Sunday Times E-Paper

My schoolboy hero; a great innings on and off the field

MICHAEL WILLIE Mithila Gunaratna

It was on March 22 and 23, 1957 that Michael Willie captained Royal versus Michael Tissera’s star studded Thomian team at the Colombo Oval for which Mahinda Wijesinghe named him for his rigorous fitness training.

As predicted by his coach Dr. Barney Gunasekera, Michael would score a century at the Royal-Thomian. The proviso was that Mike would not look at the scoreboard once he reached the nervous 90’s. He duly fulfilled his revered coach’s prophecy.

Mike opened batting scoring a chanceless 121 runs. Vice Captain Lorenz Pereira and he had a 118-run fifth wicket partnership

ducking the deadly bouncers of Dennis Ferdinands on the threshold of his century.

Neither hail nor storm – nor the pace bowling of Ferdinands, J.K.C. Goonesekere and Asoka Wickremasinghe nor the wily spin of Lareef Idroos, Michael Tissera,, Ronnie Reid and U.R.P. Goonetilleke posed any threats to Mike’s polished century until he threw caution to the winds and was bowled by Ferdinands.

Credit must also go to Lorenz Pereira’s match bag of 6 wickets and Ronnie Reid’s classy twin knocks of 65 runs for STC and the niche Royal fielding as a consequence of Mike a.k.a. Hitler’s iron training.

Mike soon after migrated to Melbourne ending as qualified Tunnel Engineer often touring the United States on work. He was concise and forthright and never uttered a bad word about anyone. Needless to say, he ate, drank, lived and loved cricket to death.

At Soma Skandakumar’s Bandarawela Day Care Centre which Mike ably supported, the kids recited prayers last Friday for his soul’s repose.

Mike’s favourite saying exemplified his 84-year innings:

“When the great Scorer comes to write against your name,

He does not write whether you won or lost but how you played the game”

May my schoolboy hero Michael Willie rest in peace – what a great cricketer-cumgentleman.

With total love and choicest blessings

LETTERS / APPRECIATIONS

en-lk

2022-12-04T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-12-04T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://sundaytimes.pressreader.com/article/283643943958554

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