The iconic Royal-Thomian match plays its 138th year of uninterrupted cricket

By Jeevan Thiagarajah

Origins of school cricket in Ceylon

It is said that the first Ceylonese school to play a recorded cricket match – beginning 1864 against the Small Pass Cricket Club in Colombo – was S. Thomas’. 

Cambridge-educated Sub-Warden of The College, the Reverend Felton Falkner, who captained the S. Thomas’ team from 1873 to 1877, was in a large way responsible for his school gaining a reputation for playing good cricket during those early formative years. S. Thomas’ also played against the clubs and other teams that were in existence in Colombo, Negombo and Kalutara, including the Colombo Cricket Club. 

Cricket was introduced to the Colombo Academy (1835) subsequently renamed Royal College in later years and relocated at Reid Avenue, by another Cambridge-educated Englishman, Ashley Walker, the Principal of the Academy. Ceylon’s first inter-school cricket match, The College vs. The first schoolboys’ encounter in 1880 is the beginning of the College vs. the Academy series, of what is known as the Royal-Thomian.  

The match is the second oldest school cricket match in the world uninterrupted since 1880, two years less than the Australia vs England Ashes Test Series. The oldest school cricket match is said to be Prince Alfred vs St Peters in Adelaide, commencing in 1877.

D. S. Senanayake Memorial Shield

The Royal-Thomian encounter is played for the Rt. Hon. D. S. Senanayake Memorial Shield. Incidentally, D. S. Senanayake donned the Thomian cap in 1901 and 1902. The shield was presented in 1928 by Dudley (who became four times Prime Minister of Sri Lanka) and Robert (President Board of Control for Cricket in Ceylon). 

The limited over Mustangs Trophy Encounter on 18 March at the SSC is an uninterrupted one-day battle commencing from 1975 for the Mustangs Trophy, another significant milestone between both schools. 

Significant features

The three-day match is organised every year by two sets of old boys numbering 50 with from both schools taking on alternate lead roles every year working for seven months before every match. The revenue every year is shared equally with both schools. 

There has been some reference to the entertainment on offer in the past. Suffice to say from the Mustangs which accommodates the senior citizen spectators a varied spectrum of tents are featured with accompanying music and food in every enclosure. Some have air conditioning. All are secured with strict access passes in addition to the tickets. 

Technical committees ensure rules are respected, Match referees and umpires control proceedings and act on any on field indiscretions. Side on cameras will be used at the 138th match as recommended by the Match Referee report of last year. A giant screen and drones will also be on duty. 

Pitch or crowd invasions are dealt with severely and at times persons are evicted from the Grounds. A further innovation under discussion this year is the invitation  extended to several Old Girls Associations of schools in Colombo to set up tents, organise their own music, and have fun activities with partners and children at the limited over match. 

The RT match clearly has much to offer whilst safeguarding the traditions and values built over a very long time.

(The writer is Joint Chair of the Media Committee of the 2017 Match, son of an old Royalist and a product of S. Thomas’ College.)