Roy Cooray was a fine cricketer

Dilwin Mendis, Moratuwa Sports Correspondent

Roy Cooray who had his entire education at Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa commenced his cricket career at the tender age of ten years and was selected to the under twelve team and went onto captain the under 12, 14 and 16 teams and in 1959 he was chosen to the first eleven cricket team as an all-rounder under Suranjith Mendis. He was a fine left handed batsman and an off spinner and a sound close in fielder.

In his first year Cambrians beat their arch rivals Sebastanites and in 1960 he was the vice captain to W.G. Fernando and in 1961 he was appointed as the captain.

In 1960 Cambrians fielded a very strong side under W.G. And the other members were Sri Lanka schools cricketer and opener Sunil de Silva, Hyasti Aponso, S.N. Rajapakse, S. Kasturirathne, Lister Perera and Ryle de Mel. This year Roy as a middle order batsman and when comes to his chance the front order batsmen have made good contributions and he remained unbeaten in several occasions. In the Dharmarajah match there was a collapse and Roy came to the resume and scored a masterly knock of 102 runs.

During his captaincy he batted at number three spot and had good scores through out the season and captured many wickets from his off spin. His best innings was against St. Thomas, Mt. Lavinia and he was unluckily run out at 99 and this classic innings will be long remembered. Former Sri Lanka cricketer D.S. De Silva played under him and Roy could not lead his alma-mater in the big match with Sebs which was played at Cambrian grounds on 12th and 13th March 1961 and he was overage by one day as his birthday falls on March 11th.

When he was at school he represented Catamarans Sports Club and played few matches and later shifted to Sinhalese Sports Club and represented them in inter-club matches. His bright cricket career was cut short due to his employment in the planting sector and he was posted to Ambawela and later to Passara. There he represented in division three for Badulla Sports Club and took up to tennis.

Apart from his cricket at school he was a Junior Cadet Sergeant and Lance Sergeant to Senaka Silva in the Senior Cadet Platoon in 1961 which won the all island Commandants Cup. I too happened to be a member of that contingent. He was a member of the college table tennis in all age groups and participated in athletics and volleyball at the inter-house competitions. In the early eighties he got a sound break for employment in America and migrated with his family and is now domiciled over there.