago but a lot has happened in the world since then and I have been away from activity. On first reading this, I found it a gripping tale, in a pleasant sense, of a true and lasting friendship between two lovely people Bora and Kumar. It can easily be a chapter in an 'unputdownable' book. Any chance of that? So much detail retold in such attractive language makes it indeed a pleasure to read. Pardon me if I keep repeating that, but it is really well written! Thanks! from Zita
ReplyDeleteThank you Zita for your lavish and unstinted praise.Bora and I really appreciate your kind words.We in turn look forward to your fun poetry with Mahen’s hilarious illustrations.😂🤣👍
ReplyDeleteA most intriguing suggestion Zita.The Blog has always had outstandingly good,contributions of prose,poetry and photography,not forgetting,the comments.If someone had the time energy and wherewithal,it would make an exceptional addition to the history of our times.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Mahen will have some suggestions.
Kumar
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to hear of your encounter with Prefects. That was the school hierarchy then. Although we were at school just for 14 years or so, it seemed like a lifetime. I recall writing about school life as a kid comparing it to a zoo. The lions at the top of the pecking order being the prefects. The zoo keepers were the teachers. There were monkeys bringing jollity and fun. Snakes under grass!! No shortage of those. Parrots being the chatter boxes.
To change the topic I didn't know you played cricket for school at under 16. I would have said you were a wicket keeper, the silent assassin ending the dreams of batsmen. Not the type who would sledge. I'm just joking Kumar!! The cricketers too were put on a pedestal at school.
Hope you and the family will be safe. Take care and be in touch
I am aware that Kumar missed playing for the Royal -Thomian match by a whisker!The skipper, Lareef Idroos decided to play Marapona over Kumar because the former was a better batsman. B W R Thomas who is a good friend of mine told me that because of Kumar's wicket keeping abilities, in a match against St. Benedicts, he bagged five wickets which helped them to win the match. I wonder whether Cyril Ernest played in that match. Later B W R Thomas played for Ceylon against Pakistan.
ReplyDeleteDear ND and Sanath,Thank you both for your kind words.My STC cricket career started in the under 16 team,and progressed onto the 2nd X1 and finally to the fist X1.In 1961 when R.M.Fernando captained I,was robbed of my place.A long story not worth boring you with.
ReplyDeleteI did enjoy my time with some wonderful team mates including BWR Thomas,a very good pacey leg spinner,Mano Ponniah, who went onto play for Ceylon,Cambridge and Sussex,Lorenz D’Silva a Rock Hudson look alike,also a champion athlete ,Maurice Fairweather whose father was the illustrious Donald,Keith Labrooy,and Palitha Wanduragala.Pre-eminent among these was our ‘62 batch mate Lareef Idroos.
As for sledging, I was never one ,but then this was never indulged in then.I do enjoy however hearing or reading a witty sledge.One of best was the exchange between Rod Marsh and Ian Botham which you know I’m sure but worth retelling.RM asks how is your wife and my children;IB replies ,wife is fine but the children are retarded.
In Sir Donald Bradman’s last major interview,he was asked about his attitude to sledging; he replied,I would have warned that person once and if it was repeated he would have been out of my team for ever.Cricket was a gentleman’s game then.
Cyril Ernest did play in the 1960 Thomian Benedictine encounter.I caught him out in both innings !!
My most enjoyable time was in the Under 16 team and we had two glorious away matches,one at Asgiriya and the other at Richmond Hill Galle.Both times we kept up nearly all night, but managed to win both matches.Youth is such a wonderful time ,but sadly so fleeting.
Sorry to hear,Kumar,that your place in the cricket team was robbed by Marapona,from Ratnapura.Children from rich and famous families from Ratnapura attended STC for many years.
ReplyDeleteI do not think Kumar is referring to Marapona.If I remember right Marapona did not play in the !961 Team.Correct me if Iam wrong
ReplyDeleteRegards.
Bora
Hi
ReplyDeleteI do not think Kumar is referring to Marapona.As far as I can recall Marapona did not play in the 1961 team.Correct me if Iam wrong.
Regards
Bora
g
Kumar ,Sanath and Bora
ReplyDeleteKumar, my apologies if I disturbed a hornets nest?
I have vivid memories of some of those school matches and the stresses and strains that accompanied them. Being a spectator was almost as stressful as being in the pitch. To be a 1st eleven cricketer at school was a great honour. They were placed on a pedestal and were greatly respected by all. That intoxicating amalgam of praise and public acclaim can be destructive. Despite the teenage years ,mostly, they received this adulation with poise and dignity. Conceit, of course, grows imperceptibly. Fortunately the hard knocks of our lives at school and those in the cricket field were enough to tone it down. The effort to suppress one's feelings and behave well in public continuously must have been a great strain. I must say I looked up to them with some envy and respect.
Cricketers from our medical school batch Harsha, Kumar Lareef and Cyril are some of the nicest guys one can meet. They are a tribute to the gentleman's game. My claim to fame is that I once walked amongst them!
Dear ND and Sanath,I would like to correct any misconception re my being ‘ robbed of a place in the team.I was not referring to Gamini Marapana who was selected on account of his being a better batsman.We did have a weak batting lineup in 1960.
ReplyDeleteThis was in 1961 ,when I was the best in terms of wicket keeping and also a reasonable bat.Gamini M and I have remained good friends.
Hi ND,You have many claims to fame.A Radiologist who rose to the top in a foreign and very competitive environment and a writer of the first rank whose contributions are such a delight..Above all being a refined gentleman and being a good friend.
ReplyDeleteHi,Kumar,I am sure we got spelling of the name Marapana got mixed up.Marapana senior was a famous lawyer in Ratnapura Courts,who ended up as a High Court Judge,His two sons,Tilak and Gamini followed his father's footsteps and excelled in the Legal Profession.As as for you,you could have excelled as a wicket keeper batsman.I can think of three Sri Lankan wicket keeper batsmen.They are Dr.HIK,Romesh Kaluwitharana and your first name sake Kumar Sangakkara.Other two foreign players are,your adopted countryman,Adam Gillchrist and English and Welsh team Captain Alex Stewart.
DeleteKumar, who was the Thomian wicket-keeper in the 1961 Royal-Thomian match?
ReplyDeleteSumathi, there are many more wicket-keeper batsmen.
ReplyDeleteSri Lanka, Ben Navaratne, Ranjith Fernando, Mahes Goonetilleke, Brendon Kuruppu, Amal Silva,Prasanna Jayawardene, Kusal Perera, Niroshan Dickwella
India,-Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, Dinesh Karthick
Pasistan-Imtiaz Ahamed, Wasim Bari,Rashid Latif, Moin Khan, Safraz Ahamed.
Australia- Bill Langley, Wally Grout, Rodney Marsh, Steve Rixon,
England- Godfrey Evans,Allan Knott, Jack Russell,Jim Parks, Matt Prior,Joss Butler
West Indies-Clyde Walcott, Gerry Alexander, Deryck Murray,Jeff Dujong,David Murray, Shai Hope
South Africa-Nick Potha,Dennis Lindsay,John Waite, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Quentin de Koch
New Zealand-Ken Wadsworth,Brendon MacCallum, Luke Ronchi, B J Watling
Kumar, whom did you idolize out of this long list ?
ReplyDeleteRandy Morrell.The master in charge was his uncle.!!!!.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Kumar;I think he went on to captain the side, the year before Premalal Goonesekere led you all to victory, which was rather painful to me to witness since that was the first time I witnessed a defeat after watching this match continuously ,since 1954. Please answer my query regarding the best wicket-keeper batsman
ReplyDeleteThank,you,Lama for enlarging the list of wicket keeper batsmen.
ReplyDeleteYou are not only a walking dictionary of Paediatrics,but also in International cricket.I missed the famous names like MS.Dhoni who captained Indian team for many years.Among the Sri Lankans,name Ben Navaratna is well known among the cricket lovers and he was in the team lead by FCde Saram.CH & CI Gunasekera were among the group.Most of the the names are familiar with me.including the names of the rest of the world players.
Thank you Sanath and Sumathi
ReplyDeleteMy favourite was Godfrey Evans as he was my virtual coach.Mano Ponniah gave me his book on wicket keeping;as per his advice I bounced a tennis ball against a wall,catch it on the rebound and go through the stumping motions.I did the same at matches whenever ,I got a throw from the deep field.The Kotahena crowd thought I was missing the stumps and hooted derisively,whenever I did this.!!!
Others whom I admired were Alan Knott and Rodney Marsh.RM rose greatly in my estimation ,when he protested against the underarm ball.
Apparently Bradman thought very highly of Ben Navaratne and had said that he could have found a place in DB ‘s team.
Others were Kumar S and Romesh K .Tony Grieg was very fond of RK and used to get very excited whenever Little Kalu came to bat.Kalu ,Ranjit Fernando and the entire SriLankan A team were entertained at our home when they were in Townsville to play the Queensland state side.As the next match was a few days away, they had a great time till late in the night.
Tilak M was a class mate and close friend.He ,in fact was the best man at our wedding.
Hi Kumar
ReplyDeleteYour hosting the Sri Lankan A team reminded me of a similar scenario at my place, probably in 1999.
I invited the Sri Lankan under nineteen team managed by Stanley Jayasinghe for dinner to my home in Brentwood Essex. The team was captained by Indika DeSaram and included Dilshan and Russell Arnold. Lareef Idroos,Harsha Samarajeeva and Kumar Balachandran were also present.
I noticed that one member of the team had hardly served anything onto his plate. So I asked him in our mother tongue, "Aiyoo are you dieting?". He promptly replied, "No Sir, this is my first innings! Do not worry, I will make up for it in the second innings".
I told him, "Look here, this dinner is like a one day match. There is no second innings! Serve whatever you want now." He duly followed my advice.
Bora
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete