Rex Foulstone first Lankan to represent Australia in over 60 category

Clifford Landers

CRICKET: Rex Foulstone, the former St. Benedict's College, Colombo and Burgher Recreation Club (BRC) cricketer became the first Sri Lankan to represent Australia in the Over-60 category since the inception of the Australia Over 60's Cricket Association in 2004/05.

Seventy one-year-old Foulstone embarked on his maiden overseas tour to New Zealand from 4th to 12th February this year to play three one-day games.

Rain-washed out the first two games in Christchurch and Wellington while the final game at Auckland, the Aussies lost by 22 runs with Foulstone scoring 23 run out during his team score of 168 for 9 in 50 overs chasing the Kiwis 190 in 50 overs.

The sturdy grandfather from Rowville in Melbourne initially toured with the Victoria Over-60's to New South Wales and Tasmania in 2005 and was impressive in his favourite sport, which he's been playing for more than six decades.

Foulstone, better known as Ricky within the cricketing fraternity began playing cricket at De La Salle College, Mutwal and had the distinction at 12 years of age representing the Under-14, Under-16 and First Eleven sides simultaneously. He joined St. Benedict's, Kotahena in 1953 and walked into the First Eleven side as an all-rounder at 18-years and went on to prove his prowess in soccer which earned him a rare full-colours in both sections of sports in his first year at College.

He was rewarded with full colours again the following year for his outstanding performances as a left-hand batsman and right-arm leg-spin bowler and brilliant soccer skills as a left-extreme. He represented BRC in the Saravanamuttu Trophy during 1958-62 and changed from spin to medium-pace bowling.

Foulstone finished third in batting averages behind the current Sri Lanka Team Manager and versatile Michael Tissera and David Heyn. He represented the Ceylon Board President's XI against Pakistan in 1960 alongside prominent players Claude Reid, Buddy Reid, Neil Chanmugam including Tissera and David Heyn.

In soccer, Rex Foulstone represented the Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) national team against Pakistan in 1960 and was a prominent player for Kotahena Rangers, Old Bens, Ceylon Football Association and Colombo Football League.

Apart from BRC, Foulstone represented the Mercantile Cricket Association in the quadrangular tourney before migrating to Australia in 1973 at 38-years with wife Dagmar and children and thereafter entered the highly competitive and popular YCWA competition held on Sundays for Kandy CC, Taprobane, Mulgrave cricket club and Rowville Rangers CC, where he was president for many years.

Rex has been a popular figure in the fray and along with one of two sons Randy (Darington deceased) had represented Kandy CC in the renowned YCW tourney for 31 years until a sudden by-pass surgery in 2004 compelled discontinuation.

Randy is also a die-hard and veteran cricketer who represented Mulgrave CC and presently playing with his son Ricky for Moorabbin Thirds in the Sub-District sides where Ricky scored his maiden century on 18th of February 2006 against Elsternwick.

Rex is currently closely monitoring the progress and motivating his 15-year-old grandson Ricky who is turning out to be an outstanding all-rounder whilst competing in the distinguished Victoria Downing Shield and qualified to play in the Grand final.

Apart from taking the field in the Over-60's category, Foulstone - as on previous occasions - will appear for the Old Bens Over-40's during their forthcoming 2006 Annual Quadrangular tournament against Old Joes, Old Peterites and Old Anthonians.

Meanwhile in soccer, Foulstone represented Sri Lanka on their tour to India and Pakistan in 1960 and was a prominent player for Kotahena Rangers, Old Bens, Ceylon Football Association and Colombo Football League.