REV. FR. HAROLD J. WEBER SJ.
Cricket along wit other games had a long fancy at st. Michael’s. In the St. Michael’s Annual of 1914 – the first of its kind- we read that the school was ambitious enough to stage scenes from Mid Summer Night’s Dream and Macbeth; but as for poor cricket, ’it was not known well enough’. Interest in it had to be simulated by the award of a flag presented by Fr. Joseph Mary for competition between the past and the Present. The new captain was a member of the staff, Mr. J. A.Ponniah, the father of Bobby Ponniah of the 40’s. He had been captain of Jaffna College and was a “reliable bat, but more useful as a bowler for hi big breaks”. “C.Marshall bats and bowls well.” Some traits of character seem to be reflected some times. “T. John plays a dashing game, but is reckless at time; K. Muttiah (alias Fr. Aloysius Mary s.j.) is a determined stone waller”. Everyone knows how for years he held on stubbornly in Muttur parish on a sticky wicket. “P.Aloysius bowls a good length ball and keeps straight (no body line!) and is an interesting bat.” John Arlott or Neville Cardus would thank the Annual for that word. But there is a discouraging note from Mr. A. R. P. Leetham,(M.A Oxon), an Englishman, who had recently joined the staff. “Cricket is a much more serious game than football and requires much practice and patience.” Serious. Ofcourse. When play was resumed in the third test between W.Indies and England after a bomb scare lasting 90 minutes, the commentator said with relief: “Cricket has been resumed. Sanity has prevailed.” Yes, cricket is serious. In that team, S. Kanapathipillai was the youngest member. He was to remain as captain for years.
Till as late as 1916 or 1917, cricket was played on turf. The least undulating spot was chosen and 22 yards paced out after all it was the same for everybody wasn’t it? No time was lost in rolling between innings. So un a match when Mr. Andrado’s team was beaten by 54 runs, it was worth recording that Mohammed Shah scored 22 runs, ’like rest falling to pieces to the bowling of Kanapathipillai, 7 for 22 and Vincent 3 for 12.” In the match against O. Kelly, the college lost, no doubt owing to the big breaks of Mr. Ponniah and the wicket taking more the usual spin. In 1018 no outside teams could be persuaded to play against. St. Michael’s despite the tremendous, efforts of Mr. Ponniah and Kanapathipillai. In 1920 Annual began to see that cricket did have a future in Batticaloa. “We played seven matches, won 5 and drew one.”
In those early days two teams could be made up only by combing the highways and hedges and compelling unwilling people to come and stand in the sun. This applied to the Present and Past teams too. So there were some conventions. Actual members of the staff could play for the Present or even for the Past, as they were honorary Old Boys. Any old boy of any Catholic College could also be an honorary Old Boy. So could any friends. Thus once S. P. Wickramasinghe, C. C. S. and some RAF men stationed in Batticaloa, played for the Old Boys: They embraced all. No nonsense about the old school tie.
In 190, “the college cricket team was captained by B. Morgan, after the departure of Kanapathipillai, our worthy captain during the past three years. All our players have vastly improved.. . P.H.Robinson and J. C. R. Sebastian are good types of players who have improved by sheer hard intelligent practice. They are now our most reliable batsmen. Simon de Silva has done credit to our expectations; not only a careful batsman but a useful bowler. Arulappah and Vincent are two all round men. Mr. J. Thomas of our staff is a ‘huge’ hitter (he seems to be the same as t. John of 1916). He is also a staff catch. A. Ambalavanar has taken the place of Bastian, our inimitable wicket-keeper. E. Godlieb, our stone waller can be relied on to drive the opponents’ bowlers furious.” J. L. Balthazar, the eldest of a long line brothers all sportsman ending with Fergus, not to be confused with nephews of the same name who excelled in basket Ball and Field events. J. L. was a very good outfield with tremendous hitting powers, as the repairer of the college bats knows well. Mr.ponniah continued to bowl well.
If the period 1916-1917 could be called the age of S. Kanapathipillai, the period beginning with 1921 could be called the age of Pat Barthelot whose name and picture appear in every single event cricket, football and Sports.
From the college Annual 1924: “We played five matches in 1923. We won the old boys’ match by 128 run. Fr. Crowther contributing 118 runs in the second innings.” Fr. Crowther told me that he fielded for the Old Boys, for a few overs but finding them getting too strong, he joined the present boys with the permission of the Old Boys’ captain. An irate full-blooded old boy chafing under the defeat vehemently objected at the Old Boys’ meeting to the ‘slightly’ irregular procedure.
“For the rest against Government services: D. D. Kotalawela 57, Fr. Crowther 45, Pat Barthelot 23, N. Alagiah 21, P. Henry (now Fr. Henry Ponniah) 19, carried the Rest to an innings victory”. “Cricket had grown so popular among our boys after the arrival of Fr. Crowther who has aroused such a keen interest in the game that at present the majority of our boys prefer cricket to football.” (wow) “It is a pity that no local team is prepared to accept our challenge for a match” Report of S. A. Selvanayagam, Hony Secretary, S. M. C. School Sports Committee 1924.
In 1924 there was a change of the Editor of the Annual, and we read this “astounding statement” which represent a completely different picture and this only in a year! “The majority of our boys prefer football to cricket, and the remaining few who are fond of cricket are those who command the field as bowlers and batsman. The reason for this preference is not far to seek. It is plain that in a game of football each one gets his chance of exercising his limbs independently of the others.(This could have been written in 1973 by Fr. Herbert of St. josephs, Trinco). Moreover the moral conscience of Batticaloa about devotion to duty which cricket is supposed to instill into everyone of its players is still to be developed”(ouch). Although cricket has not many enthusiasts who are endowed with that cool as – cucumber temperament of the average Britisher, still our first XI is the ‘first’ in Batticaloa.
In the Singing Fish (School news paper) of August 1950, a summary of the matches between Central and St. Michael’s was printed:
1939 – Drawn. SMC 68 and 101 for 8 declared. CC 78 and 56 for 4
1940 – SMC 100 and 193 ; CC 22 and 56. SMC won by 217 runs
1941 – SMC 151 and 78 for 6 declared. Central 79 and 67. SMC won by 83 runs
1942 – SMC 89 and 80. CC 43 and 75 for 9. Drawn.
1943 – SMC 235. CC 126 and 75. SMC won by an innings and 34 runs.
1944 and 1945 no matches because of war.
1946 – SMC 208, CC 51 and 21. SMC won by an innings and 134 runs.
1947 – SMC 115 and 128 for 4 declared. CC 80 and 98. SMC won by 65 runs.
1948 – SMC 41 and 39. CC 141. CC won by an innings and 61 runs.
Some batting Honours of Old Boys and Present (Centuries only)
1923 – Fr. E. Crowther s.j. for present vs.Old boys 118
1935 – Aelian Sethukavalar 140 for SMC vs. Central College.
1942 – D. Kuruneru 150 for SMC vs. Central College
1951 – V. Simon 135 for SMC vs. R. A. F.
1954 – Bertram Johnpillai 138 for Michaelmen vs. Nomads
1955 – Anthony Thiagarajah 102 for Michaelmen vs. Nomads
1956 – Anthony Thiagarajah 113 for Michaelmen vs Nomads
1956 – Alphonse Thiagarajah 100 for Michaelmen vs. Nomads
1956 – S. Andreas 112 for Michaelmen vs. Town sports club
1958 – Padma Patrick 108 for SMC vs. Central College
1959 – Jothy David 134 for SMC vs. Central College.
N. B. T. Jeyaranjan 106 (Under 16 – the only one Century in the history of schools in Batticaloa)
50 and Over
1923 – D. Kotalawala 57 against Old Boys
1940 – K. Thiagarajah 62 for SMC vs. Central College
1940 – J. B. Kumarakulasinghe 62 for SMC vs. Central College. (These two put up a first wicket partnership of 98)
1940 – Bobby Ponniah 65 for SMC vs. Trinco Sports Association
1943 – T. Buhary 80 for SMC vs. Central College.
1946 – Leo de Silva 98 for SMC vs. Central College.
1947 – C. Gnanapragasam 94 for SMC vs. Central College.
1950 – N. Shokman 56 not out for SMC vs. central College
1954 – Anthony Thiagarajah 67 – Michaelmen vs. Nomads
1954 – Christy Jeganayagam 54 not out against Central College
1956 – Noble Johnpillai 71 for Michaelmen vs. Nomads
1956 – S. Kathirgamanathan 80 for Michaelmen vs. Nomads.
1957 – A. H. W. Joseph 57 for SMC vs. Central College
1958 – A. N. Samuel 75 for SMC vs. Central College
1961 – Ranjit David 90 for SMC vs. central College
1961 = K. Rajendran 94 for SMC vs. Central College
1969 – T. Kiritharan 55 for SMC vs. Central College
1970 – T. Hajireen 75 not out for SMC vs. Central College
Special mention
In 1955 Alphonse Thiagarajah top scored with 35 for All Ceylon Public Schools vs. Sinhalese Sports Club captained by F. C. de Saram. The school boys won the match.
Cricket Captains : 1914 -1974
1914 – Mr.J. A. Ponniah, Sub capt. W. A. Ethirmanasinghe(alias C. W. Canagasabey)
1915 – Mr. J. A. Ponniah
1916 – 1919 S. Kanapthipillai
1920 – B. Morgan, Sub Capt. P. H. Robinson
1922 – D. D. Kotalawala, Sub Capt. P. Barthelot
1923 – D. D. Kotalawala, Sub Capt. N. S. Alagiah
1924 – P. Henry, Sub Capt. R. de Silva
1926 – J. R. X. Francis, vice Capt. S. M. Sebastian
1927 – R. Edema
1939 – John Canagasuriam
1940 – 1941 Bede Johnpillai
1942 – D. Kuruneru
1943 – Stanley Canagasuriiam
1944 – John Thiagarajah 9the first of five brothersto captain SMC)
1948 – to 1949 F. D. francis
1950 – Daniel Thiagarajah
1951 to 152 F. X. Philips
1953 – Anthony Thiagarajah
1954 – V. Caneshamoorthy
1955 – Alphonse Thiagaraah
1956 – Alphonse Thiagarajah
1957 – Titus Cooray
1958 – Kingsley Thiagarajah
1959 – Padma Patrick
1960 – Leslie David
1961 – Ranjit David
1963 – Francis Leo
1964 – T, Mahendran
1965 – Godfrey Thissaverasinghe
1966 – Angelo Patrick
1968 – Fitzroy Alagiah
1969 – T. Kiritharan
1970 – Lucky Canagasuriam
1972 – P. Ganeshraj *
1973 – P. Ganendraraj *
1974 No matches played, since there was no Senior team to play with us in Battaicaloa
*The last two are the nephews of S. Kanapathipillai, one of the earliest captains. Special mention must be made of the fine record of wins under the coaching of Fr. Crowther, Mr. Andreas and Mr. Padma Patrick.