27 February 2018 02:23 pm Views - 4949
February to March is a colourful period for Sri Lanka. It is that time of the year when Sri Lanka’s leading boys’ schools celebrate their love for cricket. Big matches are annual cricket encounters between traditional rival schools as they play for their prestige and pride. During this time school boys get together with their parents, teachers and old boys to support their respective college cricket teams. The same schools have played one another for many years, some for over a century, and Big Matches form an important part of modern Sri Lankan culture with both school children and adults taking part in much of the activity that is part of the annual matches.
The biggest, oldest and longest Big match is the Royal-Thomian 'Battle of the Blues which started back in 1879. The Royal–Thomian is the most celebrated sports game in Sri Lankan sports circle and it is the second-longest uninterrupted cricket match series in the world. Older than 'The Ashes' it is only behind the annual fixture between St.Peter's College, Adelaide and Prince Alfred College played since 1878. This time the first Big Match to kick off was Thurstan-Isipathana. Others including the Battle of the Maroons between Ananda-Nalanda, Richmond College – Mahinda College, Trinity College-St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota will kick off soon.