Royal-Thomian postponed again
The twice-postponed 142nd annual big match cricket encounter between Royal and S. Thomas’ colleges, has been ‘postponed’ once again after obtaining necessary approvals and making all logistical and technical arrangements to conduct the event at Sooriyawewa on September 9, 10 and 11.
The main reason according to a letter jointly issued by the two heads of schools, Rev. Marc Billimoria, the warden of S. Thomas’ and M.V.S. Gunathilaka, the principal of Royal, states that the decision to further postpone the uninterrupted big match was purely based on the present serious health crisis and humanitarian concerns.
“We are conscious of the fact that this school cricket match has an important place in the traditions of both our schools and in the history of cricket, being the oldest unbroken cricket series in Sri Lanka and the second oldest in the world. However, we are even more conscious of the need for our two schools and our two school communities to be socially responsible, especially since the pandemic had taken such a different turn and posing such serious challenges to all of us Sri Lankans,” the letter explains.
The big match encounter was originally planned for April 8, 9 and 10 at Sooriyawewa, but was postponed due to various reasons due to the pandemic. It was later rescheduled for May 6, 7 and 8 before being put off for the second time, after four S. Thomas’ players were tested positive for COVID-19. Subsequently the entire Thomian squad of 22 and the coaching staff of 11 were sent for quarantine for 14 days.
Fresh rounds of discussions commenced during in July, where the dates were fixed for the second week of September. The oldest running cricket big match of Sri Lanka, and the second oldest in the world, is usually played during the second week of March annually.
“In view of the serious health crisis facing Sri Lanka due to the rapid escalation in the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 virus and the resulting associated humanitarian concerns, in consultation with our respective Sports Councils, Cricket Advisory Committees, the Joint Organising Committee and others, we have unanimously decided to once again postpone the 142nd Royal-Thomian Cricket encounter, which was scheduled to be played behind closed doors in Sooriyawewa, Hambantota on September 9, 10 and 11.”
On July 31, the Ministry of Health (MoH) granted permission to hold the ‘Battle of the Blues’ big match cricket encounter upon an official request made by the Joint Organising Committee (JOC) on July 19. The letter issued by the MoH states that it grants approval to conduct the big match, in accordance to the health guidelines already given. But two weeks later the two schools decide to call off the event for the third time.
“The situation today is not what it was when the JOC started making plans in June and July when all sports activities (apart from contact sports) were permitted, and it is also not what it was when we applied for and obtained the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities in July. We are all sincerely thankful for the approvals that were granted to the JOC and the two schools by the authorities at that point in time,” the letter issued under the JOC letterhead, states.
“However, the selected dates in September were to be always contingent on the pandemic situation and the ground realities given that the players involved are schoolboys whose health, safety and welfare are of paramount importance. Our respective CACs and the JOC will now explore all options to ensure the playing of this historic match at a future point later this year, when the ground situation is more conducive to do so.”
Sources close to school cricket authorities confirmed that other leading matches, besides the Royal-Thomian, are most likely to be abandoned for 2021, owing to the present health crisis.