14 Tuesday 17th February, 2009 ‘I represent a forgotten generation,’ says Lionel Fernando Lionel Fernando (standing-extreme left), is seen in a team picture of St. Benedict’s College, two years before he captained the team. by Reemus Fernando to decay shows some 48 runs against Elmo Rodrigopulle in the side. I won Exactly a half century after estab- Lionel Fernando’s name in the first the toss and put them into bat. lishing a record in the cricket arena, innings in then All-Ceylon’s 400 runs We got them out for 24 runs. I cap- Lionel Fernando, the former St. and a top score of 72 not out in the tured all 10 wickets. Many speak Benedict’s College, KOtahena and All second innings against an attack that about the 10 wickets I took and the Ceylon cricketer believes that he rep- had the likes of Wesley Hall when the hat-trick. But many have forgotten resents a forgotten generation of West Indies toured Ceylon, in 1967. that I almost had a second hat-trick in cricketers, most of whom are now Once, playing for the President’s that match. I missed the second hat- domiciled abroad. XI against a visiting MCC team under trick because the bails didn’t come Fernando picked up all 10 wickets the captaincy of Michael Tissera, off, although the ball hit the wicket,” in an innings, including a hat-trick Fernando was the top scorer with 40 Fernando said. and went on to score an unbeaten runs. Fernando said that moving from double hundred for his team, against Decades after he represented the St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala to St. his former school, St. Anne’s College, All-Ceylon team, Lionel Fernando Benedict’s College, Kotahena, Kurunegala, in a match on 13th reckons that it was natural to be for- changed his life. “The person who February, 1959. gotten as the winds of change, has was responsible for my move from St. “When I look back at the record I turned the game upside down. Anne’s to St. Benedict’s was Rev. feel great. Those were the days. The “I think it is natural to be forgot- Brother Alban. He was the director at good old days and those fond memo- ten. Now adays, everything revolves St. Anne’s College. He saw my talent ries help me compensate for the feel- around on money. In the old days, we and asked me to come to St. ing of being forgotten,” said played for the love of the game. But Benedict’s when he was transfered to Fernando. now it is not so. However, we deserve Kotahena. It was a lucky move and “I feel that I represent a set of for- some kind of recognition for the serv- everything changed for the better gotten cricketers,” said Fernando in ices we rendered as national crick- from there onwards. At St. Bendict’s, an interview with ‘The Island’. ‘The eters,” stated Fernando, whose inter- I was coached by Edward Kelart and Island’ interviewed the former national contemporaries ranged from later by R.B. Wijesinghe. I owe them a Benediction on the occasion of the Wesley Hall, Sir Garfield Sobers, great deal.” 50th anniversary of his heroic feat. Lance Gibbs, John Snow, Derek In an era where physical training He was back in Sri Lanka for a short Underwood and Colin Cowdrey. was an alien factor, Fernando had visit in January. “I wrote to SLC several times used unique ways to keep fit. “I used “When I look back I feel our per- requesting their help, but noting posi- to run 25 rounds at the Negombo formances against England, West tive has happened yet. I hope the cur- Esplanade and used to chop firewood Indies, India and Pakistan during rent interim committee (the inter- to keep fit.” those limited opportunities that came view took place before the interim “My parents encouraged me to a our way, impressed the world govern- committee was dissolved), or the great extent. My father was the ing body to grant us Test status later. sports minister will intervene to Municipal Commissioner of Nuwara I think Sri Lanka was able to gain grant recognition to cricketers of yes- Eliya. He used to come down to Test status because of our hard work. teryear. I consider it would be a great Colombo to see me play.After my par- But today we are a forgotten lot,” service to them,” said Fernando. ents, the best support I got was from Fernando lamented. Going down memory lane to his my wife Stella. She too encouraged Fernando, who played for Nomads days at school, Lionel Fernando said me to engage in cricket.” Lionel Fernando in action against an Indian XI at Chepauk, during his hey- after leaving school, was a part of All that the record feat of taking all 10 He has a long list of contempo- days. Ceylon teams that played against wickets will remain etched in his rary cricketers he admires. “I some of the world forces then. memory forever. “It is something that admired Neville Casychetty. Even as Anuruddha Polonnowita, M. Devaraj, Garfield Sobers as the best all round- “Although Sri Lanka had not been I will never forget. I can still remem- a school cricketer, C. I. Gunasekara T. B. Kehelgamuwa, Daya er and Rohan Kanhai as the best bats- granted Test status, we had the oppor- ber the massive crowds that gathered could have walked into any World XI. Sahabandu, Sylvester Dias and man, for his brilliant footwork. tunity to play against some of the along Bloemendhal Road to witness And there were a number of classy Mevan Peiris are some of the fine Mind you, all three of them are games’ legends. I cherish those mem- the match. The crowds were cheering cricketers during that time. Stanley cricketers we had during the pre-Test West Indians. ories very much,” said Fernando, and the atmosphere was electric, Jayasinghe, Clive Inman, Ronald era.” Lionel Fernando played English showing copies of score sheets which recalled Fernando. Reid, Buddy Reid, Michael Tissera, Among his contemporary inter- League cricket and was a part of the he has kept as memorabilia. “I was the captain of the side. I Anura Tennakoon, Danasiri national cricketers he places Wesley South Lancashire Cricket League for One such score sheet now starting had players like Cyril Earnest and Weerasinghe, Fitzroy Crozier, Halll as the best bowler he faced, Sir more than one season. First win for Gurukula by Reemus Fernando 64.2 overs (Madushan 29; Roshan Anurudhdha Scores: Gurukula College Chathuranga 54, Thusara 2/36, Sheshan Nivanka Carey 90 all out in 43.5 recorded their first out- Lakshitha 38, Sheshan 5/42). overs (J. Kaluarachchi 21, right victory of the season, Nivanka 29, Gayan Mahanama record M.R. Risvi 23 n.o; Danushka as paceman Gayan Buddhika 29, Kasun Udara fifth win Gunathilaka 6/47, Maduka Buddhika and spinner 24; K.D.L. Dananjaya 6/94, A top score of 70 runs by Dharmawardena 2/07, Sheshan Nivanka excelled K.S. Jeevantha 3/24) and 92 Maduka Dharmawardena and Randika Welikannage 2/05) with five wicket hauls in for 5 in 22.4 overs (Gayan six wicket hauls by paceman and 94 all out in 31.3 overs (A. the two innings to guide Sankapla 30, Thilina Dilan Danushka Gunathilaka and Ajireen 19, J.I. Mallawarachhi the side to a five wicket 34; L.V. Agalawatte 2/30) spinner Sarinda Perera were 16; Sarinda Perera 6/35, victory over Asoka Asoka 116 all out in 45.5 the highlights, as Mahanama Maduka Dharmawardena Vidyalaya in their Inter overs (C.N. Hemachandra College cruised to an innings 2/16) The Sri Lanka Under-16 Girls’ team beat their Maldivian counterparts 2-0 in a friendly School Under-19 tourna- 25; Rasika Kottagoda 2/21, and 11 run victory over Asoka Mahanama 195 all out in match played at St. Peter’s College Ground, Bambalapitiya on February 8. The Sri ment match which ended at Roshan Anurudhdha 2/34, Vidyalaya in their match 70 overs (Dilshan Rusiru 25, Lanka U-16 team: Third row standing from left: Erandathi, Inoka, Nimesha, Chanika, Mahara Prison Grounds, Gayan Buddhika 5/07) and played over the weekend at Maduka Dharmawardena 70, Tashini, Harshani, Diana and Shehani. Second row standing from left: Chalani, on Saturday. 196 all out in 53.1 overs (P. Katunayake. Vinod Kaluarachchi 22, Sajith Kalpani, Kanchana, Viloma, Dilki, Peshani, Iresha, Maheshika and Nimesha. First row from left: Achini (Vice Captain), Pushpa Ekanayake (Assistant Coach), Gamini Scores: Dananjaya 33, C.N. It was Mahanama’s fifth Nissanka 20 n.o; M.R. Risvi Madurawala (Manager), D. H. Chandrapala (Coach) and Hashini (Captain). Gurukula 226 all out in Hemachandra 64, S. Herath outright victory of the season. 4/70, M.A. Naseer 3/41) .