From Ananda Mawatha to Campbell Place
‘Saga of the Maroons – A former captain’s personal reflection of Ananda-Nalanda Cricket encounters’, compiled by former Ananda Cricket captain Tilak de Silva and published by Tharanjee Prints, is a book that is virtually a ‘ball-by-ball’ description of the Ananda-Nalanda series, from its inauguration in 1924 up to the 86th encounter. It contains details of former players, coaches, masters-in-charge and principals who made immense contributions for the upliftment of Cricket at these two leading Buddhist schools.
Author Tilak de Silva captained Ananda in 1966 and represented the Ceylon Schools Cricket team against the visiting Indian Schools Cricket team in 1964. A chartered engineer by profession, Tilak had played and watched the game in England, Australia and Jamaica. His main interest in life was Cricket and has been in his blood for the last 60 years. He has written two other books on Cricket – “Cricket Cameo” and “ICC World Cup 2015”. The book contains messages from the two present principals of the schools, along with those of past cricketers.
Reading through this book makes one appreciate the traditions and cultural contribution Ananda-Nalanda Cricket has made towards Sri Lanka, particularly towards Sri Lanka Cricket. A significant period of these two schools has been brought into the limelight by the author, for the Cricket-loving public in general and for both old and young Anandians and Nalandians in particular. This is an attempt to relate the long history of brotherhood and bonding that exist between Anandians and Nalandians.
‘Saga of Maroons’ contains details of legendary cricketers of both Ananda and Nalanda who brought new life into the game at school level and at international level. It is also interesting to note the tributes paid to Anandian cricketers such as Dr. Sarath Wimalaratne, Sonny Yatawara and Yatagama Amaradasa and Nalandians Chandrasiri Weerasinghe, Stanley Jayasinghe, Sarath Silva, Anura Ranasinghe and Anura De Silva. Ananda and Nalanda has produced the largest number of national cricketers and also the most number who have led Sri Lanka, with Arjuna Ranatunga at the top, in winning the World Cup in 1996. Every national cricketer’s profile is found in this book.
These two schools have not only produced international stars for Sri Lanka, but also personalities that excelled in Cricket administration, elite ICC umpires, respected match referees, leading sports media personnel and talented radio and TV commentators and highly respected Cricket writers who were instrumental in spreading awareness in cricket to every nook and corner of the island. “Saga of Maroons” contains scorecards of every Ananda-Nalanda encounter from 1926, along with best performance in both batting and bowling up to the last big match. It also has rare pictures of teams and captains. They would be of great interest and of immense value to the younger generations
Profiles of three great former Cricket coaches of Ananda and Nalanda – P.W. Perera, Gerry Gooneratne and Nelson Mendis – written by former cricketers Sanjeeva Senanayake, Premasara Epasinghe and the author himself, occupy a special place in this book. Another notable feature is the articles on two former captains, E.A. Perusinghe and P.M. Jayatilleke of Ananda and Nalanda respectively, who later became principals of their respective schools. This well compiled work of many interesting articles written by old boys would make very interesting reading for everyone who loves this noble game. It will certainly benefit old boys, present boys, well-wishers, media personnel and statisticians enormously with its invaluable information.