All set and raring to go!

By M. Naushad Amit
It’s just a day more for yet another annual ‘Battle of the Blues’ at the SSC grounds, and after a few weeks of uncertainty, both schools are most relieved to know that there will not be a break in the series. The rich history and tradition of this 128-year-old Royal - Thomian encounter is such that the players will bust a gut to give of their best to see their team win, or, in the worst-case-scenario, to avoid losing. Last year the Thomains were successful in bouncing back to avenge Royal’s win in 2006. On current form both teams appear to be more evenly balanced when they battle it out for the 129th successive year.

The odds appeared to be against Royal when compared with their arch-rivals S. Thomas’ until last weekend. Royal had just won two games, lost one and drawn 11 in 14 inter-school encounters this season. On the other hand S. Thomas’ had played 19 won six, drawn 12 and lost one. They played their 20th match last weekend and suffered another outright defeat at the hands of giant-killers St. Sebastian’s, on their home ground. Incidentally St. Sebastian’s have also defeated Royal this season. Royal cricketers have finished all their matches for the season, couple of weeks ago, giving them ample time for ‘Big’ match preparations. S. Thomas’, having maintained a very good record, sufferd a slight set-back with the weekend’s loss. But, according to Ranil Abeynaike the defeat would be a very good lesson to look back and take stock before the ‘Big’ match. “In a way it is a good lesson to all of us having lost the match against St. Sebastian’s. We tried to do some changes in the batting order and we are back to the original line-up. We have taken things positively and now the boys are very keen to go for a win,” said Abeynaike.

The Thomians’ have eight cricketers in the current side who were a part of last year’s winning team. Having in-form freshers who have shone in all departments will be their advantage. Royal too possess’ a team equally sound for the ‘Big’ match. They boast of ten cricketers from their last year’s squad. They also possess freshers capable of all-round cricket who will be their key to a close contest. Chulaka Amarasinghe the Royal coach was on a positive note when he said “The boys have played all the matches for the season. But all of them couldn’t click up to expectations except for one or two players. So it is the correct time that each one should give their 150 per-cent. And if we can do that, we will definitely be the better side.”

The waiting is over and a keen contest is on the cards tomorrow. A definite outcome is hard to predict as very often the tables have been turned on the favourites. The coaches on both sides are confident and the teams are expected to play positive cricket.