In a country where cricket runs through the veins like curry through rice, one club has stood tall like a seasoned umpire through rain, shine, and political no-balls. Yesterday, at their hallowed turf in Borella, Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club — one of the elder statesmen of Sri Lankan cricket — officially bowled off celebrations to mark a magnificent 125 not out.

Founded way back in 1899, when Queen Victoria still ruled the roost and gentlemen played in flannels, Tamil Union has rubbed shoulders with the heavyweights of Sri Lankan cricket — SSC, NCC, CCC, Colts, and Malay CC — forming the old guard of the domestic game.

Over the years, the club has unearthed some priceless gems. None shinier than Muttiah Muralitharan, the world’s highest wicket-taker, whose doosras and off-breaks left batters groping like blindfolded men in a maze. Long before Murali, the baton was carried by Mahadevan Sathasivam, widely considered the finest Sri Lankan batsman of the pre-Test era — a man whose cover drive could melt glaciers.

The club’s fortress, the P. Sara Oval, is etched in cricketing folklore. It was here that Sri Lanka played their maiden Test in 1982 — a baby’s first steps on the world stage. Three years later, the venue saw the island nation notch their first Test win, a moment that made grown men cry into their Lion Lagers. In 2002, the Oval hosted the world’s first ever neutral Test, a rare event, when Pakistan locked horns with Australia.

And how’s this for a trivia teaser? It remains the only Asian ground to have hosted the one and only Sir Donald Bradman, during a whistle-stop tour in 1948. That’s right — the Don himself, strode onto this sacred strip. The ghosts of legends past still haunt the pavilion.

Wesley Hall steaming in like a freight train, Rohan Kanhai falling over to play those sweeps, Keith Miller with his golden arm and Colin Cowdrey wielding his willow with aristocratic grace.

Back in the day, when ocean liners were the norm and air travel a luxury, English and Australian sides would dock at the Colombo port and stretch their legs — and arms — at P. Sara. Those matches weren’t just exhibitions; they were a taste of the world game, served on Ceylonese turf.

“Tamil Union has a proud history of spotting diamonds in the rough,” said Rev. Ramesh Schaffter, the club’s President, who addressed the press. “We brought promising 18-year-olds to Colombo, giving them a platform to chase their cricketing dreams. Muttiah Muralitharan, Suranga Lakmal, Upul Chandana — they all started here, still in school uniform, dreaming of bigger stages.”

When quizzed about the possibility of the ground hosting a Test in this milestone year, Schaffter played it with a straight bat. “It’s true we haven’t hosted a Test since 2019, but post-COVID, the game changed. With bio-bubbles and logistical curveballs, matches were restricted to fewer venues. Galle became the go-to ground, riding the tourism wave in the south. And frankly, with Sri Lanka playing fewer Tests these days, the opportunities have been few and far between. We were offered a Test a couple of years ago but had to decline due to drainage issues. Thankfully, SLC came through with a generous Rs. 35 million grant to upgrade our system. We’re in a better place now.”

Dr. Rajan Saravanamuttu, Vice President of the club, lifted the lid on ambitious plans for the future — including upgrading facilities to seat 18,000 spectators. “Currently, we host only Tests and a fair bit of women’s cricket — especially after our 10-year partnership with SLC. But we’re gearing up for a second wind,” he said, eyes set on the horizon.

As part of the festivities, the club plans a grand gala dinner, the release of a coffee table book chronicling its storied past and an exhibition match that promises to bring back the golden oldies — names that still echo through the annals of local cricket.

Also in attendance at the briefing was the club’s Patron, Mr. Chandra Schaffter — a towering figure who spoke with heartfelt emotion about the club’s journey through thick and thin. “There have been challenging times,” he admitted, “but like a good batsman weathering a storm, we dug in, played with a straight bat, and never threw in the towel.”

by Rex Clementine

(Telecom Asia Sport )