The Dons Island connection

The story goes that 20,000 people came to watch The Invincibles play Ceylon at the P Sara Oval,popularly known as the Colombo Oval...

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The story goes that 20,000 people came to watch The Invincibles play Ceylon at the P Sara Oval,popularly known as the Colombo Oval,in 1948. Don Bradmans side was on the way to England from Australia and this was a whistlestop game a one-day match by the end of which the players boarded the ship and set sail in the late evening.

Bradman came to play in Colombo four times 1930,1934,1940 and 1948. Yet,he played only on his first visit and in his last. On the other two occasions,a cold laid him low. The first time he played,The Don was hit-wicket,a dismissal that drew amusement. Eighteen years later Bradman made 20,but there was a touch of controversy to that one-day game.

After facing a few deliveries,The Don realised that the ball was hurrying on to him faster than expected. His suspicion was proved right when he took a walk down the wicket. The Australian realised that the pitch wasnt 22 yards. The wicket was measured. It was just 20 yards.

This is Chandra Schaffters version. Schaffter was an 18-year-old when he watched this game from the stands. There was no room at the Colombo Oval. Tickets were sold out. I dont think any player has since got a reception like The Don received in 1948. I dont think anybody will draw those kinds of crowds today. Not even Sachin Tendulkar for a Test. May be people today have other priorities, Schaffter said.

Schaffter,who is the president of the Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club,which is based at the P Sara Oval,said that Bradman wasnt overtly upset once it was clear that the pitch was just 20 yards. He realised that it was a genuine mistake. He mentioned it to the umpires. They measured it and then rectified it. The game went on as usual. Why would we doctor the pitch on purpose,especially with Keith Miller in the opposition? You dont have a 20-yard pitch to face Keith Miller Schaffter added.

Last year the cricket club built a new bar. The pride of place is occupied by two photographs,one of The Don going out to bat and the other at the toss. The Oval is unique because Sri Lanka is the only country in Asia that Bradman played at. It also makes the P Sara Oval special, Schaffter said about the ground which will host the third Test between India and Sri Lanka.