Although Wycherly International School places its primary focus on providing its students with a sound academic grounding, it does not shy away from any challenge thrown down in the sporting arena. This gallant approach in the past has yielded a stream of respectable performances in chiefly cricket and basketball, outings that are progressively being replicated with greater frequency.

The Wycherly first XI cricket team

An example of one of these commendable exhibitions at a tournament came at this year's Inter- International Schools Cricket competition. The Wycherly under 17 team made it all the way to the quarterfinals of the event, which they have been organizing for the past 15 years, before they were relegated.

However a unique feature of cricket at the school is the fervency with which its students indulge in their annual big match against Colombo International School. This enthusiasm has gained even greater momentum due to the fact that this year Wycherly will be the school playing host to the clash.

"For many of our cricketers, the Inter-International competitions are not as important as the big match. There is a lot of pride involved and though it's not on the same scale as the local school big matches, we do get a good crowd and it's a lot of fun," explains Wycherly's Sports Coordinator, Eranga Ramesh.

The fixture has quite a long history (in relation to the history of international schools themselves) going back over 10 years, with the winner's trophy being donated by the late Minister Lalith Athulathmudali.
Mr. Ramesh adds that the fortunes of their cricket team at this year's big match lie greatly on the shoulders of one of their young medium pacers, Anuruddha Higgoda, who remarkably plays in the under 15, under 17 and under 19 teams.

Wycherly's leading cricketer Anuruddha Higgoda

Besides cricket the school's other leading sport, basketball, also does see a lot of energetic participation, which is most likely due to the presence of a basketball court in the centre of the school. Their ventures into international school competitions, although not stellar, have nevertheless been solid excursions where they have at times progressed all the way to the quarterfinals.

Along with these two marquee sports, Wycherly also provides all its students with the opportunity of partaking in all other major sports such as swimming, tennis and badminton. "We book all the grounds so the facilities for them to grow as sportsmen and women are freely available. I have told the school management that we also need a gym for the students and they are currently looking into it," Mr. Ramesh revealed.

Speaking candidly the sports coordinator said that for most of their sportsman academic life takes precedence over extra curricular activities. Nevertheless he maintained that sports were still greatly enjoyed by every student of the school that participated in them, and that at the end of the day that was essentially its major role.

"They come for practices regularly and with a lot of enthusiasm, and because they enjoy each sport they play, I know they will gradually begin to improve."