Life Online brings you a bit of history, tradition and views about the second-longest uninterrupted cricket match series in THE WORLD..!
The Royal-Thomian big match, or the Battle of the Blues, is a three day test match played between two prestigious schools in Colombo. The big match brings people all across the globe to one stadium; those in Sri Lanka will try hard extricating themselves from work on these days and those overseas, would fly across oceans to witness the Battle of the Blues. During those three days every Royalist and Thomian gathered at the stadium, becomes a school boy again. Forgetting age, race and religion, they unite as one school under their respective flags. It’s three endless days of screaming your guts out trying to drown the papare band with your vocal skills, dancing like you never danced before, consuming countless hot dogs and ‘soft’ drinks and most importantly reliving fond memories of being part of a great school.
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As you see the flags of both schools coming out of school vans during the latter part of February, you know the big match season has begun. Whilst some start making arrangements as to which tent to go to, others plan the best maneuver to flick flags of the opposing team and cause a bitter pill to the owner.
Those still in school during this time plan and prepare for the risky yet artful tradition of ‘trucking’! Gone are the days when the students hire trucks for this venture. Now buses or private vehicles are used to go around Colombo cheering for their school and of course, paying a visit to a few girls’ schools while they are at it.
If you are lucky, the gates of these schools would be opened for you, if you are not, you are welcomed to pay a visit to the police station instead! During the week of the big match, another event to anticipate would be the cycle parades hosted by the two schools. You’ll find many bikes decorated in their respective school colours with flags, riding along the Galle Road causing excitement to some and bitter frustration to those caught in the resulting traffic jams.
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In the words of a present Thomian (Sandesh Bartlett), “To me (and I understand many other people) the match means much more than any cricket game. It is the epitome of friendly rivalry that has lasted for more than a century, survived two world wars and a civil war and will continue to stand the test of time.The beauty of it is that it doesn't just cater to die hard cricket fans. It offers much more than cricket and the build up to it makes the students of both schools literally "sick" resorting to trucking, parades and mini matches to control their fever. In fact I believe if anyone came to the cricket match just to watch cricket they'd have to be quite mad”.
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All this is lead-up to the main event – The Battle of the Blues at the SSC Grounds. As you step into SSC and walk towards the ground, you’ll find the oh-so-familiar sounds of papare bands playing, boys cheering, flags waving, girls dressed in colours supporting their school of preference and the hardworking stewards who come behind you begging you to buy a copy of the souvenir. However, some stewards find this to be a good opportunity to interact with ‘friends’ and likewise to make ‘new friends’.
As the players take to the field, the party begins! Some will start remembering all the good times they had during the previous encounters while new memories are gradually topped up with time.
As said by a Royalist “Growing up at Royal, the Roy-Tho was where my childhood heroes played. While in school, I could remember all the names of all the players who played the game from 1990 up until I left Royal in 2003. It’s equivalent to knowing who plays for the national team. You look up to them in amazement and hope to one day be like them! … It is a carnival atmosphere and you don't get anything like it in Sri Lanka. It is a place to meet people whose names you don't remember but from who you stole sandwiches while in school, and probably the only place in Sri Lanka where you can offer a policeman a drink and get away with it. It is just one big party”.
Mingled with all the fun activities, there have been a few incidents that have occurred during the play, some more intense than others. There have been reports of times when prefects of the opposing team passes one’s tent and plastic chairs and bottles would start flying, resulting in clashes between the supporters. A conspicuous scene to witness at the big match is when a hardcore supporter of a team, runs to the ground to give a pat on the back to the players while being chased by security. All things considered, no one would ever dispute that the good times have always outweighed the bad.
The Battle of the Blues is not to be missed. If you are still not convinced, here’s a notable fact: The Royal-Thomian Big match is the second-longest uninterrupted cricket match series in THE WORLD!!! Being older than the Ashes, it is to be played for the 134th year this year (2013)!
Spectators from previous Battle of the Blues:
Kamer Nizamdeen: I once had to hoist a fat chap off a certain girls’ school wall!
Lashunika Salgadoe: For us youngsters, it’s the days at College where we heard boys trucking and screaming outside our gates, and boys who managed to jump in. The Roy-Tho is a much awaited event in everyone's calendar. Not only is it a sporting event, but to many it is a social galore - friends getting together and having some crazy, fun times!
Rajind Pathmanathan: Basically the Roy-Tho is an event bringing different types of people together not only across Sri Lanka but from all over the world to enjoy themselves, share great experiences, meet people and remind them of the good old times. For the students and players it is a great learning experience and many aspects of a chance to have a lot of fun and collect some fond memories. But most importantly it is with each passing year, the further strengthening of the brotherhood between the two great schools.
Neomal Wickramasekera: During the years I played I thought everyone cared about the match itself but once I was a spectator for the first year, which was last year, I realised that all the crowd was interested was their beverages and baila and most importantly that the match goes on for three days so they could have their fun!
Suranthaka Cabraal: It's more than just the cricket. It's a three day carnival of two great institutions of Sri Lanka.
Dimuth Karunaratne: The Roy-Tho big match is not significant because of the match alone but also the activities that lead to the week of the big match such as trucking that makes this event so special for present students and old boys alike.
Ishendra Pilapitiya: The big match is one of a kind experience with a happening atmosphere, one of the eagerly awaited events on the calendar.
Trinushka Perera: Most of crowd would not even know what the score is or what happens but all in all have a good time! Experiencing it has always been pretty interesting even with having some fall backs which can be adjusted by controlling certain beverages I would add at last! Happy Big Matching!
Kaneesha Mendis: It’s fun to go with your friends and although we do not watch the match as much, we have a really good time...Go Thoraa :D
Chinthaka Fernando: The big match is an event where for a few glorious days; I can suspend the stress of adulthood, and revel in the nostalgia of my school days. Despite the many years that have passed since I left school, I find the camaraderie between old Royalists remains unchanged, and this is what draws me back year after year. However, I sometimes find myself wondering whether the big match has lost its innocence as a schoolboy cricket match between two friendly schools. Today millions of rupees are pumped into it and every year it becomes more of a corporate bash. I hope atleast the players would be immune to these external pressures and enjoy their cricket and the pride of representing their school against a worthy rival. Nevertheless I'm eagerly looking forward to being there this year as well.
Shehan Fernando: The big match is a much awaited event in the calendar to meet up with all your friends from both the sides, whilst trying to watch the match and check if Royal is winning!
Dilki Weerasinghe: It's very exciting this time of every year... Especially during the trucking season! I don’t really have a favourite side, but I wish good luck to both teams as always.
Maheshika Perera: I have been going for the Roy-Tho from small days. It is a family tradition. My family and friends have an awesome time every year.
Vihangi de Mel: I'm missing my fifth consecutive big match this year and I must admit there's always a part of me that keeps imagining those three days of March at the SSC no matter where I am in the world. Might be the after effects of being dragged along to matches since I was in 5 or 6 years old by my father (the dragging process became a lot easier in the last few years ;)).
As a result I remember I learnt the Thomian college song before I learnt my own school hymn!!
I'll keep my fingers crossed that I get to come for one again. Till then I know I can count on my parents to text me the scores and the GOSS live from the SSC like always!
Deshana de Alwis: Coming from a family of Thomians I have never missed the big match since I was 4 years old and I even knew the college anthem at such a young age. Thinking back it’s funny how it’s been a different experience at different stages of my life. At the very beginning it was all about being dressed like a Thomian supporter from head to toe, next it was all about the BOYS, then it was about meeting friends and socialising, and this time it will be a whole new experience watching my brother’s friends actually playing at the match. The Royal Thomian is one event where at whatever the age group; you end up having a really good time!
Text by Sandharu Ferdinando
Pics courtesy - Photography club of S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia and Photographic Society of Royal College
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0 Comments
faizel says:
Mar 08, 2013 at 12:00 amThe one on the top pic is NILAR'S eldest son
Gabo Singho says:
Mar 08, 2013 at 12:00 amThe good old days. I could not get into either of these two schools as I did not have the right connections nor did my family have the money. I went to a government central school and use to dream about schools such as these two. But I have no hard feelings nor do I envy anyone , as I have old Thomian's and Royalist's working for me and call me SIR.
Gamarala says:
Mar 08, 2013 at 12:00 amThis news item is only for the minuscule privileged few in Sri Lanka. For the rest of the the Sri Lankan population, this means absolutely nothing. The privileged, over-indulged few have held sway, for the man on the street who eke out a meager existence this is of no importance or relevance.
Royal says:
Mar 11, 2013 at 12:00 amLooking at the previous comments, people must realise everyone cant go to Royal. However over 50% of Royal's students are selected through scholarships and get that privilage. Congratulations to Gabo Singho above, thats what we like to see, everyone doing well in life.
Royal Supporter says:
Mar 13, 2013 at 12:00 amIt seems pretty unfair to notice that all the spectators are thomian supporters. Definitely the writer of the article should be a thomian, yet a proper balance should be maintained to take views from both schools rather just focusing on one school since others might also like to know what people have to share about royal as well .
BT says:
Mar 13, 2013 at 12:00 amRoyal Supporter, pls read the comments from the following who are infact Royal supporters: Rajind Pathmanathan, Dimuth Karunaratne, Chinthaka Fernando and Shehan Fernando.. and if u read well you'l find that there are some views from an old Royalist, in the article itself :)
Gabo Singho says:
Mar 13, 2013 at 12:00 amRoyal, I was not talking about the situation today. I am talking of days gone by when only the very few privileged elite could get into schools such as Royal