After a busy half-term, the Taylors’ 1st XI Cricket team took to the skies and headed to Sri Lanka for a week-long tour. From the capital, Columbo, and across Sri Lanka, the boys faced some of the best schools in the country known for producing international cricketers.
writes Ravin A (Fifths):
17 of MTS’ senior cricketers went on a pre-season tour to Sri Lanka in what was a fantastic half term of preparation for the season ahead, but also unforgettable cultural experiences.
We played 7 closely contested matches against talented opposition across 5 matchdays, each one being a brilliant way to challenge our skills in different conditions with bat, ball and in the field. We took many positives and successes as well as learnings back to England, ready to implement them into our performance during the season. Special moments were created after the games when we gifted kit to the Sri Lankan opposition, generously provided by Player Layer and the Longstops association.
At each ground we played at, the facilities and pitches were top class, and the views of the grounds themselves were stunning. We witnessed how cricket brings the Sri Lankan community together, with people of all ages coming to train and play after our game at former test venue, the De Soysa ground. The Sri Lankan “Papare Band” that played at our shorter format games created an incredible atmosphere for us to play in, and certainly brought a smile to the players, coaches, and spectators. Another highlight for many was when we played our final matches at Galle International Stadium, a venue renowned in the cricketing world, where we found ourselves walking in the footsteps of legends and heroes.
We further dove into the country’s culture over the tour, indulging in some delicious Sri Lankan cuisine, taking a scenic train journey from Colombo to Kandy, navigating the street markets and understanding the complex process of how tea is made. We saw years of cricketing history and memorabilia while carrying out one of our “Tour Fines” sessions in the Cricket Club Café. We visited the Temple of the Tooth Relic, a very important site for Buddhists in Sri Lanka, followed by a walk around the beautiful Kandy Lake. The care and treatment for many elephants at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was an incredible sight.
On a more personal note, my family comes from Sri Lanka, and seeing relatives watch and support me at the games was truly special. Our team made so much progress in our cricket, but more importantly, we made countless, wonderful memories that will last a lifetime, and we have the coaches and the school to thank for providing us with this rare opportunity.
