At last Sri Lanka honours Michael Tissera

by Ranjan Anandappa

After back to back series defeats against Pakistan and India, Sri Lanka will be up against another competitive outfit the West Indies who will also be looking for a Test win on Sri Lankan soil which they have not achieved in their 22 year old Test history against the islanders.

On the last occasion when the two sides met in a three Test series in Sri Lanka in 2010 all three matches ended in draws, but this time the Windies are confident of breaking the ice and creating history by winning the series. The visitors expect their bowlers to create a big impact as their batsmen look capable enough to justify the hard work done by the bowlers.

The two Test matches will be played for the Sobers- Tissera Trophy with the first Test commencing on October 14 at the Galle International Stadium. The two Test matches are named after two of the great cricketers Sir Garfield Sobers the finest all-rounder ever the game has produced and Sri Lanka's Micheal Tissera who captained his country in the pre-Test era and played in the inaugural Prudential World Cup held in England in 1975.

Tissera has the unique distinction of leading Sri Lanka , then Ceylon to their first unofficial Test wins against Pakistan (1964) and India (1961). Pakistan was captained by Imitiaz Ahmed and the Indian team was led by Nawab Of Pataudi. Pakistan were beaten at the Colombo Oval and India lost at home in Ahmedabad.

Since the 1961 unofficial Test win against India under Tissera, Sri Lanka is yet to beat India in a Test match on Indian soil.

Sobers and Tissera have played in rival sides in 1961 and in 1967. In 1961 prior to Sri Lanka gaining full Test status six West Indian cricketers namely Garfield Sobers, Rohan Kanhai, Chester Watson, Condrad Hunte, Seymour Nurse and Wesley Hall on their way to England took time to play a game along with another four local players wicket keeper H.I.K. Fernando, Priya Perera, Tissa de Soysa,Yatagama Amaradasa and an unknown player from the ships crew named Hewson formed a team which was called the Daily Mirror XI.

The Ceylon Cricket Association team was captained by the late C.I.Gunasekera. Michael Tissera struck an unbeaten 102 in CCA's total of 180 for 7 in reply to the visitors 305 for 6 declared. Hunte (50), Rohan Kanhai (60 retired), Seymour Nurse (31 retired) Sobers (58) and Wesley Hall (44) were among the runs for the Mirror XI. The CCA XI included C.I.Gunasekera (Captain), Sarath Silva, T.C.T. Edwards, Lasantha Rodrigo, Michael Tissera, D.H.de Silva, Hector Perera, Abu Fuard, Sonny Yatawara, Fitzroy Crozier and K.M.T.Perera.

In 1967 Sobers and Tissera played again this time in a four day game at the Colombo Oval. Tissera could not go the full distance of the game due to injury. When the Sunday Observer asked Michael Tissera about the trophy on offer for the two Test series he said that it was a great honour to be shuffled in with a great player like Sobers who he said was "a better player than me".