Perse cricketers bowled over by Sri Lanka tour
Blythe (Year 10) and Ferdie (Year 9) share their experiences of the Perse cricket tour to Sri Lanka.
BLYTHE
The Perse cricket tour to Sri Lanka was an unforgettable adventure, filled with amazing experiences both on and off the cricket pitch.
After a long flight, we landed in Colombo, where we were greeted warmly by our tour guides, who presented us with beautiful flower garlands and a delicious cake, which I had the honour of cutting.
One of the main highlights of the trip for me was the incredible scenery and wildlife we encountered. Visiting the elephant orphanage and seeing the elephants up close was amazing, and some of us even had the chance to feed and bathe them.
We also visited a turtle sanctuary, where we were lucky enough to release baby turtles into the ocean. Watching them race towards the waves at sunset was truly magical. Wild monkeys were everywhere, although they seemed completely unbothered by a group of cricketers from Cambridge.
We explored the stunning Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, learning about its importance to Sri Lankan culture. We also took on the climb up Sigiriya Rock, a massive ancient fortress rising out of the jungle. The heat made the climb tough and by the end my legs were shaking, but the breathtaking views from the top made it all worthwhile.
At a tea plantation, we learned about the tea-making process and tasted some of the freshest tea I have ever had. We also visited the Foundation of Goodness charity, where we saw first-hand the incredible work being done to rebuild communities after the 2004 tsunami.
Of course, cricket was at the heart of the trip. We played some fantastic matches against talented local teams, most memorably at St Joseph’s School, where we were welcomed with flowers and made new friends.
Not every game started perfectly – I was out for a golden duck in one match – but the girls’ team played brilliantly and we even won a few games. The weather was stormy at times, with torrential rain once flooding the fields and cancelling a match, but we didn’t let it dampen our spirits. Instead, we filled the time with indoor nets, games and a lot of laughter.
We were so lucky to have Nik, our incredible tour guide, who brought every day to life with his knowledge, jokes and endless enthusiasm, along with the amazing Perse staff who looked after us throughout. I feel so fortunate to have had this incredible experience and to have made memories that will stay with me forever.
FERDIE
Having arrived in Sri Lanka, the party split in half. The Senior and Middle School teams went to Dambulla where we played our first matches. St Joseph’s School’s impressive band marched us up to the pavilion which set the scene for a memorable first match day. The Senior team won on the last ball and the Middle School team had their match rained off towards the end.
We travelled to Kandy via Sigiriya Rock and had a breathtaking view from the top. Our tour guide Danny told us lots of facts about the palace which used to be at the top and the fact they used to go up by ladder! In Kandy, we went to the Temple of the Tooth, which was an awesome experience for all of us.
Our second match was against the RSA Academy, where both Perse teams won comfortably. We went to a cultural dance show in the evening where we saw some incredible dancers, fire eaters and a finale of someone walking on hot coals!
Hikkaduwa was our next stop, where the two groups came back together. On the way, we stopped at the Elephant Orphanage, where we washed the elephants, and the Turtle Sanctuary. We then had three games in two days, with good results all round.
Our final stop was Colombo. We took a boat on a river safari through the mangrove cave and got to dip our toes into the nibbling fish. We paid a visit to the Foundation of Goodness, which is a charity that was set up after the 2004 tsunami, which wiped out much of the city of Galle. We all took cricket shirts to donate to the children there. Our dinner that night was at the Cricket Club Café, where we loved seeing all the signed memorabilia.
Our final day was a match, which despite trying an alternative venue, was rained off for the Middle School team. The Senior team managed to play their final fixture however and ended their tour with another victory.
Overall, this was an unforgettable experience, creating memories which will stay with me for the rest of my life. Time with friends away from home, in amazing hotels, playing in the pool, great food, singing on the bus and wonderful staff made this trip one I would recommend to anyone thinking of doing it.