Cricket: New dates for 142nd Battle of the Blues still undecided

The 142nd Battle of the Blues, which was set to be played on May 6, 7 and 8 at the Sooriyawewa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota, has being put off indefinitely without new dates announced. 

The reason for the postponement of the next week's scheduled big match was four players from the S. Thomas' College camp being tested positive for COVID-19, while inside the 'bio bubble' upon a PCR test carried out for the members of the squad.

The Thomian squad, consisting of 22 players and 11 officials, entered a 'bio bubble' somewhere between April 21 and 23, in a hotel near the school in Mount Lavinia with the intention of entering bio secure environment (BSE) created for the big match. 

The entire squad now has been put under quarantine for 14 days, which ends on May 10. 

The quarantine period recommended by the PHI officials for the Thomian squad, covers the three match dates, prompting the joint organising committee to put off the big match indefinitely. 

Hopes of playing the game on new dates will depend totally upon the completion of the now-active quarantine period and following another PCR test on the S. Thomas' squad. 

Meanwhile the Royal College squad too entered a similar 'bio bubble' in the hostel facility of the school, and have been in the safe zone without any positive cases for the pandemic on April 23. 

Royal continued their tournament games conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association while securing the initial 'bio bubble' for the big match. 

Last Wednesday Royal beat Mahanama College by 6 wickets in a Under-19 Schools Division I Limited Over Tier 'A' semi-final game played at the De Soyza Stadium in Moratuwa. 

On Saturday, Royal lost to St. Joseph's College by 97 runs in the final of the competition at the NCC ground. 

However, it's unclear if the Royal squad will continue to remain inside their 'bio bubble' after Saturday's game with their traditional rivals serving an extended period in addition to their own secured zone. 

The joint organising committee will reassess the progress of the squads, specifically the Thomian camp, before deciding on new dates for the big match. 

The entire process may have to be followed from the beginning according to insiders, if the big match is going ahead on new dates. 

With the purpose of conducting a secured and strict big match encounter this year, both Royal and S. Thomas' cricket teams entered into separate 'bio bubbles', prior to the official announcement of the 142nd Roy-Tho was made at the BMICH Lotus Auditorium on April 21. 

The press conference excluded team representative from both sides and had only the head prefects of both schools, who were present to deliver the D.S. Senanayake Memorial Shield. 

The teams, coaches and support staff along with umpires and match officials were to follow bio secure environment (BSE) protocols, in line with the COVID-19 health and safety guidelines under the supervision of Southern Province and Hambantota Regional health services prior to the match.