Three top spinners in town

Elmo Rodrigopulle

On holiday from Los Angeles to take in the 2011 World Cup cricket action are three former famous spin bowlers of the late 1950s and 1960s Dr.Cyril Ernest, Dr. Lareef Idroos and Engineer Sarath Vidanage.

Ernest was an off spinner in the Jim Laker class and Idroos and Vidanage were the Warnes of that era. Ernest was a Benedictine, Idroos a Thomian and Vidanage a Royalist. Cyril and the writer were team mates in the Benedictine teams of 1959 and 1960.

They were top class all rounders.

In addition to their bowling prowess, they were also punishing batsmen and excellent fielders. Cricketers of their calibre don’t come now.

To go back to 1958 and Idroos and the writer were vying for the Best Bowler’s prize.

We both bowled leg spin/googly and had a harvest of wickets that season. Ultimately Idroos proved the better bowler and won the prize.

That was the era when there was a surfeit of leg spinners. To name them Michael Tissera and Lareef Idroos of S.Thomas’, Sarath Vidanage Royal- Raja de Silva St. Joseph’s, Vere de Silva St. Sebastian’s and the writer St.Benedict’s.

One-day

Cyril and Lareef played for the country, then known as Ceylon.

If my memory serves me right Idroos toured India with the 1964 Ceylon team where Ceylon led by Michael Tissera won its first unofficial Test against India.

Ernest played for Adastrians and in 1969 played for Ceylon against England which team was also captained by Tissera. England was captained by Colin Cowdrey.

That one-day game was played at the P.Sara Stadium and it was Ceylon’s first ever big win in the one-day format. Ernest captured the vital wickets of Colin Cowdrey and Basil D’Oliveira.

That England team had John Edrich, Tom Graveney and Robin Hobbs whose names come to mind.

Ernest was also picked to play for Ceylon against Pakistan. But that tour failed to materialize. He also played in the then famous Gopalan Trophy against Madras. Ernest who is now leading Cardiologist in Los Angeles was an automatic choice in the American team and played for them in the ICC Associate Members World Cup tournament.

Chairman

He later became the Chairman of the USA Selection Committee and also managed the team on several tours.

Ernest was instrumental in inviting the Sri Lanka team after they emerged World Cup champions in 1996 to play in the USA.