Bertie Wijesinha:

The cricketing giant 92 not out

By A.C De Silva

AWAITING THE CENTURY: It's 92 not out - that's what the great scorer has to say of that great cricketer Bertie Wijesinha - of S. Thomas' College, Singhalese Sports Club and All-Ceylon. He will be 92 years of age on May 24th and that's something to rejoice and celebrate. He is an 'Old Boy' of 'Observer' newspaper too.

Coming from Kalutara, he entered the portals of S. Thomas' College, in 1926 and it was cricket all the way. He played for S. Thomas' College in the years 1936-39. In his maiden appearance in the Big Match in 1936, Bertie notched up a half century, thus joining the ranks of the immortals. It is in this particular match that Norman Seible bettered D.B. Gunasekera's record of 148 by scoring an exciting 151.

He turned out to be the best all-rounder in school cricket at that time. As an opening bowler, he relied more on line and length and subtle swing, while in batting he had a repertoire of strokes that brought him a fortune of runs in school and first class cricket.

In fact, "R.B." modelled his cricket on his elder brother Alex - another fine product of S. Thomas' Bertie double century against Trinity College at Asgiriya was hailed then as a masterpiece of batsmanship. He dominated both the willow and the leather in school cricket with such confidence and competence seldom seen at inter-school level.

Fitted in well

After having started at the raw age of 14 playing for S. Thomas' in 1936, in keeping with the traditions of the 'Big Match', he joined the ranks of the immortals. He fitted in well. He came to bat when the Thomian chips were down six wickets without anything worthwhile and the great encouragement of Seible, Wijesinha pulled the Thomians out of the trouble spot. He went on from success to success and on his way to the captaincy of the College in 1938-1939.

In 1936, Bertie Wijesinha took his first hat-trick in their school encounter with St. Benedict's and then in the Daily News Trophy at the age of 55, while playing for Kandy - he did it again! Almost 50 years later, Bertie performed a hat-trick at the age of 65 in his last County Club game in Nottinghamshire, England - to make it a distinguished unmatchable record!

The double-century against Trinity, he captained again the following year, there are two stories about that game in 1939 when he led his side to victory. There is a story that comes to mind where the late Derrick de Seram is involved. It is said that Derrick de Seram who was coaching Royal had told the Royalists: "When Wijesinha reaches 30, tighten the field. Stop the singles. Make him fight for his 50. When he reaches 70, same exercise. Make him fight for every run."

Record never to be beaten

The operative word in those instructions were "when" not "if" Wijesinha gets to 30 etc. A positive "when". Bertie did get to the 70s before he got out.

The other story is that he created a record which may be equalled, and recently was, which could never be beaten. He took a wicket with the very first ball of that match. The victim was one of the younger brothers of the famous Barney Gunasekera, who had made a record-breaking 'double' in 1930 when he made the highest individual score of 148 and took seven wickets. A 'double' which has not been equalled to date.

Two special incidents

Getting to the international scene, two special incidents in Bertie's cricket career which have been related earlier, can be repeated to illustrate quick thinking and action in the 'middle' which is so lacking these days.

One was in the Brabourne Stadium when the SSC toured India in the Mid-Forties. SSC had done well against the Cricket Club of India, captained by Vijay Merchanct. SSC had won on the first innings. Incidentally, at tea-time, Bertie and late Lucien were the not out batsmen with about ten runs each. Derrick said he would declare in half an hour and asked us to get on with it. Each of us came back with un-beaten half centuries.

When the Indians were batting there was a be-spectacled stone-waller. His name was Ammersley, who was playing every ball well.

In his last over from the other end, Bertie had taken two successive wickets with the last two balls of that over. He told me to give Ammersley one on the legside which he would miss and make the batsmen go for a bye, in the fourth or fifth ball Lucien's. The plan worked and Ammersley was at Bertie's end to face him. Bertie was bowling with the setting sun behind him. He lobed his first ball high into the air. Whether the batsman was blinded by the sun or not - he must have been - because he kept swatting at the ball like swatting a fly while the ball rolled gently and dislodged a bail.

The second incident

The other incident which illustrates his quick thinking and action was when we played our first Test against Pakistan at Lahore in 1950.

Opening batsman Imitiaz Ahmed was consistently pushing Lucien de Zoysa for a single towards mid-wicket. Makin Salih, fielding at mid-on was not quick enough to intercept that shot and prevent a single. Before Lucien bowled his next over, Bertie who had been fielding at mid-off to Lucien's bowling, bare headed, quickly went to Makin, pulled off the cap Makin was wearing, put it on and told Makin to move to mid-off while he took Makin's place at mid-on. Third or fourth ball, Imitiaz played towards mid wicket and went for his customary single, only to find the ball coming to my hand with Imitiaz more than a yard out. He stopped. Looked at whom he thought was Makin in amazement. Bertie took off the cap and bowed to Imitiaz.

"Bertie!", said Imitiaz and went towards Bertie with his bat raised above his head. No. This was no precussor to the Miandad-Lillee incident years later.

Imitiaz had no intention of hitting Bertie.

He was only stunned but man enough to pat Bertie on the back as he walked back with the remark," Fine trick, Bertie, you are good trick man."

Joining the SSC, he first played under Sargo Jayawickrama and later under F.C. de Saram. His feats with both bat and ball is too numerous for elaboration. R.B. contributed to the achievements of the SSC more than any other player in that brilliant company. Being an excellent all-rounder, he was indeed an asset to any team. As a middle order batsman both for club and country, he came out with domineering performances over world class bowlers. When SSC played the Cricket Club of India at Braybourne Stadium on a strip which was more than a heartbreak for bowlers, Bertie performed the hattrick with a spell of sheer, brilliant, medium pace swing. I hope I will not be off the mark if I say this feat is unparalleled to this day.

His inclusion in the National team came soon, as expected. For almost a dozen years Bertie was an automatic choice for the Ceylon team in all its international engagements. Times without number, he contributed in good measure to the success of his team, either through a sterling batting performance, a piece of intelligent bowling or a display of superlative cover fielding. For Bertie's daring, his instinctively aggressive approach to cricket and his rare skill revitalised our cricket both at club and country levels. Above all, he had the good of cricket always at heart.

After retirement from first class cricket, he turned his immense experience and expertise to coach the youngsters. In a brief spell at Wesley College in the late '50s, he dovetailed the "double blues" into an invincible unit, which , incidently, helped that institution immeasurably in the immediate later years. It was so at St. Benedict's College too, and many other schools that had the privilege of obtaining his services.

Bertie's writing eagerly awaited

As a writer for the Lake House group, Bertie's contributions were read with a sense of enlightenment. His analytical descriptions highlighting individual and collective performances were a reader's delight. He was frank and forthright to the bone and never hesitated or feared to constructively criticise when such was needed.

In the commentary box too, he held the listening public enthralled with precise analysis and pithy comments. Bertie, along with Lucien de Zoysa, formed a peerless duo in the art of comment. They were not only memorable, but were matchless in their own right. In fact, Bertie and Lucien, like Starsky and Hutch, were an inseparable combination - the difference being that the former combination lasted more than 40 long and chequered years, first in school cricket, then in club and national cricket and finally pairing in the commentary box.

R.B. Wijesinha was also an athlete of no mean repute. He held the public school record for the hop, step and jump for a number of years. However, it is in cricket that he stood head and shoulders above the rest.

Bertie had a long and eventful innings, so to say literally. He deeply loved the game because of the friendships made, the moments of glory and the extra "goodness" of the sport.