Most success stories start off with many failures. Mine was no different. I was a major Cricket fan from my younger days and Sri Lanka winning the world cup when I was just 2 years old perhaps played a role as cricket grew in popularity as I grew.
Being a Royalist I obviously followed the Royal Thomian in my younger days, but honestly it wasn’t the passion for the sport that took me to the SSC every year. They were the little things like the free ice cream and milk packs given to us by the prefects, playing cricket at the back of the boys tent or the “Taverners” tent where my father use to go.
I was eventually determined to play for the school team, and when I was in year 6 we had our first try outs. I sadly didn’t make the cut. Next year I turned up for selections and was selected to the division 3 team only be a “water boy”. The next season I started off as a wicket keeper and the proud “last man” in the batting order. I eventually up the order and became a regular opening batsman. That single season changed my whole cricket career and little did I know that someday I was going to face that dreaded first ball early morning at the SSC.
My passion to play for college began when I was in grade 8. It was March and it’s a custom for the 1st XI team to visit classes to be wished rather personally by their “loyal followers”. It was the sight of the “Aiya’s” in that amazing Colours blazer that inspired me to someday don the College colours.
The disappointments however began to come when I reached the senior teams. The sport of cricket at Royal being a very (a lot of weight on that word VERY) competitive sport I had my doubts at times for choosing the sport at college. In the 2012/13 season I made my way through the 2nd XI and made it to the 1st XI and fractured my thumb on debut while keeping wickets. After my 3 week break, I scored a match saving half century against Nalanda only in my 2ndfirst XI game which earned me some popularity among the old boys. I eventually became a regular in the 1st XI scoring runs frequently. March came and it was a fight for one place, the number 3 slot. The test was the “Mini battle”. I scored a century at the mini battle a week before the big game but was left out of the Big match team. Often when asked about this I always use to answer “I chose the wrong sport in the wrong school” The memory of the team being announced that year will always bring tears to my eyes.
I was out of school that year but being September born had one more try at the childhood dream of playing a Royal Thomian. I started the 2013/14 season at number 3 in the 1st XI and scored a match saving century against Richmond College, at Galle in the very first match of the season.. Eventually I was back to my old position of opening where I enjoyed the early morning shivers.
The last match for the season before the Royal-Thomian, we were off to Kandy to play the inform Lions in their own den. We didn’t make a very good score in the first innings with off spinner Raveen Sayer doing most of the damage. I ended not out on a run short of the magical 3 figures as the captain decided to declare and go for the win which eventually paid off. ‘IF’ I did get that one run I would have had centuries at the first and last games of the season but, that’s the beauty of this game, “you never get what you want when you want it”
The team was announced a week or so later and yes, finally that dream was going to come true. I received my College colours the day before the Royal Thomian in front of the 8,500 students cheering the 5 letters R-O-Y-A-L, this is a day I will always cherish. Leading the loud R-O-Y-A-L in front of Ladies College on popular demand by my team mates and fellow prefects, the cycle parade and meeting my parents in the colours blazer are memories I am unable to pen down in words.
We were treated like Royalty, perhaps Gods. The whole school suddenly revolved around us, the Big Match Boys. Suddenly I flashed back to my younger days where I use to run behind the “Aiya’s” in the colours blazer to get autographs and now I was that “Aiya” giving out autographs. It was a very emotional moment and it was only then that I realized the responsibility rested upon the shoulders of the 11 men that were to march out on the coming 3 days. Loads of wishes and plenty of “we know you can do it”s came from the very teachers who use to pull me up for not doing my homework because of matches or coming late to classes after fitness. It was quite ironic but very amusing, the thoughts however came from the purest pasts of the heart.
Came the big day, with the wishes of the Principal and a good dose of “Kiri bath” in his office we left College for the SSC. It’s a custom for any player be it a fresher or a 5th year coloursman to go to the balcony and check your name on the gigantic scoreboard as soon as we get to the dressing room. It was a feeling of accomplishment and pride having dreamt of this day. Singing the College song with eyes heavy with tears, we all clenched on the College crest on our chests and sang the school song as loud as we could.
Walking out to the center under the shades of the humungous Blue and Gold flag to be wished by my fellow prefects had my pressure mount to its maximum and as soon as that flag ended I was in the middle. The actual center wicket, the one I had dreamt of on many nights during the season and before, I was there. A rush of memories from years past as I remember facing that very first ball with my eyes clouded with tears. I was hoping that the bowler wouldn’t bowl straight as all I was going to do was just leave the ball because, in all honesty it was all in blur to me. As hoped Akthab Cader did bowl away from the wickets thankfully. My stay wasn’t long however, I experienced the long walk back to the pavilion in the second over, only scoring a run to be given out LBW to a thick inside edge.
I sometimes wonder if my whole Cricketing career revolved only around disappointments but then I am reminded of the one thing that made it all worth it. The value of playing the Royal – Thomian is only known by them who have experienced it. To me playing Cricket at Royal College has made me into what and who I am today. It has taught me about life, about people, how to face challenges, dealing with pressure and much more. I will be ever grateful for the sport and school that molded me into who I am. I will ever be in debt for the opportunities it has given me. Above all, I am grateful to College for giving me the chance to carry the hopes and dreams of all Royalists for the school that taught me of books and taught me of men, and taught me how to play the game.
I wish both teams all the very best and to the men who are to walk out, my only advice is, live your dream, your life will never be the same after those three days.
Floreat!
May the better team (surely Royal) win
Shaminda Dias 2013/14
