Sri Lanka Cricket Tour

On 15 July, 47 students and six staff members eagerly boarded a plane headed straight to Sri Lanka - already bursting with joy at the thought of skipping two whole days of school.

After an eleven-hour flight, we were warmly welcomed by our tour guides, who presented us with fresh floral garlands. The warm welcome didn’t end there, as we were blasted by the heat.

After enjoying the relaxing coolness of the coach, we finally arrived at our first hotel. To our amazement, another surprise awaited us: we were invited to light the oil lamp in the traditional Sri Lankan manner while enjoying a refreshing papaya juice. Afterwards, everyone went to bed, preparing for the next eight days of cricket and adventure.

Over the next two days, various fixtures against schools across Kandy began. While some left bright and early after breakfast, others explored the pool and its incredible views before heading to our games.

After two eventful days of cricket, we had a brief rest period during which we delved into one of Sri Lanka’s most successful exports: Ceylon tea at the Giragama Tea Factory. Our guides explained the various steps involved in producing such a unique drink. We walked through the tea fields, seeing the different plants used for different types of tea, including the special silver and gold tips used in the finest teas. We then explored different strengths of tea, discovered our preferences and had the chance to buy some for ourselves and our families.

Although the tea factory was a unique experience, our next destination was arguably even more breathtaking: watching the elephants being bathed, and only a few metres away from us. The Pinnawala elephant orphanage also helped us hone our bargaining skills as students negotiated with local shopkeepers over cricket shirts and beautiful cloth paintings. After the negotiations, we enjoyed a traditional Sri Lankan buffet overlooking the elephant sanctuary.

After arriving at our next hotel, we visited the Cricket Club Cafe for a less traditional dinner. Run by an Australian couple, the cafe greeted us with warmth. We enjoyed our food surrounded by pure cricket, with match highlights and memorabilia, including signed international cricket shirts and pictures of remarkable players adorning the walls.

Over the next two days, we proceeded with our next two games of cricket across Colombo. The under-15 team even played against the school of a DCGS parent: Royal College. After the game, three prefects showed us around, explaining its rich history and traditions.

Our next day began with an adventure to the Foundation of Goodness, a charity supported by hundreds of donors across the world, including the MCC, as well as celebrities such as Sir Ian Botham, Steve Waugh and Shane Warne, alongside local hero Muttiah Muralitharan. The Foundation works to improve the lives of underprivileged communities in rural Sri Lanka through education, healthcare and sustainable development. A Czech volunteer showed us around the facilities, including IT labs and classrooms, and shared the inspiring story of how the charity was founded and rebuilt after the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004.

Following this uplifting visit, we headed to the Dutch Fort in Galle, where we explored the fort and the stunning views surrounding it. We were then given free rein to explore the town and whilst some sensibly went to eat, others enjoyed tuk-tuk rides before proceeding to our final hotel.

Our final two matches were as invigorating as before, with everyone treating themselves to quality time in the pool either before or after their games. The hotels' buffets were incredible. Despite eating at each hotel five or six times during our stay, the selection never ceased to impress.

Over the six days of cricket, there was no shortage of exceptional performances, with numerous 50s and two centuries. The bowling performances were also impressive, with various players taking multiple wickets as well as one five-wicket haul. Despite the intense heat, all the players played formidably against challenging opponents.

Despite the difference in language, many students formed strong friendships with players on the Sri Lankan sides, with teams even engaging in a large soft hands match before starting the proper game. This was only possible due to the warmth and respect our opponents displayed in every game.

As if the tour wasn’t fun enough already, Mr Atkinson created a fantasy league consisting of all the players on tour. This encouraged competition, with prizes awarded to winners and highest points scorers.

After one whole day of travel across two continents, six days of pure cricket, and two days of sightseeing, our tour had finally come to an end. Although many were glad to escape the intense heat (even though there was a heat wave in England), it was clear that we would all miss the cricket, unforgettable experiences and incredible hotels.

Our heartfelt thanks go to all the teachers whose hard work and dedication made this experience possible. Their efforts have given us memories that we will look back on fondly for many years to come.

Writing: Thavindu (Year 10)

Editing: Luke (Year 13)