RANIL ABEYNAIKE

A versatile Sportsman, cricket commentator and Curator:

Premasara EPASINGHE

In the field of intellect
Many a Prize we’ve won;
And upon the fields of sports
Thomians yield to none.
Be it work, or be it play,
We will do and dare.

To the COLLEGE therefore we sing, For all we have and are While turning the pages of my son – Bhagya’s Thomian cricket scrap book, I came across this poem - Eight lines in bold letters.

I was thinking to myself, how many times my good friend Ranil, who sat next to me in the Commentator’s Box here and abroad, that brilliant knowledgeable, cricket commentator par excellence RANIL GEMUNU ABEYNAIKE must have sung these lines many a times. He was moulded in the true gentlemanly Thomian tradition as depicted in the above lines.

Today – February 21, 2013, my friend, Ranil, ended his brilliant innings one year ago. I thought of penning a few lines about Ranil. I had the good fortune of being his room-mate in India. The last commentary the two of us commentated was the World Cup 2011 played in India. This was the song swan of our cricket commentary career.

The sin both of us committed in our commentary career was commentating the 2011 World Cup and ICC Event was for a popular private radio station which was the official radio station for Sri Lanka. This probably may have been the reason the SLBC banned us. The two of us never commentated in any electronic media without an invitation. On principle, we never went behind anyone to do commentaries.

Family Background

Ranil and his beloved father O.A.Abeynaike as proud Thomians made an indelible mark. They created history in cricket. Both father and son played, wore the “majestic Blue, Black and Blue cap and Blazer” for the college by the sea. (Any Thomian who plays in a Royal-Thomian is entitled to wear the Blue, Black and Blue Blazer). As die hard Thomians, two of them imparted their knowledge of cricket to young Thomians as Coaches. Ranil’s father Orville, was an excellent Teacher, Head Master, Sub Warden, coached cricket and hockey at S.Thomas’.

Another similarity was that both were left arm bowlers, of course, Ranil captained S. Thomas College in with distinction. Abeynaike’s and S. Thomas’ were inseparable. They are gentlemen of the highest order and contributed immensely to Thomian sports.

“Papa” Abeynaike had the distinction of playing in the 62nd Royal-Thomian on 20th and 21st March 1941 at the NCC Grounds. He played under R.Proctor. The big-match was drawn. As a batsman Orville Abeynaike, going at No. 08 scored 15 runs. He was caught by Macan Markar. Bowler was Royal skipper O.W. Wambeck. In this Royal-Thomian, Ranil’s father became the best bowler returning amazing figures as opening bowler partnering the great gentleman, Sri Lanka captain Vernon Prins. O.A. Abeynaike’s figures were -25.2-3-60-7.

Ranil Abeynaike played for S. Thomas from 1971 to 1973 and captained in the final year, and scored an aggregate of 56 runs, and captured 9 wickets in three matches. In memory of Ranil’s contribution to Thomian cricket the family has donated a trophy for the Trinity vs S.Thomas’ first eleven cricket match. The inaugural match was played last weekend.

For Abeynaike’s the family sport was Hockey. Father Orville, sons Ranil, Ajith and Amitha played hockey for STC Mount Lavinia and obtained college colours and they were also college prefects. Orville, Ranil and Ajith captained college Hockey teams. Ranil played club hockey for NCC, Ajith for CH&FC, Amitha for NCC. The Royal-Thomian hockey match is played for the Orville Abeynaike Memorial Trophy.

Ranil was born on February 12, 1955. As Abraham Lincoln mentioned “Behind any successful great man, there is a great lady.” It’s the great lady, wife of Orville – mother of Mohan, Ranil, Ajith and Amitha – Mrs Daphne Abeynaike who brought up the children with care and today they are productive citizens of Sri Lanka. Mohan, Ajith and Amitha are qualified Accountants. Ajith working down under in Melbourne, Australia.

After leaving school he joined the Singhalese Sports Club and played cricket for a number of years as an outstanding all-rounder. He was curator of the club and also served as the General Manager.

He had the proud distinction of playing for Ceylon in late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Then he proceeded to England and Australia and played professional cricket for more than ten years. In the meantime he followed a number of coaching courses abroad and excelled as a fine coach and also as curator.

Cricket was Ranil’s life. He studied the preparation of Turf wickets and once he returned to Sri Lanka, he became the “Curator” of the SSC. Later he served Sri Lanka Cricket as a Selector and a Member of the Interim Committee.

His Voice

Ranil had “cricket commentator” written all over him. He had a very pleasant, charming, attractive voice and deep dulcet tones and was one of the best commentators Sri Lanka produced.

I consider the Royal-Thomian commentary as the “Pinnacle of school commentaries” as some of the great leading cricketers with loads of experience commentating. It was a treat to listen to former Sri Lanka “King of Swing” Mevan Peiris, brilliant off spinner Niel Chanmugam, Michael De Zoysa, Mahinda Wijesinghe and the late Ranil Abeynaike. Out of the Royalists, my favourite and my idol was S. Skandakumar, who was outstanding. By listening to these commentators we learn the art of commentating. Their delivery and language – Excellent.

Ranil Abeynaike was one of the best international television commentators. His demise was a big loss for electronic media.

Added to his prowess as a radio and T.V. commentator he was a regular, highly respected cricket writer. He used to contribute to some of the leading English newspapers very valuable articles on cricket.

Ranil, sometimes on invitation, used to appear on T.V. panel discussions in Sinhala. He was clear, factual and like his English, the flow of his delivery in Sinhala too was excellent.

Ranil has three brothers – all Thomians – Mohan, Ajith and Amitha. His demise is an irreparable loss not only to his family, but also to the entire cricketing fraternity. His beloved wife Roshika was a tower of strength and a source of inspiration to him. The family has decided to launch a website in his memory and you may browse it – www.ranilabeynaike.com, which I am sure will be of interest - with Ranil’s cricketing achievements, family occasions and SSC functions. You may also hear his charming voice on the video clipping on the website.

I wish to conclude this article on Ranil quoting this verse :-

When the Great Scorer comes

To write against the name

He writes not that you won or lost

But, how you played the game!

Dear Ranil, we miss you. You played the game well. Your demise is badly felt by all of us. We sincerely loved you. In return, you loved all of us. You are a rare gem. Life is impermanent. As a fine humble, warm hearted, God fearing gentleman, you always played a straight bat.