An incomparable and outstanding sporting hybrid
View(s):“Strange things happened in the world of Cricket at Oxford University in the ’30s, few stranger than that of de Saram, one of the finest bats at either Universities between the wars, given only one trial in the Park in his first two years.” So wrote the editor of not only the prestigious Wisden Almanack but also, by leading writers of that era.
The above was written with reference to a Ceylonese cricketer Frederick (“Derrick) Cecil de Saram, who eventually, continued to hit the headlines in the Cricket world, both in the UK and Ceylon.
When Derrick entered Oxford University, he was a given a rough deal as mentioned above. However, not to be outdone, de Saram played in the Minor Counties (for Hertfordshire) tournament with outstanding results, averaging 68.4! No more could the University Selectors ignore the Ceylonese batsman.
In other words, the Selectors had to pick the young Ceylonese into the Oxford side. On his first-class debut (against Gloucestershire), against a bowling which boasted of 3 bowlers with Test experience, namely Sinfield, Goddard and Parker, de Saram smashed a scintillating 176 runs, and associated in a partnership of 273 runs with Mitchell-Innes, as Oxford went on to total 397. Again the staid Wisden Almanack (1935) commented as follows: “de Saram batted brilliantly, from the moment the 1st wicket fell at 18. He took a little over an hour to complete 50, doubled his total in less time and, in 3 hours, completed 176 runs, including 20 fours and a six. Little wonder, de Saram was awarded his Cricket ‘Blue’ soon after his first game for Oxford! It was the first occasion a Ceylonese earned this honour.
Barely two weeks later, de Saram surpassed himself when playing against the touring Australians led by Bradman, in the absence of skipper Woodful. Needless to say, the undergraduates were trounced by an innings and 33 runs on a difficult pitch, which even compelled Bradman to play a “subdued innings of 37 runs”. However, de Saram plundered a valiant innings of a chanceless 128 runs in a total of 216. The next highest scorer was opening batsman Walker, with a paltry 16 runs. “de Saram gave a brilliant exhibition of straight driving, cutting and hitting to leg, and was the last to leave, on a pitch that was being exploited by world class spinners in Clarrie Grimmett and Fleetwood Smith. Despite being roughly handled by de Saram, Grimmett captured 7 wickets for 109 runs” reported the Wisden Almanack (1935).
This is not all. By the end of his debut first-class season, 21-year-old de Saram had an aggregate of 1,119 runs at an average of 50.86 runs. Not even legendary players such as Herbert Sutcliffe (44.85 in 1919), Jack Hobbs (25.8 in 1905), Denis Compton (34.62 in 1936) were able to reach the 50-mark in their first season. No wonder he was invited to join a MCC team to tour the West Indies. De Saram declined the offer as he wanted to represent the land of his birth.
Now let us hark back to his school career at Royal College Colombo and that of his background.
Frederick (Derrick’) Cecil de Saram (1912-1983) was a product steeped in a sporting background. Father Fred, uncles Douglas, E.R., Shelton all played for Ceylon. He captained Royal College at Cricket, Tennis and Rugby. In 1928, as the captain, he not only scored a magnificent century (140 runs) but led the team to a consummate victory by 8 wickets by opening the bowling and captured 6/52 in the 2nd innings of the Royal-Thomian.
As a 17-year-old, de Saram made his debut for the SSC , and in his debut, against the BRC, he made a capital 79 runs and was associated in a partnership of 178 runs with his coach L.D.S. Gunasekera. A star in the sporting world was born. His penchant to perform at his best with his mentors was apparent yet again, when partnering his father Fred, the pair bagged the National Doubles Lawn Tennis title – and he was still a schoolboy.
Proceeding to England and joining Keble College, he followed a Law Degree. The first ‘Blue’ he won was for Tennis! Later he won a half-blue for Golf as well, and, as above, he became known well in the UK world of Cricket, and followed in the tradition of Dr. C.H. Gunasekera. The latter was the first Ceylonese (1921) to represent an English county (Middlesex) who eventually, became champions. A feat no Ceylonese and/or a Sri Lankan has emulated. That is another story.
In a short biography of this nature, it is not possible to pen all of this legendary character. Suffice it to say that, de Saram captained SSC and Ceylon with consummate results, and was No.2 in Golf to a another legend, ‘Pin’ Fernando. De Saram also went on to represent Ceylon at the World Golf Championship in Colorado, USA, in the mid 1940’s.
There were some tragedies he endured when, in 1962, he was one of the accused for having plotted a coup to topple the legally elected government, and later released. Later, he was elected Secretary of the Cricket Board and was awarded the OBE for his services to the game.
Derrick was a pioneer who gave his all to anybody who cared to seek his advice in the sports he excelled in, though a controversial character. Derrick de Saram was a cricketer, golfer, tennis player, gentleman par excellence, the likes of which is rare as a four-leaf clover.