Tuesday 17th May, 2011 15 ‘One day he came and wanted us you played for St. Peter’s and now your one point you were considered as the to bring a broomstick because son is going to play for us. I was very technically perfect batsman in the we didn’t have bats. happy. But he couldn’t make it. country. What did you do to perfect your technique? Ultimately I got a broom- Question: You were a Peterite and Roy: From the time I was 12 I was stick, cut it into two pieces how did your son end up at St. coached by Laddie Outschoorn. He had Joseph’s? played cricket in England. He came and and took it. Then he want- Roy: Well, St. Peter’s at that time did- coached us at St. Peter’s. We didn’t have ed us to hold the broom- n’t have a nursery, but St. Joseph’s did. I bats or gloves or anything. One day he thought I will send him to St. Joseph’s came and wanted us to bring a broom- stick on our top hand, for nursery and then take him out. But stick because we didn’t have bats. that’s the left-hand and he then after a couple of years he got used Ultimately I got a broomstick, cut it into wanted us to keep it mov- to St. Joseph’s style and made friends two pieces and took it. Then he wanted too and I didn’t want to pull him out. In us to hold the broomstick on our top ing up and down, like you fact, Fr. Rector was Fr. Stanley hand, that’s the left-hand and he wanted know cuddling an infant. Abeysekera. He was also the Rector of us to keep it moving up and down, like St. Peter’s earlier and he asked you know cuddling an infant. The left The left elbow had to be right me why St. Joseph’s. elbow had to be right up, then the inside up, then the inside of the other of the other hand touching the stomach. We had to do that for one hour. hand touching the stomach. We It was painful. He contin- had to do that for one ued to do that. That was the first les- hour. It was painful. son I got on He continued to technique. Even now, do that. That whenever I was the first do something, lesson I got at this age, always my left on tech- elbow is right up. I nique.’ used to read a lot too. Carl Obeysekera used to get me the Cricketer Magazine from England every month. There was one column on coaching. There was a picture explaining how to play for example the drive. I used to read that and take the book to the garage, take my nephew’s plastic bat and plastic ball and look at the picture and play that shot. That’s the way I learned my Roy Dias even at this age is particular about the correct technique. Pic by Nimal Dayaratne. BY REX CLEMENTINE Kalu (Lalith Kaluperuma), Mithra But that was fun. I enjoyed my school Then I explained the reasons. I have lot (Wettimuny) and all. I was okay. Then cricket. About 90 percent of the crick- of friends who are Joes as well. technique. I used to wait for that maga- ollowing Sidath Wettimuny’s my break came during the Australian eters who played with me at school have zine to come. They displayed all the counts of his experiences of play- schoolboys side’s tour of Sri Lanka. migrated and they are in Australia. Question: Any other interesting shots; the drive, the back foot drive, Fing in England, his former team- That side was captained by Graham school memories? cover drive. Those days there wasn’t mate Roy Dias this week in Lords at Yallop and Sri Lanka was captained by Question: You spoke about rugby Roy: We had Fr. Joe Wickremasinghe, much sweep shots or the cut shots. Lord’s recalls his memories in England. Asitha Jayaweera, who I thought, was at school. Are you a big rugby fan? Fr. Stanely Abeysekara, Fr. Arthur That’s the reason I think I started play- In this first of the five part interview in one of the best all-rounders in the Roy: Yes. I used to support Havelocks. Fernando and Fr. Rufus Benedict those ing very straight. I thought that helped our segment, Dias recounts his early schools scene those days. I got the break I was working at days. The funny part is that those days me a lot. There were paper cuttings as days at St. Peter’s and those who influ- to play and I did well. From thereon, I we had to wear whites to school. None of well of Ken Barrington and Ted Dexter. enced his life and cricket career. thought okay I have a chance of us had whites. We only wore whites for Actually, I used to collect Ted Dexter’s The unassuming Dias here says that playing at the top level and straight cricket. We used to wear dark trousers pictures. Those days as kids we used to he wasn’t the star in school cricket. He after school I joined Colts. We were to school. Fr. Arthur Fernando to get collect these pictures and exchange. also recalls how he was denied a lift all amateurs. me to wear whites to school made me a There was a friend of mine who was a after becoming the first St. Peter’s cap- We had our jobs and after work we prefect. So that was good. I have lot of great fan of Ken Barrington. I was a tain in many years to lose the Big Match used to go for training. Then I started respect for them, even teachers at great fan of Ted Dexter. So we used to to St. Joseph’s where his side was captaining the club. school those days. Some are living and exchange. That’s the way I think I start- bowled out for 36 runs in 1971. He also some are not. They taught us what life ed playing and I was lucky. reveals Graham Yallop’s Australian Question: Your memories of is. Most importantly the discipline. I Schoolboys’ tour to Sri Lanka being the inter-school matches those days? will never forget that and you will Question: Was Ted Dexter your turning point of his career and dwells Roy: The most disappointing for me never get a school like that. childhood hero? extensively on how he owned the near when I captained the schools was in Roy: When I was a schoolboy he was perfect batting technique and lots more. my first year. We were all out for 36 in Question: Speaking on interna- my hero. But later on it was Viv Here are the excerpts. the Big Match. I thought that’s it, I tional cricket, you were part of Richards. No doubt about that. I don’t want to captain anymore. But in Sri Lanka’s World Cup squad in remember in 1983 Sir Gary was coach- Question: Before we dwell on your the next year we did well. I played a bit 1979 in England. You scored a ing us and we were playing a practice memories of playing in England, tell of rugby as well. For my bad luck I crucial half-century in the match match. Suddenly everyone stopped us about your early days at St. broke my collarbone. Then I had to stop against India which Sri Lanka because there was this small plane Peter’s? rugby. From thereon it was all cricket. won. Tell us about that game? landing on the next field. During lunch Roy: St. Peter’s was very important Freudenberg & Company those days. Roy: Yes I scored a fifty. Duleep and break we went to the dressing room because cricket was not my line. My Question: Which year did you get The Chairman was Mr. Robert Sunil Wettimuny scored half-centuries and we saw this gentleman standing at father, my uncles, my brother and my bowled out for 36? Senanayake. He was also the Cricket too. We used to play league cricket in the window. We were tired and we were cousins all played football. I studied at Roy: It was in 1971. It was sad. We Board President at that point. My England and we had six Sri Lankans just taking our shoes off and Sir Gary St. Anthony’s, Wattala for one year and started off on a Friday and by Saturday Manager was Arthur Ratnayake and he playing in Manchester. That game said, ‘Excuse me boys, I want you all to then we moved to Mount Lavinia and as lunch time the game was over. Most of was the President at both Colts and against India was also in Manchester. meet a good friend of mine. Normally, a result I joined St. Peter’s. At St. Peter’s the old boys had to work the morning on Havelocks. We had six ruggerites and The six of us used to play for different he’s called Lord Ted Dexter, but I call there was no football. So I had to play Saturday and they were coming to six cricketers. So all the ruggerites were clubs in Manchester and all club mem- him Teddy.’ I couldn’t believe my eyes. some games and started playing cricket. watch the match and here we were wait- from Havelocks and all the cricketers bers turned up that day to support us.