12 Thursday 26th May, 2011 The Island Features e was one of the fastest bowlers Who is he? Wickets 0), Geoff Boycott for five (Tests 15, Wickets 0), Dilip produced by Sri Lanka, about three He is none other than Norton Fredrick! 108, Innings 193, Not outs 23, Runs 8114, HS Sardesai (Tests 30, Hor four decades ago. Norton had the proud distinction of 246 n.o., Average 47.72, Hundreds 22, Fifties Innings 55, Not out 4, Reaching the top for him was not a bed capturing the wickets of Colin Cowdrey 42, Catches 33, Balls bowled 944, Runs Runs 2001, HS 212, of roses. It was a hard journey.He faced for 47. (Tests 114, innings 118, Not outs 15, given 382, Wickets 7), Nawab of Pataudi Average 39.23, Hundreds many obstacles. Although he studied at St. Runs 7624, HS 182, Average 44.06, (Jnr), (Tests 46, Innings 83, Not out 3, Runs 5, Fifties 8, Catches 4, Joseph’s College, Maradana, he did not Hundreds 22, Fifties 38, Catches 120, Balls 2793, HS 203 n.o., Average 39.91, Centuries Balls bowled 59, Runs represent the school First XI team. He was bowled 115, Runs given 104, wickets 0), 6, Half centuries 16, Catches 27, Balls given 45, Wickets 0), determined, disciplined and committed. John Edrich three, (Tests 97, Innings 127, bowled 132, Wickets 1), Abbas Ali Baig Hanumant Singh He worked his way to represent Sri Not out 9, Runs 5138, HS 310 n.o., Average (Tests 10, Innings 18, Not outs 0, Runs 428, (Tests 14, Innings Lanka at cricket. He is a gutty cricketer, a 43.54, Centuries 12, Fifties 24, Catches 43, HS 112, Average 23.77, Hundreds 1, Fiftees 24, Not out 2, Runs fine gentleman. Number of balls bowled 30, Runs given 23, 2, Catches 6, Balls bowled 18, Runs given 686, HS 105, Average 31.18, Hundreds 1, Fifties 5, Catches 11, Balls bowled 66, Runs given 51, Wickets 0), Farook Engineer (Tests 46, Innings 87, Not out 3, Runs 2611, HS 121, Average 31.08, Centuries 2, Half centuries 16, Catches 16, Stumpings 16). Norton Fredrick was a great team man. He was in addi- tion an excellent fielder. I still remember the brilliant catch he held at long-on, off the bowling of off- spinner Niel Chanmugam, to dismiss the late Ken Barrington. (Tests 82, Innings 131, Not out 15, Runs 6806, HS Norton Fredrick 256, Average 58.87, Hundreds 20, Fifties 35, Catches 38, Balls bowled 2715, Runs was a great team 1300, Wickets 29). Norton ran around 50-60 yards and man. He was in addi- held onto a brilliant catch to dismiss the tion an excellent batting maestro, Ken Barrington cheaply. Some of the senior citizens of cricket fielder. I still remem- state that the fastest bowler produced by ber the brilliant catch Sri Lanka was D. S. Jayasundera, a ter- ror paceman. Then comes Sonny he held at long-on, off Yatawara. I faced ‘Yata’ in 1957, when I opened batting for Nalanda against the bowling of off- Ananda. Mind you, he was a terrific spinner Niel bowler – the fastest bowler I have ever faced. Chanmugam, to dis- When I was playing for Government Services, representing the Education miss the late Ken Department and Bank of Ceylon in Barrington. (Tests 82, Nationalised Services Tournaments, I faced Norton Fredrick and Sylvester Innings 131, Not out Dias. They were among the top bowlers 15, Runs 6806, HS 256, in the early 1980s, whom I faced. Norton Fredrick was born on 14th Average 58.87, November 1937, in Negombo. His beloved parents are Mr. S. Don Fredrick and Mrs. Hundreds 20, Fifties R. Gunawardene. 35, Catches 38, Balls After leaving school, he joined the Statistics Investigation Establishment bowled 2715, Runs and later joined the Labour Department. In September 1959, he assumed duties as 1300,Wickets 29). the Welfare Officer of the Prisons Department. He is a fine human being with a golden heart. On 1st October 1956, Norton Fredrick joined the Ceylon Transport Board. He is a man of honesty and integrity.He is methodical and flaw- less. “Premasara, when I was about 13-14 years, I used to hurl the ball fast. We all started with the tennis ball. I had a square arm action, somewhat similar to Lasith BY PREMASARA Malinga. Unfortunately,I never got EPASINGHE the opportunity to play for the St. Joseph’s First XI team. That was a big 71). disappointment. When I joined the All Ceylon was captained by that Prisons Department, I was introduced to gentlemanly legendary dashing bats- W.A. N. Silva, another first class crick- man, the lovable, late C. I. Gunesekera. eter cum coach. With him I got the “Norton, any reminiscences about opportunity to play for Bloomfield,” stat- the match,” I asked. ed Norton Fredrick. “Premasara, in that match I took a Playing alongside him for wicket. I also took two difficult catches Bloomfield were Anandian Dharmasiri to dismiss John Martin and Niel Weerasinghe, a former Sri Lankan play- Hawke off the bowling of Anuruddha er. Among the others who played along- Polonnowita and C. I. Gunasekera side him were, Charlie respectively,” stated Norton Fredrick. Warnakulasuriya, the father of Sri Norton Fredrick’s best year can be Lanka player, Royalist Sumitra considered as 1964. He played against Warnakulasuriya, Bonny Wijesinghe Pakistan, led by Imitiaz Ahamed (Tests and Lucky Abeywardene. 41, Innings 72, Not out 1, Runs 2079, HS For Norton Fredrick, the big break 209, Average 29.28, Centuries 3, Fifties came in 1964. He was selected to play 11, Catches 77, Stumpings 16). in the Gopalan Trophy match in Michael Tissera captained All Colombo. Ceylon. Sri Lanka won the match. “It was a very memorable baptism Norton Fredrick had a match bag of 5 for me. The match was played at the wickets for 68. Colombo Oval – Sara Stadium. I Against India, in Ahamedabad, bowled well and took a hat-trick. I Norton Fredrick took 4-85 and 3-24. still remember the three victims – R. Norton Fredrick played in 13 Ramesh, V. V. Kumara and G. matches and in 18 innings scored 196 Thomas. I played two Gopalan games runs. He captured 54 wickets, repre- in 1964 and 1965. It was a wonderful senting the country. experience. We played for the love of Norton was a match referee and a the game,” stated Norton Fredrick. talent scout a few years back. The unassuming Norton Fredrick Presently, he is attached to KJs won his ‘Ceylon Cap’ in 1964 against Constructions, Kalagedihena, as Bobby Simpson’s Australians (Tests Administration and Human Resources 62, Innings 111, Not outs 7, Runs 4869, Manager. HS 311, Average 46.81, Centuries 10, The dedicated, disciplined Norton Half centuries 27, Catches 110, Balls Fredrick was an ornament to Sri bowled 6881, Runs given 3001, Wickets Lanka cricket..