Sharm DE ALWIS

CI evolved from pedigreed sporting stock. The elders in the clan were D.B. (Snr), E.I., Victor R., and Dr C.H. The progeny were Barney (Dr D.B.), A.R., Lionel D.B., C.I. and Desmond, A.l., V.J.H., H.T., E.C., V.K. and Channa. The common thread that ran through was Royal CI's induction to cricket was in 1937 when with Pat McCarthy and Sathi Cumaraswamy played against the Thomians who had Bertie Wijesinghe. He continued to play in the teams of '38 and '39 with modest success except his 59 in the Big Match of '39.

He played with a cross section of cricketers over a period of 34 years of which 17 were in International forays. Let Bertie Wijesinha give you the canvas: "As he began his trek to the wicket there would be heard an excited hum of anticipated pleasure among the watching crowd.

On the other hand there would be seen some activity among the fielders as they moved, even without apparent direction, as if by pre-arranged strategy as they did in the days of Jessop and Chapman and Douglas de Saram." for CI was the original blaster who set stadia on fire.

Keith Miller said "Gunasekera's square cut had the ball whipping past gully so fast that the fieldsman barely had time to move."

If the flamboyance and controlled arrogance of F.C. de Saram was the precursor of Kumar Sangakkara's excellence, CI was to Sanath and as Bertie says, "He has been a force fashioned by nature." Miller said on his final departure from England that the three best sights were the Cliffs of Dover, Compton's leg glance and Princess Margaret and not necessarily in that order. Our best sights would be the Aukana Budhdha, the rock fortress of Sigiriya and CI in full flow.

If Sathasivam's was artistry of the magic wand, CI's was mayhem of the wiry six footer who often studded his innings with more fours and sixes.

He has belted Len Coldwell, Titmus and Illingworth out of the firing line and in one over of Lindsay Kline's he plundered 28 runs and the foreign commentator said of Kline's last delivery, "Kline has Gunasekera in two minds - whether to hit for a 4 or 6."

CI played in an era when cricket was spacious; now it is a cult. There were no special effects in coaching and the game flourished on inherent ability which was typified by "tipsy, twinkle-toed" Sathasivam.

His double century partnership with Keith Miller was the jewelled crown in his career although there were several cameos before and after.

It was executed for the Commonwealth Team against Nigel Howard's MCC team at the Oval. F.C. led and other Internationals in the team were Vinoo Mankad, Neil Harvey and Fazal Mahmud.

Another knock that etched itself in deathless memory was the 212 in the Gopalan Trophy of 1959 in Madras.

There was no recourse to head or body gear in CI's days and there were no restrictions on bouncers. Bumpers were despatched over the mid wicket boundary in the best manner of Everton Weekes.

The 1st Test against Pakistan in 1949 was played on a wet wicket and Ceylon tumbled to an innings defeat with CI recording a modest success but Bertie Wijesinha a heroic 5 for 105 and a cameo knock of 29 runs.

In the second Test CI with 120 and FC with 118 steadied a floundering innings to recover dignity.

He was nearly late for the toss when he captained Ceylon against Ted Dexter's MCC in 1961/62 because a stalled train had blocked his path and he had to walk to the Oval, win the toss and be able to go back and fetch his car.

Decorum on and off the field were unwritten codes of honour. Bertie Wijesinha illustrates the point: Old SSC were playing New SSC. CI bowled and FC threw himself the wrong way and flung out a desperate left hand in which the ball magically stuck. FC lay prone, overwhelmed by his feat. Sargo Jayawickrema walked up to order, "Get up Saram, there you are, fielding as you did in your school days, making an easy catch look difficult."

Apart from his exceptional skills in batting he was a worthy bowler who specialised in fastish leg spin and googlies.

Ceylon then was rich in this department with other leg spinners of the first drawer being Gamini Goonasena, Lucien de Zoysa, Michael Tissera, T.Shanmuganathan, ML Idroos, Neville Ponniah, Raja de Silva, Vere de Silva, Elmo Rodrigopulle, Sarath Vithanage, DS de Silva, 'Kunju' Balendra, Roshan Gunaratne and Sanjeeva Jayasinghe.

In Galle against the West Indies in 1949 CI scored 72 and FC scored 94 in the Colombo match. Lucien opened the innings in the first game and was number 10 in the second for Worrell to ponder loud, "Mighty strong team, Ceylon. Opening bat first game, number 10 in second." Having faced the might of the Caribbean cavaliers who amassed 462 for 2, Ceylon sc- ampered home with a dignified display by Mahes Rodrigo and CI 114 for the 5th wicket. CI was one of the most versatile sportsmen to have graced the turf.

He was a Public Schools Record holder in Athletics, won the Lawn Tennis Doubles in 1940, partnering his brother, Dallas and with a handicap of 12 beat the National champ, 'Pin' Fernando at Golf. CI would have been a roaring asset to English League Cricket wherein Laddie Outs- choorn, Clive Inman, Stanley Jayasinghe and Gamini Goonasena kept aloft Ceylon's pride and glory as sportsmen of rare value.