- The 143rd Battle of the Blues was held without a live audience over the weekend
The annual cricket match between Royal College Colombo and S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia has always been rooted in history and tradition, with many past students clamouring to watch the matches and support their school, while students pour their blood, sweat, and tears into the sport. Due to the pandemic, in a first, the match was not open to a live audience last year.
Similarly, the event took place from 21 to 23 July at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Cricket Ground in Colombo under the same circumstances. Unfortunately, due to the country’s situation, spectators were not permitted to watch the game in person, but many took the initiative to get together and watch the match in the same spirit regardless.
Looking into its longstanding history, the Royal-Thomian cricket encounter, also known as The Battle of the Blues, is an event that not only garners the attention of the schools that take part, but also avid cricket fans and students of other schools as well. It has a history of close to a century and a half, while also holding the title for the second longest uninterrupted series of cricket matches in the world.
With it being such a renowned event in Sri Lankan cricket, it is only fitting that Ashley Walker, known as “the father of Ceylon cricket”, played a key role in its origin. Having introduced the game of cricket to the Colombo Academy (as the Royal College was then known), he proceeded to organise the first few encounters against S. Thomas’ College in 1877 and 1878, and so the legacy continued.
Brunch spoke to a few enthusiasts who watched the game this year to see what this novel experience was like for them, after years of watching the big match in person.
Shehan Perera told us that while his group of friends was saddened that they were not allowed to watch the match in person, they took the opportunity to host one big get-together at a friend’s house and watched it together on a big screen.
“While of course it wasn’t the same, tensions were high throughout the game, and we still watched in the same spirit and supported the boys just the same,” he told us. He and his friends are eagerly awaiting the match next year in hopes that it will be held with a live audience again. “This is the one thing that shouldn’t go virtual, as it has been a longstanding tradition. We want to pass this on to generations to come and hope that the country will be stable enough next year that we will be able to have that experience once again.”
Another enthusiast, Andrew Fernando, although not from either school, told us that he had always watched the match. “Even though I’m from another school, we would still watch all the matches as our schools too would compete and it’s great to see how Roy-Tho puts up a fight,” he shared. He further noted that if not for the situation, there would be thousands clamouring to watch the match, especially this year as they would’ve found it to be an escape from all the problems we are currently forced to face.
Fernando did not get together with his friends to watch the match, unfortunately, due to work constraints but followed it by himself online. “Had it been in person, despite the fuel situation and work, I would have definitely found a way to go because these matches have always been a highlight of our year,” he told us, adding that he too hopes next year will be better.
Finally, a past student of Royal, who wished to remain anonymous, highlighted that these matches are a highlight of Sri Lanka’s history and must continue to go on. “There is so much history behind these matches, and they were not always the big event that it is today. There is so much in our culture that may seem outdated, but these matches are mostly harmless fun and bring a sense of togetherness,” he noted, reasoning as to why he is disheartened that the match was not held in person.
He also pointed out that several other events are taking place all over the country despite the situation, and questioned why it was only that match that was not permitted to be held with a live audience. While he deems Covid-19 to be a reasonable excuse to not have the match, the current situation is no reason, he noted, as everyone needs something fun and exciting to focus on to keep their minds off these troubling times.
The general consensus of those that watched the match seem to be the same – they’ve held on to the spirit of the game but are also yearning to be back at the field, cheering for their next generation.
