Sports
“A Doyen of Sri Lanka Hockey”
“Just call me DENNIS” a retrospective on Hockey in Sri Lanka will be launched on the 13 of February.
On Saturday the 13th of February the Book – “Just call me DENNIS” a retrospective on Hockey in Sri Lanka will be launched at the BRC, Havelock Park, Colombo 05, organized by the Mercantile Hockey Association.
Dennis a doyen of hockey in Sri Lanka has served the sport at it its best and leaves a legacy to inspire a generation of future hockirites.
Double International Chandra Schaffter in his message, mentions “There is nobody connected with the game of hockey as I have known it over the past 60 years who contributed more towards this than my friend Dennis De Rosayro. Dennis rose high in the ranks of club hockey players and is one to be respected.”
The book captures the interesting feats of hockey greats and wizards of the sticks in a pictorial story having played against immortal legends like Dhyan Chand, Balbir Singh and Leslie Claudias. Records on Sri Lanka games with Olympic teams and the Asian circuit. The inaugural Hockey Nationals and its history to date is useful material for the future custodians of the game in the country.
HE represented Sri Lanka in the Corera Cup, which was virtually an annual tournament between Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu and Bangalore states. This was the level of Sri Lanka hockey then.
After having retired as Shipping Manager after a 40 year stint with Heath & Company, Dennis also served with the Janashakthi Group and into full retirement from Idac (Pvt)Ltd.
83-year-old Dennis, a doyen of the sport was the President of the Mercantile HA from 1978 to 2007 and still going strong, was the first captain of hockey at St. Benedict’s College in 1954. He played for BRC from 1954 to 1978 and All-Ceylon as a schoolboy against the Indian Olympic team in 1960 and against Pakistan in 1961, having represented Ceylon before in 1955. He was also a member of the Colombo Malay Cricket Club hockey team that toured South India, the first overseas hockey tour by a club in 1971 which comprised of some hockey greats. Serves currently as the Patron of the Burgher Recreation Club and an Honorary Life Member of the Mercantile Hockey Association.
His involvement with the game did not end when he retired as a competitive player, instead he continued to coach and or manage the BRC, MHA, CHA and Sri Lanka teams. Dennis goal was to give back to the sport he so loved so much. Numerous students have attested that Dennis has shaped their work ethic. His life and work were an example to the youngsters, many of whom would go on to achieve great things.
The book relates interesting anecdotes of his career. One of the highlights of his college career came about when he led the college team that played a hockey match against the prestigious Burgher Recreation Club(BRC) team in 1954. The BRC team had seven players who had international experience, including Asia’s Best Goalie, Freddy White, as well as Hugh Aldons and Ivan De Krester, all of whom captained Sri Lanka in later years. The accomplish team was unable to beat the school team and the match ended in a 4-all draw. Young Dennis surpassed all expectations netting the ball three times against this star team that day.
Captaining and coaching the Colombo Hockey Association(CHA) team in their tours to participate in the All-India invitation tournaments in late 60’s and early 70’s, he recalls the “Father of Hockey” the late Mr. Walter Jayasuriya who Managed the team.
Former Sri Lanka Hockey Captain Subash Fernando of Old Bens fame quotes – ” I know Stanley(Fernando) was trying his best to emulate you and I followed him. You were one of the greatest and stylish players I have ever seen. Unfortunately, we played on opposite sides. But you will not know how much we adored you as a hockey player and most importantly as s good citizen. If we had not seen you play, I do not think we would have reached half the standards we did. “
A legend by no means in the field of hockey in Sri Lanka, has dedicated a life time to the sport he so cherished. A strong believer of performance with integrity. During Sri Lanka’s historical tour between December 1959 and February 1960 to South and North India, ‘Dhayan Chand’, famously known as the ‘best ever player’, and his equally famed younger brother ‘Roop Singh’, came out of retirement to play for Jhanshi District Hockey Association. Their match against Ceylon drew over 10,000 fans. The Ceylon Captain Mylvaganam magnanimously asked Dennis to toss the coin and play center half in the match, which ended in a nil-all draw. After the match Dhayan ranked Ceylon about No. 05, in the world after India. Pakistan, East Germany and Holland, along with England and Malaysia and some continental countries.
The first book of its kind of Sri Lanka Hockey compiled provides readers with some in depth history of hockey in Sri Lanka, twisted with some hockey anecdotes to indulge in interesting reading. The book about Dennis and his adventourous journey in parallel captures periods the time the game was held in high esteem in the country and its formal administration to its current status. Sri Lanka having once enjoyed the position of third challenger in the Asian region to India and Pakistan was highly respected hockey playing nation then. Of course, the course of the game has changed with time, however India and Pakistan continue their challenging positions in the world. The game is continued to be played widely in the country.
Say’s Dennis; ” I wish to a leave a legacy for the nation on which future building blocks could be explicitly planned to bring back the glory of the game once enjoyed as a nation and slot Sri Lanka back as a challenger once more”.
Dennis has contributed his skill and talent for the benefit of the nation, a true son of Sri Lanka. The Book ‘Just call me Dennis” is a chronicle of this episode.
Zimbabwe won the toss and asked India to bat first in what was practically a must-win match for both sides. Thanks to South Africa’s win over Weszt Indies minutes before the toss, India now need to just win. Zimbabwe, though, need to win big.
Sikandar Raza, the Zimbabwe captain, said there was grass and moisture on the surface, and that he wanted his seamers to use it early. Raza didn’t even go for an X-ray on his injured hand lest it show a fracture and force him out of the big match.
Thanks to Raza’s call to field, we were to soon find out the batting position of SanjunSamson, whose inclusion brought about a huge cheer from the stands in Chennai, which will now be his home during the IPL. A Chennai boy, though, went out. Washington Sundar made way for the vice-captain Axar Patel, who had been left out for tactical reasons against South Africa.
Samson replaced a lower middle-order hitter Rinku Singh, who might or might not have his mind on other things. He made a quick visit to Delhi with his ailing father before rejoining the squad on the eve of this match. How Samson would fit in the batting was intriguing, but one thing was made clear: he was going to take the big gloves behind the wicket later in the night.
Zimbabwe made one change to go with their reading of the conditions. Legspinner Graeme Cremer went out for fast bowler Tinotenda Maposa.
India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (capt.), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah
Zimbabwe: Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza (capt.), Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Tinotenda Maposa, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava
[Cricinfo]
Aiden Markram’s 82 not out led South Africa to a nine wicket victory over West Indies that, while not confirming his side’s semi-final place just yet, underlined why many believe the Proteas could finally lift the T20 World Cup. In this meeting of the last two unbeaten sides at this tournament, South Africa were ruthless, maintaining their 100 per cent record with 23 balls to spare.
Markram’s third half-century of the tournament – his 22nd fifty-plus score in T20Is – made light work of a 177 chase. He and Quinton de Kock put on 95, their highest opening stand of the tournament, skewering whatever belief West Indies had picked up at the back end of a first innings that started disastrously.
Inserted on a tacky-looking Ahmedabad surface, West Indies were 83 for 7 in the 11th over, before a record T20I stand of 89 for the eighth wicket between Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd.
Lungi Ngidi (3 for 30) and Kagiso Rabada’s (2 for 22) were the chief architects of the early stages of that collapse, with Corbin Bosch (2 for 31) also chiming in, profiting from batters’ unrelenting pursuit of boundaries.
Shepherd’s unbeaten 52 – a maiden T20I half-century, sealed with an inside edge for four off the final ball of the innings – and a well-managed 49 from Holder was a part change of tact. But even they focused on finding the fence throughout their 57 deliveries together rather than ticking over to bat time, even if West Indies were able to use all 20 overs.
South Africa were far from perfect, dropping four catches and being a little passive in the field. But they took it to West Indies’s bowlers. All six used by Shai Hope ended up wearing economy rates in double figures, as de Kock’s 47 off 24) and then Ryan Rickleton’s unbeaten 45 off 28 dovetailed neatly as left-handed foils to Markram’s belligerent march to the finish line.
Brief scores:
South Africa 177 for 1 in 16.1 overs (Aiden Markram 82*, Quinton de Kock 47, Ryan Rickelton 45*; Roston Chase 1-46) beat West Indies 176 for 8 in 20 overs (Brandon King 21, Shai Hope 16, Sherfane Rutherford 12, Romario Shepherd 52, Jason Holder 49, Mathew Forde 11; Lungi Ngidi 3-20, Kagiso Rabada 2-22, Corbin Bosch 2-31) by nine wickets
[Cricinfo]
The 2026 T20 World Cup was one where the Associate teams shone the brightest, often pushing the Full Members to their limits. Who are the players that stood out at the World Cup? Here’s the Associate’s team of the tournament.
Yuraj Samra
Canada (144 runs at 36.00; strike rate 156.52)
The 19-year-old opener became the first Associate batter to score a T20 World Cup century against New Zealand. In his tournament-defining innings, he stepped down to Matt Henry, took apart James Neesham and dispatched Cole McConchie. But beyond the 110, he couldn’t cross 17 in the other three outings.
Shayan Jahangir
USA, wk (91 runs at 30.33; strike rate 137.87)
This wasn’t a great tournament for the Associate glovemen, so wicketkeeper Jahangir takes the other opener’s spot. Against Pakistan, with six team-mates falling for single-digit scores, Jahangir gave USA hope of a win with his 34-ball innings that fell one run short of a half-century. On the spin-friendly SSC surface, he dominated Saim Ayub, Mohammad Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed, but failed to replicate the same form in the other games.
Bas de Leede
Gerhard Erasmus
Namibia, capt (seven wickets at 11.85; economy 7.54)
The Namibia captain and allrounder did not have a productive time with the bat but he stood up with the ball, taking seven wickets. His best performance was 4 for 20, where the variations in his delivery stride helped maintain an economy of 5.00, even as India posted a strong 209. He dismissed Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel. He also took 2 for 27 against USA and 1 for 25 against Pakistan.
Shubham Ranjane
USA (141 runs at 70.50; strike rate 180.76)
Ranjane produced multiple impact knocks against big teams. Facing mobility issues against India, Ranjane launched a 22-ball 37 by counterattacking against Pandya, Varun Chakravarthy and Mohammed Siraj. Then, against Pakistan, his 30-ball 51 didn’t let Pakistan rest easy. His 24-ball 48 against Netherlands gave USA an imposing 196. His medium-pace bowling also gave USA a crucial sixth-bowling option.
Ben Manenti
Italy (138 runs at 46.00; five wickets at 20.60)
The elder Manenti brother was an X-factor in Italy’s maiden campaign. His 2 for 9 in four overs deflated Nepal’s hopes and earned Italy their maiden World Cup win. His 25 – ball 60 against England kept his opponents on their toes. His 31-ball 52 against Scotland was another standout. Add in the two-for against West Indies and Ben Manenti has the highest impact-per-match numbers according to ESPNcricinfo’s metrics.
Michael Leask
Scotland (nine wickets at 13.55; economy 7.62)
Against Italy, Leask produced an explosive five-ball unbeaten 22 in the 20th over to take Namibia past 200 in Kolkata and then returned figures of 4 for 17 with his offspin. He wasn’t a big turner of the ball, but came from around the wicket to strangle right-hand batters, dismissing Harry Brook against England, too. Leask also took all three Nepal wickets, against right-handers, in Scotland’s final World Cup game.
The right-arm seamer from USA started the World Cup with a bang. A three-wicket over in the powerplay against India sent the Wankhede stadium into silence as he eventually finished with 4 for 25. That spell left India feeling very uncomfortable at halftime. Then against Pakistan, he went 4 for 25 again, relying on his hard-length deliveries that forced attacking shots into mis-hits. A further five scalps against fellow Associates left him with 13 wickets in four games, which, at the time of writing, remains the most in this tournament.
Aryan Dutt
US and Iran hold talks seen as crucial to prevent conflict
Zimbabwe opt to bowl, include Maposa; Samson, Axar back for India
Markram, bowlers lead South Africa’s rout of West Indies
Samra, Airee headline Associates’ team of the tournament
Maharoof expects ‘some hard decisions’ after Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup exit
Matthews’ century leads West Indies to six-wicket victory
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