Sri Lankans love cricket! There really is no argument about that. Indeed, this charming little paradise island has birthed iconic cricket stars that have gained global fame. The beautiful game of the gentlemen is dearly loved by both the poor and the rich in this island. When a game of cricket is being broadcasted, not many find the will to leave their TV sets and get on with their lives!
The British introduced this game of cricket to the country during the colonial times. It is believed that the very first game of cricket was played on Sri Lanka’s soil in the 1800’s. From humble beginnings, the game rapidly grew in the country and today, Sri Lanka is well known all over the world because of its incredible national team.
Legends in Game of Cricket in Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan cricketers are true celebrities in the country. Several leading cricket stars like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda De Silva and Romesh Kaluwitharana will be forever remembered fondly in this island.
Sri Lanka cricket team won the Cricket World Cup in 1996 as well as the ICC Champions Trophy in 2002. The team also won the ICC World Cup Twenty20 in 2014. The country is also quite proud of its women’s cricket team.
The ‘Cricket Fever’ affects the locals from a very tender age! There are school matches held every year in the months of March and April that bring together generations of old boys. Among these, the ‘Battle of the Blues’ or the ‘Royal-Thomian’ match is quite famous. This match has been played annually in the country since 1879.
There are many international cricket stadiums located in many parts of the island. The R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Asgiriya Stadium, Galle International Stadium and Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium are famous grounds in the country. As you travel in the island with Green Holiday Centre, you can visit some of these iconic grounds with great ease.
