Jack Anderson
It has been ninety odd years since the history was made; yet, it still remains as one of the most iconic performances ever by a schoolboy in the history of the nation.
1916 – 1920 was the golden era of Antonian Cricket. It is most appropriate to call it the Jack Anderson era, for he was the hero of almost every game that was played in those days. He was helped by an equally talented set of young cricketers, who were inspired by his enthusiasm to do their best for the College. Others who were associated with Anderson in this wonderful period were Victor Fernando, R. A. De Silva, V. Rosayro, R. A. D. Joseph, J. McCarres, J. Cater, R. Wright, L. V. Jayaweera and E. Angunawela.
However, for all the achievements of this era, the one that has stood the time-of-test is the individual score of 291 runs by the legendary Jack Anderson, with over 50 hits to the ropes, in a match against St. Thomas' College Mount Lavinia, played at Colombo in 1918. This remains to date the highest individual score in school cricket. Anderson’s record breaking innings lasted for about five hours on day one, at the end of which he had made an unbeaten 286, erasing the then highest individual score his own 184 v. St. Joseph’s in 1917. His 286 also surpassed the highest score in Ceylon cricket, scored by A. P. Wijetunga (263) for CGR against the PWD in 1917. Then on day two, the schoolboy cricketing genius added 5 more runs to his tally (ct. Peiris bld. Wickramasekera 291) when his school ended its innings at 431. St. Thomas’ replied with 217 and 171 for 1 in the drawn encounter.
He also scored five centuries in five successive matches and was the first to score a century at what is now the International Cricket Stadium at Asgiriya, besides also being the first to score a century against St. Thomas'.
Born on December 26, 1899, Anderson was a fearless batsman. His keen and quick judgment, his exceptional wrist work, helped him to defy any form of attack. The records he established in inter-collegiate Cricket are a monument to his superior talent. Personally, I do not think they will ever be lowered. His record score of 291 runs against St. Thomas' in 1918, is still the highest individual total in Ceylon school Cricket. Besides this, he holds the record for the highest number of centuries in one season; 157 vs. Wesley, 109 vs. St. Benedict's, 184 vs. Royal, and 111 vs. Trinity. Antonians, young and old, will always remember Anderson, so long as the game of Cricket is played.
In representative Cricket too, he maintained the same high standard. In 1920 playing for Mr. F.L. Goonewardena's team against the Magpies, he put up the highest score in the match in spite of the determined attack of W. T. Greswell, who was then the outstanding bowler in Ceylon. In 1918, playing on the Bogambara Grounds against the N. C.C., a side composed of such men as 0. A. Wright, L. E. Bertus and V. T. Dickman, he knocked up 72 runs in 20 minutes. His score included 4 sixes and 7 boundaries. Like Midas of old, who turned everything he touched into gold, so Anderson turned every game into some sort of a record. The 1920's were lean years in spite of the efforts of L. V. Jayaweera, G. Macky, Boiling, K. Kumaraswamy, Ronald Stephens, Bede Perera, Izadeen Baie and Bertie Dodanwela. Baie concluded the 1924 season with the splendid bowling analysis of 52 wickets at 8.9 runs each.
Rev. Fr. James Caspersz, the then principal of SACK who watched Anderson become a legend, once reminisced and noted in the article “My Memories 1907-1921” in The Antonian Magazine (1952-53 issue):
“The first Inter-Collegiate encounter of the season in 1918 was with St. Joseph’s College at Colombo and Jack Anderson, the captain, had his stumps shattered in the very first over (bld. L. A. Rajapakse 05). On his return to College he tendered his resignation from the captaincy. I summoned a meeting of the cricket team and called upon the members to choose a new captain to fill Anderson’s place. The vote was unanimously in favour of Anderson being re-elected. After some persuasion, convinced of the implicit confidence placed by his men on their captain, he accepted the re-election with such grace those five centuries were scored successively in the other five Inter-Collegiate encounters.”
Anderson after an illustrious career at St. Anthony’s College Katugastota, played for Bloomfield C & AC and the Customs. Despite Anderson’s fine performance for St. Anthony’s and Bloomfield, the Ceylon team that toured Bombay the year after his incredible batting display, omitted the mighty Anderson. Thereafter Anderson was a broken man playing cricket only for pleasure for the Customs.
A true Antonian legend, Jack Anderson passed away on 18th September 1960.
A bit of Jack Anderson saga:
Record individual score in Ceylon school Cricket 291 runs.
Record total for one season in inter-collegiate Cricket926 runs.
Record partnership in Ceylon school Cricket, viz., 258 runs with M.V.Fernando.
Record average in inter-collegiate Cricket 92.6 runs for one season.
1,000 runs in three months counting the best 8 matches.
Five centuries in five successive matches.
Scorer of the first century against St. Thomas' College.
Scorer of the first century on Asgiriya Grounds.
