Book on Royal-Thomian encounters by Shantilal Wijesundere on sale this week

Royal

• Unique publication sponsored by Supreme TV

By Neil Wijeratne

A publication which covers the encounter’s 140 fixtures will be available this month in time for this year’s Royal-Thomian match. 

The publication is compiled by Shantilal Wijesundere, an old Thomian who produced a similar publication on the Mustangs Trophy encounters.

The book uses the material collected for the first 125 matches which were painstakingly collected by a committee of old boys from both schools, and then Wijesundere adds the next 15 matches up to and including the one played in 2019. 

The first 125 years are charted only through score sheets but some published accounts of famous matches are incorporated in articles which have been included. In relation to the first 125 matches, the compiler has presented the score sheets in a more reader-friendly manner. He has set the bowling analysis next to the scores to provide more symmetry. The complier covers the last 15 matches in a more detailed manner, providing the first names of players and offering a brief description of performances to evoke memories of the excitement generated and outstanding achievements. 

The book also contains some interesting trivia which has never been assembled in one resource before. In-depth research has gone into the book. The compiler has seen it as an act of love and the amount of labour, time and application which produced this work will no doubt be rewarded by the value it brings to the old boys of both institutions.

The book has messages from the principals of both schools and a thumbnail sketch of the histories of the institutions, which will no doubt frame the traditions built up over the years in a national light. The two institutions have produced many national leaders, some of whose names figure in the encounters reported.

Chandra Schaffter is a well-known business magnate, cricket administrator, double international and Thomian stalwart (1947-49) who, after reading the script, said to its author: “I have perused your book, particularly the latter part where you write about families, performances and the like. In my view, it is a tremendous work of love more than anything else. You have gone to great trouble, and in your usual meticulous way, you have produced information that many of us who are either Royalists or Thomians, and love the game, would love to have and read. Since S.S. Perera’s book, the Janashakthi Book of Sri Lanka Cricket, was published in 1999, I think there has been nothing worthwhile on cricket history. True what you have written is only about the Royal-Thomian series, but to a large number of cricket lovers, that is all that matters.”

Vijaya Malalasekera, who played with great distinction for Royal from 1962-63, is a centurion in the series, former Chairman of the Interim Committee for the Board of Control for Cricket, and present Chairman of the Advisory Committee of Cricket at Royal College, said to the author: “I have perused your manuscript, which is to be published in time for the next Royal-Thomian match in March 2020. You have covered all 140 encounters, including the 125 which were the subject matter of a publication by a committee of Old Boys from both schools. I know also that you produced an earlier publication on the Mustangs Trophy encounters. The last 15 matches which you cover give more facts and provide the first names of players and a brief description of the performances, adding so much to the memories of these encounters. The interesting trivia which you have given is fascinating and the depth of your research is commendable. As an Old Boy of Royal, the value of your book to me and my former teammates and those who represented our college before and after is incapable of measurement. It is a book which will be a necessary addition to the collections of sports literature in Sri Lanka and elsewhere too.”

The sale proceeds will be utilised by the two colleges for their sports activities. This limited issue will be on sale today at the two colleges for Rs. 2,000 and can be purchased from the General Manager of the STC OBA Mount Lavinia and from the Royal College Union office.  

St' Thomas