Don Bradman played for Aussies in Sri Lanka 1948

By A.C. de Silva

CRICKET: Talk of cricket involving Australia and pat will come the question has Don Bradman been involved? This is quite natural as the great Don Bradman had such an influence on the game of cricket especially where Australia was involved that his name has to emerge.

Bradman's batting genius was matchless. It is said that his position at the top of the batting averages was as changeless as the alphabet. A fleeting glance at the Test career record tells why Bradman stands several classes above the rest.

In just 52 Tests, Bradman has scored 6,996 runs at an average of 99.94 runs and his Test strikerate of 134.53 per Test are easily the best ever. Bradman has career studded with 29 centuries.

Yes, Don Bradman was also involved in two of the games that Australia played against Sri Lankan team in the good old days.

Besides Don Bradman, other Australian greats such as Lindsay Hassett, Bob Simpson, R. Benaud, Keith Miller, Graeme McKenzie, Norman O'Neill, Peter Burge, Lawry and Greg Chappell and Border come to mind as the players who have played in Sri Lanka. When Don Bradman came here in 1938 for the first time.

There was a huge crowd present at the old SSC grounds, Victoria Park (the now abandoned Municipal Sports Club grounds). Though the Don's name appeared on the scorecard, he did not play as he was indisposed and Stan McCabe led the Australian side. Australia made 367 for 9 wickets declared in 210 minutes off 69 overs. Jack Fingleton (49) and Bill Brown (53) put on 80 runs for the first wicket in 120 minutes. Never before was such a scoring spree witnessed. 10 fielders were insufficient, hardly a ball went past to keeper Vernon Schokman as Lindsay Hassett (116) and C L Badcock (116) put on 217 runs for the 3rd wicket in 180 minutes. In all this hammering, off spinner, lanky, George Pereira took 5 for 108, while Pat McCarthy, George Hubert and L. D. S Gunasekera fielded brilliantly. McCarthy, now living in Perth, was the first Ceylonese to play in Sheffield Shield cricket (Western Australia in 1950-51). For All Ceylon, F C De Saram (31) and McCarthy (24) batted well.

Miller - 127

World War II had not ended in 1945. The war with Japan was still in progress when Lindsay Hassett's Australian Services team including cavalier Keith Miller and others, defeated All-Ceylon led by F. C. de Saram by an innings and 44 runs in less than 2 days in a 3 day game. The Services scored 304 runs towards which Miller scored 127 - hitting with tremendous power. His runs came in 172 minutes and included 8 fours. With Hassett (57) he put on 127 runs for the 4th wicket. All Ceylon collapsed for 103 runs and 159 runs. Only S. S. Jayawickrema (31 and 22) and fast bowler Selvadurai (18 and 23) stood up to the visitors, while the flashing blade of B. R. Heyn (50) in the 2nd innings saved Ceylon from a worse fate. It was a disappointing display by All Ceylon. Virtually the same team in April 1945 had given Vijay Merchant and his Indian Team a run for their money.

During World War II, the Australian Troops going to the Middle East played whole day matches against local Club teams. Two well known players who played were Ray Robinson (NSW & Australia) and J. W. Rymill of South Australia.

After World War II, the first Official Australian team led by Don Bradman came in 1948. There is no disagreement that it was the finest Australian team to leave the shores of Australia. Bradman's team returned home unbeaten. In Colombo, to the delight of 20,000 fans, Don Bradman appeared after 18 years. Again the great Don scored much less than what the Ceylon crowds wanted. Just 20 runs. The coveted wicket went "ct R L de Kretser b B R Heyn". The Australians scored 184 for 8 wickets (d) and All-Ceylon were 48 for 2 wickets with M. Rodrigo scoring an aggressive 26 runs. Rain put an early end to play.

The last of the whistle stop games in 1964 saw the end of an era. The days of leisurely sea travel were over and the jet age had taken over. Bobby Simpson's Australians scored 249 runs, with a graceful 65 by R. M. Cowper and a power packed 49 by O'Neil and Burge (32) were the chief scorers. Burge hit Fuard for 21 runs in one over. In spite of the Aussie brilliance the day belonged to Michael Tissera. Ceylon had struggled for 35 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in one hour when Tissera joined B. G. Reid (29*) (now living in Sydney). Tissera gave the finest display by a Ceylon batsman yet, in these whistle-stop games. In just 30 minutes he was on 50 runs with 12 fours. It was an innings to remember. Rain brought play to an end 45 minutes before time. Simpson and the Australians paid a high tribute to the splendid innings by Tissera.

The Australian visit in (1969) was the first extended visit by an official Australian Team. The Australians on their way to India and South Africa did not have an auspicious start in Ceylon being held down to less than 200 runs in each Unofficial Test Innings.

Just a few months earlier their Test totals were 284 and 240, 250, 547 and 42 no wickets; 533 and 339, 619 and 394 for 8 (d). The score card shows that only 635 runs were scored in 3 days. Chanmugam bowled well to take 5 for 47 and 3 for 43. Chanmugam fielded brilliantly, two catches stood out. Chanmugam fielding at silly point plucked a full blooded Walters drive off Fuad's bowling a spectacular catch in every way.

Many looked towards the boundary. In the 2nd innings Chanmugam took another splendid catch in the slips to dismiss Stackpole. David Heyn fielded brilliantly. He ran out Ian Chappell from the covers. Ceylon saved the game due to a stubborn debut innings by opener Dr. C. Balakrishnan (55) in 162 minutes, in the first innings. Tissera 53 not out saved Ceylon in the 2nd innings. Ceylon survived as long as he was there. It was a satisfying game for Ceylon.

Skipper Lawry and Manager Fred Bennett, Picked Chanmugam as International Class, Anura Tennekoon for correct technique, Tissera for his leadership and Heyn for his brilliant fielding. The Australians played 3 One Day games, two in Colombo and one in Kandy. Rain followed them around and the games suffered as a result. In the first Colombo game, bowler B. N. Mohmood hit Gleeson for 2 sixers and 2 fours. Only 166 minutes play was possible.

The second game was abandoned due to rain but the Australians agreed to play on one of the rest days. In Kandy, torrential rain delayed the start, but the Australians produced 261 runs in 195 minutes. In the second Colombo game, the Australians scored 300 runs in four hours. Sixes and fours were freely hit, Lawry (3), Chappell (1), Redpath (4). The local team scored 110 runs for 6 wickets in 165 minutes batting. Only Dr. H. I. K. Fernando showed some confidence with runs.

Low scores

In April 1980/81, the Australian Team on its way to England played in Colombo. The Unofficial test totals were the lowest recorded in Sri Lanka by Australia in a 3 day game. Australia 124 & 178 drew Sri Lanka 177. Slow left arm bowler G. R. A. de Silva 27 Ov 14M 36R 6W & 40 Ov 17M64R 3W and off spinner & L. W. Kaluperuma 24.1 Ov 11M 35R 3W & 33Ov 11M 74R 5W bowled magnificently. Their match bags were 9 for 100 & 8 for 109 respectively. There were only two l.b.w. decisions and that too late in the Australian 2nd Innings. A large crowd witnessed play on all 3 days. But for the persisting rain Sri Lanka may have won. Ceylon needing 125 runs to win sent their openers who returned without a ball being bowled due to rain. Play was abandoned. Nealy 10 hours play was lost. For the Australians Graeme Beard took 5 wickets for 69 & John Dyson scored 67.

The Australians won the 1st L O on the run rate at Moratuwa. The second was won comfortably by Sri Lanka by 6 wickets. A Sri Lanka record was set by Warnapura (106) & S. R. de S. Wettimuny (46) with 170 runs for the 1st wicket in 34 Overs. Warnapura hit 3 sixes & 13 fours, the 104 runs came in 165 minutes, scored the first century in a Limited Over International for Sri Lanka. The 3rd Limited over was won by Australia by a mere 6 runs - Australia 242 for 6 (45 Ov) & Sri Lanka 236 for 9 (45 Overs). In the 1st L. O. at the Tyronne Fernando Stadium N. D. P. Hettiarachchy (49) & H. H. Devapriya (78) put on 117 for the 2nd wicket. Devapriya hit 4 sixes & 7 fours.

Aussies by 1 run

For the Australians in the 1st L. O. I. John Dyson 67 & Border (63), Kent (62) and Weltham 42X in the 3rd were the main scorers. The scores were (1) Australia 213 for 4 and Sri Lanka - 164 for 7 (2) Australia 188 and Sri Lanka 189 for 4 (3) Australia 242 for 6 and Sri Lanka 236 for 9.

In the 1st match it was recorded that Australia won by one run as the Sri Lankans were 163 for 7 and stumps were pulled out by the umpires at 5.45 p.m.

The 1983/84 tour saw Australians lead by Greg Chappell beating Sri Lanka by an innings & 38 runs in the Inaugural Test. Australia scored 514 for 4 wickets (d). Kepler Wessels (141) & G Yallop (96) put on 170 for 3rd wickets & David Hookes (143x) & A. R. Border (47) put on 155 runs for the 5th wicket in an unbroken partnership. Sri Lanka dismissed for 271 in the first innings, collapsed for 205 runs in the 2nd innings. Sri Lanka batting resembled the cricket played in the "Whistle stop" games of a previous era, Except for Wettimuny who batted 3 hours for his 96, the others were scoring at a run a minute. Mendis & Ratnayake added 96 runs in 92 minutes.

The match was over by lunch on the 4th day. Of the four Limited Over matches Sri Lanka won two & the other two were abandon due to rain & the 3 day match against the Board Presidents XI at Moratuwa was drawn.

The 1950s saw Hassett's (1953) team score 209 for 8 wickets and drew with All-Ceylon 149/4 wickets scored in 2 hours. Opening batsman C. H. Gunasekera (Jnr) 66 not out batted well, along with Vernon Prins (42) they put on 79 runs for the 3rd wicket.

The 1961 Australians led by R. Benaud, did not disappoint 20,000 local fans scoring 289 for 8 (d) in 235 minutes. Norman O'Neil (70), Brian Both (40), Benaud (35), Simpson (27), Burge (35), Mckenzie (22) and Ian Quick (20) scored quick runs. Only off spinner M. A. H. Fuard and leg spinner C. I. Gunasekera, the captain, commanded respect. All-Ceylon replied with 187 for 7 wickets at close in 135 minutes, with C. I. Gunasekera hitting Lindsay Kline for 24 runs (4,6,4,4,6) in one over. L. Rodrigo (47) T. C. T. Edwards (27), Michael Tissera (24), C. I. Gunasekera (28) and M. A. H. Fuard (23), all batted well. Peter Burge kept wickets for the Australians.