When flags become rags

In Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror Neil Wijeratne gets nostalgic on the fixtures between St Josephs and St Peters, one of the traditional schools cricket rivalries in Sri Lanka.

Wijeratne waxes eloquent while recalling a time of grandeur, of charismatic school captains, blue and white flags blowing in the breeze, and a most interesting thriller in 1962.

Once upon a time, it all began near the College gate when we were about to enter the school premises. As usual there were pavement hawkers selling American comic books, toffees and lollypops; hot milk tea, pineapple and mangoes and many more things. But on this particular day, I noticed something different. There was a man selling small “Blue and White” flags. It attracted me. After all it’s our college colours and our college flag. Like many other college boys, I too wanted to own one of those flags. I begged with Marthinamma, the old maid who accompanied me to school, carrying my suitcase filled with school books in one hand and a huge lunch container on the other. Instantly she refused my request. But I was keen to possess a small, lovely “Blue and White” flag and to wave it shouting aloud “Come on Joes”. A lengthy pleading with Marthinamma, resulted in having a small “Blue and white” flag in my hand.

Do read on ....

Meanwhile, the Sunday Times carries a tale of bailas, verses and boundary-line heroes who ungrudgingly served the cause of Royal Cricket.