How I ‘signed up’ Garfield Sobers and his team
View(s):The WI cricket team captained by Garfield Sobers was in Ceylon (at that time) in the 60s for a short match against the local team. The day before the match, the WI players were practicing at a cricket ground in Maitland Place.
The two legends, Sir Garfield Sobers and Michael Tissera watching an ongoing West Indies-Sri Lanka Test match at the P. Sara Oval
As a crazy cricket fan, especially of the Windies, I went with a few friends to see them practice. We watched the ‘greats’ in awe as they went through some ‘soft’ practice sessions, after which they assembled in the pavilion. We went there to get their autographs. I only had a piece of paper and a pencil. I rushed towards Lance Gibbs who was showing off his index/spinning finger to those around him. It had a large ‘karagata’. formed through constant contact with the seam of the ball when spinning it. I shoved my piece of paper towards him to get his signature. He looked at me and said something like” man, I’m tired….you come tomorrow to the hotel and I’ll get you all the signatures”. I said “you don’t know me” and then he said “OK, what’s your name?” I said “Perera”. Then he tried to remember it “Perera….Perera….Perera….ok, you come tomorrow”. Early next morning I went to the Galle Face Hotel with my original autograph album. I told the receptionist that Mr. Gibbs was expecting me. No fuss! She immediately found his room number and asked me to call him from the telephone at the reception desk. I called. Mr. Gibbs came on line. I said” Good morning…you asked me to come to get the signatures and here I am”. “Who are you?” he asked. I said “Perera” and he paused a little and I heard him say softly “Perera…..Perera…..Perera…ok, you stay in the lobby and I will be there soon”.
Then, a spectacle unfolded in front of me. All the WI players came to the lobby, one by one and sat in the comfortable chairs. Lance Gibbs arrived and I rushed towards him saying “Perera”. He immediately signed his name in my album and he asked me to give it to all the others. I was hoping it wasn’t a dream. All of them signed…Garfield Sobers, Clive Lloyd, Basil Butcher, Wesley Hall, Charlie Griffiths.…all of them. There I was alone, a mere schoolboy, ‘signing up’ the greatest WI players of that time including Gary Sobers, the greatest all-round cricketer of all time.
My valuable album has since disintegrated over time but those memories yet remain to enjoy whenever I want! Thank you Galle Face Hotel (will an unknown, schoolboy be allowed to do such a thing now?) and thank you Lance Gibbs (wherever you are) for making a distant, highly improbable dream come true.
Athula Perera
Ratmalana