T.B. Kehelgamuwa
Encyclopedia
Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Tikiri Banda Kehelgamuwa (born 10 December 1942, Gampola
) is a former Sri Lankan
cricketer
and Manager of the Sri Lankan cricket team
, under whose turner the Sri Lanka Test team recorded their first overseas Test victory
in 1995. He was a player from 1967 to 1974, and is considered as one of the best paceman Sri Lanka ever had. He was educated at Dharmaraja College.
Kehel was coached by D. M. Dharamatillake, Arthur Alwis and Sonny Yatawara, when he was playing for Dharmaraja. He captained the first XI team 1960-1961 and was selected the Best Bowler in the island in the `Daily News Schoolboy Cricketer` Contest. Kehelgamuwa won the much coveted Best Schoolboy Bowler award in 1961 and 1962.
While playing for his school team, he was selected to tour India with the Sri Lanka schools team in 1961. He tore apart the Indians and returned with the best figures of 8 wickets for 8 runs, where all of his victims were clean bowled(9.4-5-8-8). In 1961 he had the proud distinction of representing Sri Lanka in the Gopalan Trophy match under the captaincy of C. I. Gunasekera and later under Michael Tissera
.
.
He was a member of the Ceylon Government Services Team that toured India in 1972 to play in the Sheesh Mahal Trophy. The CGS team was beaten in the final by Rushi Mod's XI. `Kehel' captured 15 wickets in that tournament with an average of 12.3 runs per wicket.
for the first time in 1969 in a limited-over game. The MCC team was led by Colin Cowdrey
which included the fine England spinner Derek Underwood
, the great Geoff Boycott and Keith Fletcher
the former England Test captain. He was a member of the Ceylon Government Services Team that toured India in 1972 to play in the Sheesh Mahal Trophy. The CGS team was beaten in the final, but Kehel captured 15 wickets in that tournament with an average of 12.3 runs per wicket.
Major Teams he represented are Ceylon, Nomads Sports Club, Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC)
and Police Sports Club. During 1961-1974 Sara Trophy seasons, Kehelgamuwa scored more than 1,000 runs and captured more than 500 wickets. He played a large part in helping the Nomads Sports Club to annexe the much coveted Sara Trophy in 1965. During Sri Lanka's tour of Pakistan in 1972, he was the only player to be selected from a Division III side (playing for Police SC) to the national squad.
, on the New Zealand tour of 1995, during which time Sri Lanka Test team recorded their first overseas Test victory.
Kehel had the unique distinction of being a selector for 10 years and was the Chairman of the Selection Committee of Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka in the last two years of his stewardship, 1999 and 2000.
, in 1971. Their marriage resulted in three girls of beauty and brains, Sonali, Lasanda and Buddika. They eventually graduated from Universities in Kelaniya, Colombo and Texas; respectively.
Gampola
Gampola is a town located near Kandy in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Gampola was made the capital city of the island by King Buwanekabahu IV, who ruled for four years in the mid fourteenth century. The last king of Gampola was King Buwanekabahu V. He ruled the island for 29 years. A separate...
) is a former Sri Lankan
Sri Lankan cricket team
The Sri Lankan cricket team is the national cricket team of Sri Lanka. The team first played international cricket in 1926–27, and were later awarded Test status in 1981, which made Sri Lanka the eighth Test cricket playing nation...
cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
and Manager of the Sri Lankan cricket team
Sri Lankan cricket team
The Sri Lankan cricket team is the national cricket team of Sri Lanka. The team first played international cricket in 1926–27, and were later awarded Test status in 1981, which made Sri Lanka the eighth Test cricket playing nation...
, under whose turner the Sri Lanka Test team recorded their first overseas Test victory
in 1995. He was a player from 1967 to 1974, and is considered as one of the best paceman Sri Lanka ever had. He was educated at Dharmaraja College.
Early life
Tikiri Banda Kehelgamuwa was born on 10 December 1942 at Gampola. He began schooling at the Wahalgoda Central College, Gampola, where his father was the Principal. In 1955, he joined Dharmaraja College; where he first excelled as an outstanding schoolboy cricketer in the early 1960s. Though he was a star in cricket, he represented Dharmaraja at Athletics, Hockey and Soccer.Kehel was coached by D. M. Dharamatillake, Arthur Alwis and Sonny Yatawara, when he was playing for Dharmaraja. He captained the first XI team 1960-1961 and was selected the Best Bowler in the island in the `Daily News Schoolboy Cricketer` Contest. Kehelgamuwa won the much coveted Best Schoolboy Bowler award in 1961 and 1962.
While playing for his school team, he was selected to tour India with the Sri Lanka schools team in 1961. He tore apart the Indians and returned with the best figures of 8 wickets for 8 runs, where all of his victims were clean bowled(9.4-5-8-8). In 1961 he had the proud distinction of representing Sri Lanka in the Gopalan Trophy match under the captaincy of C. I. Gunasekera and later under Michael Tissera
Michael Tissera
Michael Hugh Tissera is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played three ODIs in 1975.He was educated at the prestigious S.Thomas College in Mount Lavinia where he captained the Thomian cricket team at the Royal Thomian Test series which is known as The Battle of the Blues on two occasions in 1957...
.
Police career
Kehelgamuwa joined the Ceylon Police Force in 1963, as a Sup-Inspector of Police and served till his retirement in 2002 as a Deputy Inspector General of Police. He also represented the Police Sports Club, at the Government Services Cricket Championships for several years. During his service he had been assigned as personal bodyguard of the former Governor-General, William GopallawaWilliam Gopallawa
William Gopallawa , MBE was the last Governor General of Ceylon from 1962 to 1972 and became the first President of Sri Lanka when Ceylon declared itself a republic in 1972 and changed its name to Sri Lanka...
.
He was a member of the Ceylon Government Services Team that toured India in 1972 to play in the Sheesh Mahal Trophy. The CGS team was beaten in the final by Rushi Mod's XI. `Kehel' captured 15 wickets in that tournament with an average of 12.3 runs per wicket.
Kehel the Cricketer
Paceman Kehelgamuwa had the distinction of being a member of the Sri Lanka team, that beat the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
for the first time in 1969 in a limited-over game. The MCC team was led by Colin Cowdrey
Colin Cowdrey
Michael Colin Cowdrey, Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge, CBE , better known as Colin Cowdrey, was the Captain of Oxford University, Kent County Cricket Club and the England cricket team in a career that lasted from 1950 to 1976...
which included the fine England spinner Derek Underwood
Derek Underwood
Derek Underwood MBE is an English former international cricketer, and a former President of the MCC....
, the great Geoff Boycott and Keith Fletcher
Keith Fletcher
Keith Fletcher is a former English cricketer, who played for Essex and England. He later became England's team manager. His nickname was "The Gnome of Essex", so christened by his Essex team-mate, Ray East, because Fletcher's winklepickers had begun to curl up at the toes due to wear...
the former England Test captain. He was a member of the Ceylon Government Services Team that toured India in 1972 to play in the Sheesh Mahal Trophy. The CGS team was beaten in the final, but Kehel captured 15 wickets in that tournament with an average of 12.3 runs per wicket.
Major Teams he represented are Ceylon, Nomads Sports Club, Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC)
Nondescripts Cricket Club
Nondescripts Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1888...
and Police Sports Club. During 1961-1974 Sara Trophy seasons, Kehelgamuwa scored more than 1,000 runs and captured more than 500 wickets. He played a large part in helping the Nomads Sports Club to annexe the much coveted Sara Trophy in 1965. During Sri Lanka's tour of Pakistan in 1972, he was the only player to be selected from a Division III side (playing for Police SC) to the national squad.
Cricketing Administration
He held the position of Manager of the Sri Lankan cricket teamSri Lankan cricket team
The Sri Lankan cricket team is the national cricket team of Sri Lanka. The team first played international cricket in 1926–27, and were later awarded Test status in 1981, which made Sri Lanka the eighth Test cricket playing nation...
, on the New Zealand tour of 1995, during which time Sri Lanka Test team recorded their first overseas Test victory.
Kehel had the unique distinction of being a selector for 10 years and was the Chairman of the Selection Committee of Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka in the last two years of his stewardship, 1999 and 2000.
Personal life
Serving as an officer attached to the Panadura Police at that point of time, Kehel married schoolmistress Miss.Hemamalee Wettasinghe attached to St. John's College PanaduraSt. John's College Panadura
St John’s College is a prominent school in Panadura, Sri Lanka, that was founded in 1876. The school has a proud history of more than 100 years and celebrated the 125th anniversary during the year 2000. Even though there were only few girls and boys at the beginning, the number has increased up to...
, in 1971. Their marriage resulted in three girls of beauty and brains, Sonali, Lasanda and Buddika. They eventually graduated from Universities in Kelaniya, Colombo and Texas; respectively.