Daniel and Harish reflect on an incredible cricket tour…
It seemed to be tempting fate to set off on a school trip on April Fools’ Day… but this wasn’t just any school trip, this was the trip of a lifetime! It offered the chance to spend time with some good friends, the chance to explore a beautiful country and the best pre-season preparation that any cricketer could want. So, on Tuesday 1st April, a beautiful sunny spring morning, 25 excited but slightly apprehensive cricketers set off for Sri Lanka to represent the school Under 14 and Under 15 teams. As parents waved us off, some nervous, others emotional, but many delighted to get rid of an annoying son for a couple of weeks, there was a real buzz of excitement in the minibuses and the drive to Manchester Airport flew by with everyone looking forward to what lay in store. Mr Fishwick had given the team a warning about how competitive the cricket would be in a country that loved the game, but this did nothing to deter us from our focused mindset.
The first leg of our journey was to Doha, an airport which was one of the most spectacular, stunning and eye-catching airports we’ve seen in our lives with some very fancy shops and a man-made mini rainforest with a waterfall and a big glass dome over it all. However, we had little time to enjoy the beauty before our next flight left for our final destination, Colombo. After an awkward few minutes and visa complications at customs, we stepped into the Sri Lankan sunshine and were met with a wall of heat. Anybody who has been on holiday to a hot destination will know that feeling, but when we say it was hot we really mean it. Most of us had never felt anything like this before, especially with the humidity adding to the heat.
After a short journey inland, we held our first training session under the blazing sun, which was very hard, but a good way to shake off jet lag. The squad got the chance to see what it was like to play in these challenging conditions and finished the session happy but exhausted, which set the tone for the matches to come. And so Matchday 1 arrived quickly, and we stepped onto Sri Lankan soil with excitement. The heat quickly consumed us all, as we were sweating every ball. We had to adapt quickly as the pitches were slower and drier than we were used to. Both teams lost but Ollie and Louie scored half centuries, and both teams were given a taste of Sri Lankan enthusiasm for the game and how challenging the tour was going to be.
Matchday 2 followed, and each team’s chemistry grew stronger. A quick start with a 3-fer from Rory helped speed the game up in favour of the U14s. Another 3-fer from Harish helped conclude the 1st innings with a chaseable target. The batting started well before the 14s lost a few quick wickets and the game was in the balance. However, Jack and Zac came to the rescue, wrestling the momentum back and playing sensibly and maturely to secure the first win on tour. The 15s had a much harder time, bowled out for 89 by a talented team from Lumbini College, Colombo, who then knocked it off 5 down, with Isaac the pick of the bowlers, taking 2-7.
The next day, we took a five-hour bus ride to Kandy, in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. As we got closer, the scenery shifted — lowland towns gave way to rolling hills, thick greenery, and winding mountain roads. The air cooled, and we caught our first glimpses of the tropical, mountainous landscape we’d be staying in. The evening was spent in the hotel pool which had breathtaking views and was a welcome change after the long journey. On Matchday 3, we returned with renewed focus, our rhythm now more natural, every delivery sharpened by experience. There were some quick runs at the beginning for the 14s but the wickets quickly crumbled, leaving a low target. For the 15s however, Louie fired off a century in a total of 178 and then Jack bowled beautifully to take the amazing figures of 2-16 off 8 overs on a quick-scoring ground to take the side to victory by 12 runs.
Day 7 took us to the misty hills of Kandy, where we wandered through vibrant local markets right after visiting the most sacred place for Buddhists in the world, the Temple of the Tooth Relic. We were given an incredible tour around the stunning temple with its intricate details and paintings on walls full of colour before we were allowed to go around Kandy. Next, we visited a tea factory where the scent of freshly rolled leaves lingered in the air, telling stories of heritage and how they make different flavours and strengths of tea.
Matchday 4 came next, another test of skill beneath the ever-present tropical haze against yet another good opponent because of the Sri Lankan enthusiasm for the sport. The 14s set an underwhelming score but delivered a strong bowling attack. Ultimately, the Sri Lankans played well through their innings and deserved to win the game. For the 15s, Louie scored another ton – 2 in a row and was ably backed up by Matthew who scored 74 not out to knock off 260 and win the game.
Then came Matchday 5 at the breathtaking Galle International Stadium, where we played between sea and stone, the ocean crashing just beyond the boundary and the ancient Dutch Fort watching over us—a cricketing dream. The stadium was beautiful and sitting in the changing rooms- which the Aussies had been in a few months prior- was unreal. The 14s game started off quickly and the Galle Academy set a target of 160(20). We couldn’t chase it, but Edward hit our first 6 on tour. The 15s had a stronger game and clinched a victory. The streets of Galle were mesmerising and walking along the famous Galle Fort which overlooks the test ground was very scenic and spectacular.
The following day, our visit to the Foundation for Goodness relief charity which taught us of the resilience of communities and the power of compassion in dealing with the terrible tsunami in 2004, which decimated the Sri Lanka coastline. This was followed by a stop at a turtle hatchery where tiny hatchlings stirred something gentle in all of us. The day had begun with feeding giant turtles in the Indian Ocean.
On Matchday 6, we played our final game, remembering each moment, knowing our time in Sri Lanka was drawing to a close. The 14s had an unfortunate game to end the tour, facing a strong batting side and a tight bowling unit. The 15s managed another victory to end the tour. We learnt a lot of things abroad, like proper teamwork and the art of the sport while still enjoying our time there. As we boarded our flight back to Manchester, memories of sun-soaked fields, shared laughter, cultural wonders, and the spirit of the game filled our minds. This journey had been far more than a cricket tour—it was a story of connection, growth, and unforgettable discovery.
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