The annual Battle of the Blues is the second longest running school cricket match in the world, uninterrupted since 1879, older than even the Australia vs England "Ashes Test Series" that was inaugurated only 3 years after the historically iconic Annual Royal Thomian Cricket Encounter. 

Will this annual cricket match in Sri Lanka played between Royal College, Colombo and S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia since 1879 and affectionately known as "the Battle of the Blues" due to the colours of each school's flag, which has the tiny island in the annals of history as it is the second-longest uninterrupted cricket match series in the world, be forgotten?

Prime Ministers, a former President, Ministers and leading citizens of the land in many fields have represented both schools in the Big Match.

There have been many cricketers representing Ceylon and Sri Lanka from both schools with distinction.

2021 began with the global pandemic continuing to ravage the nations.

This year, Countries intensified its efforts to combat the deadly coronovirus which Sri Lanka too faced along with numerous other countries world-over. The government urgently imposed nation-wide lockdowns, instituted social distancing regulations, enforced crowd limits and implemented restrictions on mass events in order to keep people safe from Covid-19. 

Accordingly, safety measures were in place to let the oldest unbroken annual contest in the history of cricket play on behind closed doors, with complete consideration to the young cricketers' safety with play set to take place in a simple manner keeping in line with the COVID-19 restrictions and the health & safety guidelines mandated by the Ministry of Health with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) regulated playing conditions. 

All was set for the match to be played from 6th to 8th May, 2021 at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium Suriyaweva, Hambantota (first time ever to be played out of Colombo) behind closed doors and ThePapare.com was set to stream it LIVE with the match also being available on Dialog Television channel number 72 and the Dialog Viu app.

The limited over encounter, played for the Mustangs Trophy was to be played in the T20 format (not the traditional 50 overs) on the 10th of May, 2021.

But it didn't take place as unforeseen circumstances in these unprecedented times got in the way.

The global pandemic stalled the event being played as four players went down with the virus. The match was rightly postponed. The players thankfully recovered. 

Time passed on and the match was finally rescheduled for September until the secured dates of September 9th, 10th and 11th were again abandoned as the heads of both schools felt diffident to proceed, citing the ground situation with the delta variant raging across Sri Lanka.

The Hindu Newspaper in India asks "Cricket match in Sri Lanka that survived World Wars halted by COVID-19?"

As time runs out with well over half the year already behind us and the iconic match yet unplayed, will Royalists and Thomians and indeed all Sri Lankans see the most moving display of what has remained a historic sporting moment for over a century of our times, pass by, never to be relinquished again?

The moment the 31st of December 2021 comes to an end, if the iconic match remains forgotten by the country, it will forever lay to rest the encounter that has been an event like no other.

The record will be broken and the distinction the encounter has had for generations, will fade out forever.

History will no longer be made, each time the nervous but determined young school boys walk out to play with pride to represent Royal and S. Thomas' in the greatest moment of their College lives.

The Eton and Harrow match, was suspended during World War II.

But the Royal Thomian went on and secured with pride its unbroken history of cricket played between Royal and S. Thomas’ for well over 140 years.

That is an outstanding record by any standard.

The result of the game though a matter for friendly rivalry and discourse was never really important. The match being played every year in true Royal-Thomian camaraderie was always the greatest inspiration for both schools and indeed the country and world that now has opportunity to see the historic encounter through digital platforms. 

Both school remained committed to playing the game in unique circumstances.

A first XI team being an essential requisite with players in prime are no longer the focus.

Playing to win is no longer the focus.

Instead a safe environment for the young cricketers eager to represent their school and play a match in an uncharacteristically low-key atmosphere behind closed doors and stay true to keeping the sacred tradition alive for generations to come remains foremost in all hearts and the Joint Committee is dedicated to the task and needs to explore a way and means to execute play as promised to be explored by both heads of schools on August 13th.

The South African cricket team has already arrived in Sri Lanka and the national team has taken them on.

A Sri Lankan Athlete participating at the Tokyo Paralympic Games shattered a world record on August 30, creating history for Sri Lanka by securing a gold medal for the very first time in the Javelin throw, taking part in a Covid-19-restricted sporting environment with all safety measures in place.

The worlds oldest uninterrupted cricket encounter; the game that survived the Asian flu in 1957, the Hongkong flu in 1968, the Spanish flu in 1918, plus two World Wars. Why are we not simply getting it done and playing it?

In the words of the Royal Vice Captain "...it’s the Battle of the Blues. It has to happen"

We are now in October. Time and tide waits for no man.

Time is running out.

PLEASE DON'T BREAK THE WORLD RECORD THAT BELONGS TO OUR ISLAND.

Let's play the match.