THURSTAN CRICKET’s CROWNING SUCCESS

SUCCESS

This achievement by Thurstan Cricketers is unique. In the history of 30 years of Observer Schoolboy cricketer Contest starting from way back in 1979, two cricketers from the same school being nominated as the  Best Schoolboy and Runner up and also the same duo in reverse rolls in the all rounder category and also Umesh being runner up in the Best bowlers category and thus taking 5 individual awards in a total of 11 individual awards at stake in the all Island category. This I believe is unparallel in this contest

The Icing in the cake is that THURSTAN was declared the best SCHOOL TEAM IN THE ALL ISLAND CATEGORY

Thurstan won 8 outright victories against, St Anthony?s Katugastota, St Mary?s Kegalle, St Thomas?s Mt Lavinia, Prince of Wales Moratuwa [Runners up team in the All Island Category], Revatha MV, Zahira Maradana, Maliyadeva Kurunagala & Mahanama 

Thurstan was Coached by Dinesh Weerasinghe who has been with Thurstan for the last 4 years as the Senior coach looking after the 1^st & 2^nd XI and under 17 teams.

Taking the team to this level is no strange for Dinesh as he was able to achieve such successes when he was coaching Lumbini MV previously.

For Thurstan it was very big FIRST, having no ground for 52 years of playing 1^st XI cricket from 1953 to 2005. They had their practices in the quadrangle in the College for most of the 52 years and for few years at Nomads grounds and played most matches at the home grounds of the opponents as obtaining club grounds was difficult and expensive.

But with the development of their own grounds at Stanley Wijesundera Mawatha, which has 5 Centre turf wickets and a Centre matting and 8 practice turfs wickets and 4 practice matting wickets. The ground also has a underground sprinkler system, which is perhaps the first in a school ground, Thurstan were gradually able to build team of stature which could give a run to any of the ? bigger schools ? in the Island .

 Thurstan cricketers were given the much needed infrastructure facilities to nurture & develop their skills. Facilities per say will not ensure cricketers of stature and match winning teams, there should be commitment by the cricketers themselves, they should be disciplined and follow the guidance provided by the coach.

This year the Thurstan Cricketers delivered what the whole Thurstan fraternity was looking for so many years.

Thurstan Cricketers were ably supported by THURSTAN CRICKET, the old Boy arm of the Thurstan OBU which provided the much needed funds and they were very firm that game was much bigger than any individual and the ? spirit of cricket ? should prevail at all times and discipline was sine quo non.

It is fitting that we the past cricketer and those old Boy?s who are lovers of cricket felicitate these young Thurstanites who have brought unprecedented credit to their Alma mater.

THURSTAN CRICKET has organized the following

• Felicitation of the Cricketers at a function at SSC A/C Pavilion on Saturday August 23^rd ,2008 @ RS 1000/= per head
• Audience with HE the President Hon Mahinda Rajapaksa  in August
• Recognition at the Annual Thurstan Dance on Sep 27^th, at WATERS EDGE which has theme ? Dancing on the Turf ?. This was primary to recognized Past Cricket Captains, but a new dimension has been added with so many awards won by Thurstan Cricketers
• If we could find funds to send the team on a weeks visit to a neighboring country

 We urge those Old Boy?s who are in Sri Lanka to participate at this function at SSC and others who are abroad to contribute in any way to make the TOUR a reality. If you have forgotten your team mates, the above 2 schedules will help you?ll to remember them

For any details, please contact the Following

• Sirosha Gunatiilaka ? 0777 760337
• Daminda Cooray ? 0777 881413
• Priya Paranaviane ? 0777 278003