Norton Fredrick played for the All Ceylon team before Sri Lanka had Test status, and also for Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club in Sri Lanka. Although stocky for a fast bowler, he had all the ingredients that make a good quick - a short temper and speed.

Fredrick's four-year career with Ceylon was short but he made a big impact, and earned the nickname Fiery Fred, which he shared with Fred Trueman. Although not an orthodox quick, he generated a great deal of pace; his most potent delivery was the inswinger bowled with a high-arm action with which he beat batsmen regularly and bowled them through the gate, often hitting the bails.

His most memorable match was an unofficial Test for All Ceylon against India, played in Ahmedabad in 1965, in which he ripped through the Indian top order in both innings to set up a historic four-wicket win for his country. It was the first time All Ceylon had won in India and Sri Lanka have never won a Test in India since becoming a Test-playing nation.

Fredrick took seven wickets in the match in Ahmedabad - 4 for 85 in the first innings and 3 for 24 in the second - and his victims were Dilip Sardesai (twice), India captain the Nawab of Pataudi (twice), Farokh Engineer, Abbas Ali Baig and Hanumant Singh.

He joined Bloomfield in 1959, took five wickets in his first match for them and never looked back. He played eight years of Sara Trophy Division One cricket for Bloomfield, helping them win the title in 1963-64.

He was later a Sri Lanka Cricket-appointed match-referee He died in 2011 at the age of 73.