Empire Cricket Booklet

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W. G. SCHULZE

Times have moved on for the Afrikaners who, in 1948, achieved ultimate political power in South Africa, and for South Africa itself with the coming of majority rule in 1994. Times also moved on in Ceylon with Sri Lanka achieving independence in 1948 and becoming a republic in 1972. The two proud cricketing nations have travelled a long way from that match and the Boers' long stint in their camps, when cricket was such a powerful release, as reflected in the following popular song:

Tis a glorious summer's day

And the umpire's calling play

So don't let's sit indoors in the dumps.

But let's score the runs apace

Yes, let's bat like grand old Grace

while the bail sits undisturbed

upon the stumps

An unidentified Boer cricket team in Ceylon.

Some of them are sporting sun bonnets while one is enjoying what was in all probability a cup of famous Ceylon tea.