Sara Oval pads up

Richard DWIGHT

In the height of colonial rule and in those distant pre war years, sports in Ceylon like; cricket, soccer, horse racing and yet others, did meander along on the, Colpetty Galle Face Green.

However this wasn't for long, for with time other suitable venues did spring up in respect of each sport.

The tremendous influence the British had over Ceylon (the country as it was known then) saw cricket gaining ground to be popular.

So much so, the Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club (TU) moved over to continue its cricket on the pint size cricket ground at Campbell Park.

Time does reveal that playing cricket on a postage stamp cricket ground at the park, was a preliminary step to something larger that was being envisaged.

For in those early years, when our cricket was internationally in its nascent stage fortuitously for the progress of the club (TU) and Ceylon cricket, P. Saravanamuttu affectionately referred to as Sara came along. Sara apart from being a great sportsman from S. Thomas, was a loyal stalwart of TU, to which he stood deeply committed.

A civil servant, farsighted visionary and a fine gentleman was Sara. Who by virtue of his position as head of the 'Tripod Economy' of this land and, his winsome ways, counted many influential friends.

Chief among them were the Governor Andrew Caldecott and D.S. Senanayake. And so with the encouragement from the TU, the advice from men like Flindall, Campbell and the architectural skil of Shirley De Alwis the marshy land at Wanathamulla was transformed into a beautiful playground with covered stands coming up for the first time in the history of cricket here.

Sara did not stop here, with his eyes fixed on the distant future of hosting international matches, set his mind on a up-to-date modern scoreboard.

Discordant voices stressed that it was a major undertaking, a colossal waste, but Sara the pioneer in the cause of cricket here, nailed it, when he said "Let this be the Tamil union's gift, to the cricket loving public of this country". In the 110-year history of the club, the Oval has been in existence for the past 69 years.

Many a sporting even, be it the public schools athletic meet, soccer, hockey and cricket matches of local importance were held here in those earlier years.

On the eve of such encounters, the frequent banner headlines in the dailies was "all roads lead to the Oval".

By and large internationally speaking, the Oval was the cradle of our cricket in those formative years. It was here where we crawled, found our feet to walk and, then began to run to score. Equally significant it is, that we had our baptism into test cricket here on this ground.

Many a cricket team and a galaxy of international greats, who played on this picturesque ground had nothing but praise for it. And to further enhance its regulation as an international cricket test venue, the Tamil Union did in the year 2007, embark on an extensive development programme, to effect renovations and refurbishment, that has made the TU one of splendour and exquisite beauty.

Perhaps it's for these reasons and the enormous contribution made by the TU for the furtherance of cricket in the country - that did make Sri Lanka cricket, to make TU the venue for the 2nd cricket test against Pakistan.

Probably the thinking being to keep the Sara Oval in focus, during tours like this from abroad. As the two teams Pakistan and Sri Lanka, front up to meet each other this Sunday our minds went back to the morning of the 3rd day's play in the 1st test match at Galle. Everything did point to an easy Pakistan victory, it was a foregone conclusion coming out to resume batting in quest of victory were the overnight batsmen, Mohammad Yousuf and Salaman Butt.

Having to do with expected convention and practice, both batsmen were physically and mentally geared, to make quick runs off the speed of the pace bowlers.

But this was not to be for one of the openers, unusually was a spinner in Rangana Herath. This did upset the rhythm and poise of both batsmen, who succumbed to the wily spin of Herath. Spinner Herath proved he was unplayable and had a strangle hold on the batsmen that followed, to fold up.

It does at times pay to be unconventional, Sangakkara did just that, by introducing Herath to open the bowling. It was a fantastic victory achieved against the grain and run of play. Yes indeed, the days of miracles aren't over, for we see them happen now and then.

Let's go and see the second test, to witness what strategies and ploys both captains make use of - which together with performances of the players will keep test cricket alive.