Scribbles Galore

This year’s Royal Thomian Cricket encounter was supposed to have been held on a low key but that was certainly not the case on Day two of the 126th Battle of the Blues! These boys and men sure know how to have a good time even in a restricted environment.

The organizers had been asked to not have the famous papare bands and to not sell alcohol. It was not even called a ‘Big match’ but simply a ‘Cricket match’, this year! With the help of sponsors money was being raised for tsunami aid as well.

In fact on the first day when I was walking to the grounds, it didn’t even feel like a big match without the famous baila and papare music playing.

But the fun was certainly not forgotten to these Royalists and Thomians and of course the many visitors who were at the match.

They were asked not to sell alcohol, instead most opted to bring their own ‘refreshments’ and on day two there was even a DJ in one of the tents, so there was music and everyone was having the time of their life. Day one was not as high-spirited. I suppose they were just getting warmed up for the two days, which lay ahead of them.

What makes the Royal Thomian Big Match so ‘Big’??? Hmmm… Yes, it is the prestige of the two schools, who have been playing this match for the past 126 years, thus making this the oldest inter-school cricket match in the world, in fact not even the world war could stop them… but there is more than just cricket here. Come to think of it, while these cricketers play, how many actually focus on the field from 9am to 6.30pm???

Yes, there is definitely more to this than just cricket…

These are three days where the schoolboys have two days off from school and can spend time waving their respective or even both school flags while the runs are being scored and the wickets are being taken. But it is more three days where the older boys and men get to drink as much as they want and be totally care free. Nothing, and I mean nothing external seems to worry them. They are there to just be themselves and be with their mates and dance, shout, cheer or jeer whichever team they support or are against and have pure fun.

In fact, one of my mates had taken it upon himself to give a ‘moral boost’, to the batsman of the rival team, walking into the grounds, and once he was out, he boosted the poor batsman’s ‘morale’ even more! He proudly did this as each batsman walked on to the grounds and walked back into the dressing room as well!

I have been to quite a few cricket matches but I doubt that any of them actually have the same spirit and enthusiasm that this match has.

Apart from the boys from the two schools, many young lasses and families are seen at these matches as well. What makes them want to come? The reasons can vary. For the families of course, if your dad is an old boy of either school then you have a free ticket to be a part of the atmosphere. But if that is not the case, you can just come and be a part of the atmosphere anyway. There are no rules here, the rules in fact as one of my friends kept reminding me while I was there, was to ‘have fun, smile, drink and dance!’

My dad is not an old boy of either school, thus the only connection I had to this match is that my friends are from one of the schools, which gave me a perfect excuse to be at the match, and of course a good chance to get off work early, (after finishing my quota for the day of course) and hop a tuk tuk to be at the grounds!

While I was there, I could not help but see what a good time my mates were having. Without a care in the world and irrespective of who was around, they danced and sang their cares away. It was so nice to see them not worry about reality for those few hours. It is amazing to see these people having so much fun and supporting their schools. It is as though they never left college in the first place. The atmosphere is really out of this world. You have got to be there at least once in your life to witness this event because there is actually none like it.

So with one more day to go, I wonder what the outcome of the match will be? Will it be a draw as usual or will there be a result? We’ll just have to wait for day three and see. But at the end of the day, the result is not what really matters it is the unity and fun and the memories that they have, as they walk away from the SSC, at the end of the match, on Saturday.