CHOGM, CCC and the cricket legacy
There is no doubt that when you enter the pavilion of the Colombo Cricket Club you get that feeling that you have walked into a place where you would have felt a foreigner even on your own land, sometime way back in history. Prominent among its many striking features, the wooden floor adds to the general ambience which speaks of the club’s past European influence.
CCC president Shiran Anthony
The club, which is about to celebrate its 150th anniversary, takes pride from the hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka. The reason: the Colombo Cricket Club was formed in 1832 by the British for its expatriates to indulge in the game they so deeply valued, cricket. It was initially situated in Slave Island where the present Rifle Green is situated, before moving to Galle Face, where they were housed till 1894.
Though the club started as a cricket-playing entity, in 1863, with the introduction of other recreational sports to the club, the Gymkhana Club was set up as the core club. The President of the Gymkhana Club Shiran Anthony explained, “The Gymkhana Club consists of three separate clubs coming under one umbrella – Colombo Hockey and Football Club better known as the CH and FC, Colombo Cricket Club (CCC) and Queen’s Club – the tennis wing. The Gymkhana Club is mostly the socialising part. The Colombo Journal testifies to the birth of the CCC in September 1832. The first cricket in Sri Lanka was played between CCC and the 97th regiment of the English Army stationed in Sri Lanka.”
Anthony added that the CCC was established during the tenure of the British Governor Sir Wilmot Horton, in 1832. Significantly during his period the Colombo Academy (later to assume the name Royal College) and the National Savings Bank were also established by him.
Majestic look of CCC club house - Pix by Mangala Weerasekara
Talking about the proud cricket history of the club, its President said, “The club moved to its present location at Maitland Place in 1894. Then many matches to remember were played at this location. The British team, who first brought back the Ashes from Australia under Captain Ivo Bligh, had played a match at the CCC.”Besides that there have been so many other cricketers of repute who have played on that green including the legendary W.G. Grace.
Another fact that the Gymkhana President brought forth was that Sir Donald Bradman, the Australian cricketing legend, played his first overseas cricket match at the CCC grounds in Ceylon.
“The biggest legacy that the British left here was sport and socialising, especially among the planters. Now what we are trying do is make this a heritage stop for any British tourist. Come here and enjoy the hospitality along with the British legacy. So we feel that we are also a part of the Commonwealth. With the CHOGM, the government is doing it politically. Where socialising is concerned we fit in there. If one is talking about the Commonwealth and cricket – we cannot forget the Colombo Cricket Club. It is here where all that begun,” Anthony concluded.