Ranjan Madugalle - a glorious 50

Commodore Shemal FERNANDO, RSP, USP, MSc

Ranjan Madugalle notched up perhaps the most glorifying 50 of his renowned cricketing career on April 22, when he sailed past 50 fruitful years of life. Ranjan is surely one of the greatest products of Royal College and I would like to reminisce his unique feats as a schoolboy and touch on some of the highlights of this exceptional achievements in numerous facets of the glorious game.

I first met Ranjan in the hallowed portals of the great educational institution in the '70s.

I still remembers the maiden conversation and it was on receiving an award a few years earlier from his much admired father, Lionel Madugalle, the then Permanent Secretary to the Sports Ministry who was the Chief Guest at the 'Colours Nite' of St. Mary's College, Negombo where I had my early education.

At Royal, Ranjan was a strict disciplinarian as the Head Prefect. In 1979, he was undoubtedly the most popular schoolboy in Sri Lanka, having captained Royal College cricket team as well as Under-19 Sri Lanka cricket team in both 1978 and 1979 and having crowned 'The Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year' in successive years. To me, he was the perfect role model of an all-round schoolboy.

Ranjan has epitomized the Royal College motto, Disce aut Discede' (learn to depart) in true spirit by taking sensible decisions all along his decorative sporting career. I consider him a sincere friend with gentlemanly qualities who could sail with confidence in calm waters as well as in rough seas alike with a smile.

The Schoolboy Cricketer

Ranjan was born on April 22, 1959 in Kandy and had his early education at Trinity College. His love for cricket began when he was just five years. He captained Trinity Under-12 team and played for Under-14 team as a 11-year-old before he crossed over to Royal with his father's transfer to Colombo. He played for Royal first XI team in 1974/75 season as a 15-year-old.

In 1978, he was one of the finest schoolboy cricketers in schools and captained Royal at the Big Match - the 99th 'Battle of the Blues'.

He scored 52 and 36 not out, snapped up four beautiful catches and aptly displayed his class in ground fielding as well. He followed it up with an entertaining 68 not out in the one day match and was awarded both the Man of the Match and Best Batsman trophies.

Thrilled the spectators

Many are the scores that thrilled the spectators when he was playing for Royal. In 1979 which incidentally was his last season as a schoolboy, he made three centuries and eight 50s - 157 vs St. Peter's, 120 vs Zahira, 102 not out vs Isipatana, 90 vs Ananda, 85 vs St. Joseph's, 71 vs St. Sebastians, 68 vs Thurstan, 57 vs Dharmaraja, 52 vs Prince of Wales, 52 vs Wesley and 51 not out vs St. Anthony's - what a marvellous performance!

In 1979, the sporting extravaganza in Sri Lanka was the 100th 'Battle of the Blues' - the Royal Thomian Centenary match and he was bestowed the honour of captaining the college. The match was played from March 8 to 10 at SSC grounds and I still remember his fine knock of 58. With class written all over him, glory followed him. He was picked as the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year, Best Batsman and Best Captain in the year.

He blossomed out from Royal College and really made his presence felt in school arena. His leadership qualities were even recognized by the Sri Lanka cricket selectors who picked him as Captain of the Under-19 team for three Tests against the Australian Under-19. He played two successive years against Pakistan Under-19 in the Ali Bhutto Trophy matches and played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka's victory with a rich haul of 8 for 34 in 1975.

The first innings

Ranjan's First Innings as a talented, right handed dashing batsman and a talented right arm off break bowler was at a time when Sri Lanka as a country was more in search of acceptance and respectability in cricket than victory.

Surely, our rich school cricket scene has gifted many talented schoolboy cricketers to the national team. He represented Sri Lanka in international cricket in the 1979 ICC Trophy final against Canada.

His professional cricket career accounted for 21 Test matches and 63 ODIs, 81 First Class and 83 List A matches spanning from 1978/79 to 1989/90. He was a member of the inaugural Sri Lanka Test team that played against England in 1982, and top scored in the first innings with 65 and continued as a vital part of the Sri Lankan Test and ODI team, only missing one international game between 1979 and 1984.

Ranjan's maiden Test century came in a home match - the first match of the Three Test series against India in 1985. His patient knock of 103 that took nearly seven hours ensured a drawn match. In the next match, he made 54 from number three to build a solid platform for the next batsmen and eventually Sri Lanka recorded a comfortable 149-run victory. Sri Lanka went on to draw the third Test and won their first Test series.

In 1988, he was appointed captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team and toured Australia and England. He captained his last 13 ODI matches as well and his last match as captain guided Sri Lanka to a comfortable five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the 1988 Asia Cup.

The Second Innings

His 'Second Innings', in a suit and tie with the rule book commenced in 1993. He progressed through the International Cricket Council ranks steadily and became the first person to hold the position of the Chief Match Referee in 2001 and continues to hold the position. He has officiated in many more international matches than he has played.

Ranjan is one of the most experienced and highly respected officials in the game and has etched the name of Sri Lanka prominently in the international sports world. He has taken charge of 110 Tests and 235 ODIs. He is also the first Match Referee to reach the milestone of 200 ODIs.

Once ICC President Percy Sonn complimented him in these words; "Ranjan has always been a great ambassador for cricket, both in the way that he played the game and now as our Chief Referee. There can be no doubt that he is one of the most respected figures within the game. I would like to thank him for all his hard work and excellent judgement he has demonstrated since becoming a referee in 1994 and I hope he stays with us for many more years to come."