An Ode to the Maroons
Saga of Maroons, they called it to give its history Maroons, Silver and Gold have shed its light and brought us glory
Mightiest and the greatest who wore flannels over the years
Held the lion high up over others with all engaged gears
First Test captain, first centurion, the first fifty were all by our sons Best captain, best umpire, and the winning captain were fired from our guns
Fourth highest test score, most catches, twin fifties in debut
Most centuries at Lords are all records hard to beat if put to test
First thousand runs, first double century in school cricket, not listed in books
Commentators in our mother tounge, referees of international fame where else can you look
Hand in the highest batting partnership, over 1000 runs in both formats of the game
Most Test centurions, best fielders to announce you need not be sworn
Schoolboy cricketers, best batsmen, best bowlers and fielders and best teams
Be it senior or junior levels we were awarded amid screams
National schools, combined schools, zonal and at national and international level our lads did them best
World leaders! aren’t we proud to be placed above the rest
Matting first and then onto turf our boys performed well
Be at home, the Oval, SSC or at international venues records will tell
Above the horizon we Maroons led the others by miles
Dedication, team spirit and the will to win blended well with broad smiles
Sri Lanka Cricket, Malaysian, Bangladesh and the ICC panel our men were at the top
Aussies, British, Canadians could not do it without the Maroon cap Ananda-Nalanda over the years 90-plus down memory lane
Has hoisted our flags high up cruising like a jet plane
Maroons cricketing might remains unchallenged throughout the world More to come at higher levels with more records to be told
Legends are made and more on the moulds see them on screens that are wide
Wait and see, when and how our sons move with the tide!
Composer is a former Nalandian cricketer
Index for reference:
- Verse I:
Ananda-Nalanda cricket
- Verse II:
line 1 – Bandula, Sidath, Arjuna
line 2 – Mahela, Dharmasena, Arjuna
line 3 – Mahela, Mahela, Chandimal
line 4 – Chandimal
- Verse III:
line 1 – Nihal Amaradasa
line 2 – Epasinghe, Palith Perera, Kamal Deshapriya, Mahanama
line 3 – Mahela, Mahanama, Mahela
line 4 – Ananda-Nalanda cricketers over the years
- Verse IV:
Line 1 – Past AC/NC award winners and teams
Verse VI: Thilanga, Warnapura, Mahela, Hathurusinghe, Gurusinghe etc.