All traditional inter-school ‘big matches’, which were being played annually as two- day fixtures hitherto, are to be turned into three-day affairs commencing this year, SriLankaSports learns.
This is following a directive issued to the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA), by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
According to SLC sources, as part of this marked change, they have also decided to grant a bonus of Rs. 5 million for the organisers of these big matches, for the additional day added to the original two-day fixtures.
It is said that the sport’s local governing body has opted for this measure, in order to enable schoolboys to last longer in the traditional format of the game, as schools are the feeder system to the national team.
In big match history of schools thus far, games were turned into three-day matches, only after such fixtures had reached a century of encounters, but, from 2025, that tradition will cease to exist.
SLC sources added that as most two-day big matches are restricted to 50 overs per side, such a system will not pave the way for players at inter-school level, to endure the rigours of international cricket.
Henceforth, they have decided to overhaul the duration of all forthcoming major big matches and this system is set to be the tradition going forward.
The country’s first-ever three-day big match was the Royal-Thomian ‘Battle of the Blues’ fixture between Royal and S. Thomas’, in 1979, with the hallowed fixture having begun at the Galle Face Green in 1880.
This ‘blue-ribbon’ encounter continues to be the world’s second longest cricketing fixture, behind only the traditional encounter between Eaton and Harrow in England.
The other well-known three-day big matches steeped in history and tradition, are ‘Battle of the Blues’ played in the Southern Province between S. Thomas’ College, Matara and St. Servatius College, Matara, which had its origins back in 1900.
The ‘Northern Battle’ fought between Jaffna Maha Vidyalaya and St. John College, Jaffna, which began in 1901, has also been a popular three-day big match in that part of the country.
Meanwhile, all the key big matches played in the metropolis from this year, will be three-day games, starting with the 95th ‘Battle of the Maroon’s’ between Ananda College and Nalanda College.
This much-sought-after big match, is set to be played on 28 February and 1 and 2 March at the SSC Grounds, Maitland Place.
Furthermore, the authorities of the Mahinda College, Galle and Richmond College, Galle have decided to play their traditional big match-the 120th ‘Lovers Quarrel’, as a three-day fixture starting from this year.
Among other customary big matches, which are expected to be held as three-day encounters in the upcoming season, are ‘Hill Country Battle of the Maroons’ between Dharmaraja College and Kingswood College, Kandy, ‘Battle of the Saints’ between St. Joseph’s and St. Peter’s, ‘Hill Country Battle of the Blues’ between Trinity and St. Anthony’s Katugastota and the ‘Battle of Golds’ between Jaffna College and St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna.
Two other popular big matches played in Colombo and suburbs annually, including the ‘Moratu Battle of Golds’ between Prince of Wales College and St. Sebastian’s College which had its inception in 1933 and the ‘Brothers Battle’ between Thurstan College and Isipathana College, which made its bow six decades ago, will also be worked off as three-day encounters.
In the meantime, a source from the Police Department said that they will be drastically curtailing the staging of vehicular roadshows, organised by present and past old boys of schools, on the sidelines of these big matches, from this year.
This decision has been taken after an unfortunate incident at vehicle parades when an accident involving a cab, resulted in the deaths of two students, during the big match played between Dharmadutha College, Badulla and Uva Maha Vidyalaya, in April 2023. (The Morning)
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