Richard Alles passes away

Richard (Dickie) Alles, the former Peterite cricketer passed away peacefully in Victoria, Australia on Wednesday.

Dicke as he was popularly known, played in the sixties for his school and shone as a steady opening batsman. He was also a competent wicket keeper.

He was not a flashy opener in the Gordon Greenidge or Cammie Smith mould, but was very correct always offering a straight bat and many were the good scores he made for his team. He was a stubborn batsman and would not throw away his wicket.

During his school career he played in the company of Desmond Dharmaraja, Anton Perera, Adiel Anghie, Brian Seneviratne, Randolph Layman, Tyronne Le Mercier, Richard Heyn, Didacus de Almedia, Aditha de Silva and Sam Rajah whose names come to mind.

On leaving school he sported Colts CC colours and played in many a match winning team. He had many good score during his tenure with the club.

Brian de Silva an excellent opening bat and stumper from the Bambalapitiya school in the fifties and who was a team mate of Dickie at the Colts described him thus: 'He was a steady opening batsman, more of a back foot player and more than forcing the ball, he would caress it to the open spots on the field to gather his runs.

'Above all he was an excellent team man and was a fine raconteur and he would have his team mates laughing their sides out with his rib-tickling stories, said Brian who himself was a scream at the Colts and of whom Nomis the curator of that time when de Silva was behind the stumps for SPC would relate stories that defies print. We were opponents, Dickie for SPC me for SBC and the friendship we formed while playing for our respective schools continued at the Colts and the Mercantile CA until he bid adieu and left for Australia seeking pastures new.

I met him on one of my tours to Australia while covering the Sri Lanka cricket team's tour and did we not recall those old times and reminisce.

May the turf that Richard walked so honourably lie softly on him. (E.R.)