Priya Perera - the former Josephian, University and All Ceylon
all-rounder
BY MERRIL Gunaratne
KNOWN affectionately as Priya, I first made his acquaintance in 1960
at cricket practices in the University. Competition for places in the
University team to play in the Saravanamuttu Trophy Tournament then was
fierce, given the extent to which talent was prodigious.
HIK Fernando, DH de Silva, Brendon Gooneratne, Thurairajah, late
Ranjith Doranegama, Neil Chanmugam, Buddy Reid, Carlyle Perera were only
a few of this galaxy. To fill the void left by the departing seniors in
1960, there were freshmen of almost equal repute.
Priya Perera, Nihal Gurusinghe, Mohanlal Fernando, Malsiri
Kurukulasooriya, late Anton Rambukpotha, late NJS de Mel, Seneca De
Chickera, late Thavaneetharajah are some of the names that come to mind.
Having not played any class of cricket in school days at St. Peter's
College, Colombo, I had the rare fortune of securing a regular slot in
the University team in 1960 alongside school giants of the class of
Priya Perera, the former Josephian and combined schools Captain,
Mohanlal Fernando, the Best Allrounder in schools from Ananda, and Nihal
Gurusinghe, the batting star from S. Thomas College, Mt. Lavinia.
Those were the halcyon days when the University was a dominant force
in premier cricket, displaying a penchant to defeat renowned teams of
the class of SSC, NCC.
The acme of this golden era was when the University emerged as Sara
Trophy Champions in 1963 under the astute captaincy of Carlyle Perera,
after knocking at its doors in the previous 3 years.
The university's cricketing excellence continued into the late 60s
like an unbroken thread, given the continuous talent which entered it in
that decade. Mano Ponniah, Lareef Idroos, Sivananthan, Kingsley
Fernando, Harsha Samarajeeva, Cyril Ernest, Nanda Senanayake stamped
their imprint on the championship team of 1963.
Yet later arrived Mevan Peiris, Sarath Wimalaratne and Sarath
Seneviratne to sustain the quality of excellence University then
displayed at Cricket.
Priya Perera had entered the University with a giant reputation in
the school days for his exceptionally outstanding exploits in batting,
bowling, fielding and astute captaincy.
I had the fortune of moving with him closely in the team,
particularly because he made me feel at ease in a star studded team
playing premier-cricket, given the handicap I carried of being an
"unknown" with no cricket background and laurels whatsoever to boast of.
He constantly offered tips and advice in an unobtrusive, friendly
way, a kind of guidance from which I benefited immensely. Priya was
therefore both a friend and guide to me. Priya unfortunately departed
from this world rather tragically in the early 70's in London, when so
young.
In recent times, I had seen numerous articles on past greats in the
print media. This served as a stimulus to write about this great all
rounder who occupied centre stage in the late 50s and 60s.
Priya's exploits as an All rounder at St. Joseph's, and then the
University, were legion. Scoring 66 runs of a modest total of 173, and
capturing 3 wickets in his very first outing for the University in 1960,
Priya was blooded into the national team to play against Pakistan
Eaglets by the selectors who considered him a wise investment. I also
recall him playing in the national team against the West Indies in 1961.
It would be difficult to assess in what sphere of the game, batting
or bowling, he was more talented and proficient; he was equally skilled
at both. His height and long limbs accentuated the grace and artistry he
displayed, be it in batting or bowling. He was the epitome of technical
perfection. As an off spinner, he belonged to the classical genre, a
connoisseur's delight.
He belonged to a vintage when off spinners assiduously practiced
virtues associated with this classic art: the high arm, flight,
variation, guile, and the ball that does not turn, variously described
as the floater or the arm ball.
The quality of Priya's bowling was enriched by a shrewd head, height,
long limbs and fingers. The practice of this craft is for the crafty,
for deception has necessarily to be in one's armoury to snare wickets on
featherbeds. Priya did so with monotonous frequency.
Priya's off spin magic brings to mind nostalgic memories of other
quality off spinners of his ilk; the one time Josephian SSC and Police
great Neil Weerasinghe, and Abu Fuard, Lalith Kaluperuma, and Neil
Chanmugam of all Ceylon repute. It is unfortunate that their classical
action has not been captured on celluloid for worthy emulation by
today's aspiring off spinners.
As a batsman, Priya was equally adept. I yet recall Priya walking out
to bat, a casual, nonchalant glance at the sky to condition himself to
the light, before prodding forward and back to technical perfection in
order to get his eye in; and then his strokes began to cascade, not
through brutish force, but caressingly. Priya's height and long limbs
added lustre to his grace, artistry, and dominance over bowlers.
Priya on display held centre stage not only in batting and bowling,
but in fielding as well. He was one of the most outstanding close
in-fielders of the time, particularly in the gully region.
His long fingers often wrapped around the ball even after it
seemingly had eluded and passed him, as happened when he caught out a
West Indian batsman in the fixture Ceylon played against the West Indies
in 1961.
And now to Priya the man. What impelled me to write about him is not
merely to recapture his exceptional and unique career as a cricketer,
but more to remember him for the pristine human qualities he was endowed
with.
He was modest, gentle, cultured, unassuming and helpful to those in
need, virtues of a good head and heart. I cannot forget him for easing
me into the environment of top grade cricket, his shrewd cricketing
brain then realizing that I required direction.
Those were the days unlike now, when even in a team, one stood in
solitude on stage. It is this debt of gratitude in particular that makes
me remember Priya as someone special.
The writer represented the University along with the late Priya
Perera, in the Sara Trophy Cricket Tournament in the early 60s. He also
played for Colts, NCC, Police, the State Services in the Quadrangular
tournament and for the Central Province against the MCC XI led by Ted
Dexter at Radella in 1962. |