Big Match

In Sri Lankan cricket, a Big Match is an annual school cricket match typically played between two rival schools in Sri Lanka. Said schools often have a long history of competition, with some rivalries lasting over a century. Big matches have become a significant part of modern Sri Lankan culture, involving both school children and alumni.

History

Annual Big matches are played between two rival school cricket teams in Sri Lanka. Most of these matches are held at the end of the first school term, typically in March. Big Matches are not only competitions between schools but also serve as gatherings for alumni, known as "Old Boys." Many of these encounters have been played for several years, many over 100 years old.

The oldest known big match is the Battle of the Blues (Colombo) cricket encounter, played between S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia and Royal College, Colombo since 1879. The Battle of the Maroons (Kandy) has been played between Dharmaraja College, Kandy, and Kingswood College, Kandy. It is the oldest cricket match series in the central province and the second oldest in Sri Lanka, having been played since 1893. The Battle of the Blues (Matara) has been played between St. Thomas' College, Matara, and St. Servatius' College Matara since 1900.

Most big matches are played over two days. However, three notable Big Matches–the Battle of the Blues (Colombo), the Battle of the Blues (Matara) and the Battle of the North–are played over three days. Also from 2025 onwards, Sri Lanka Cricket and Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association have decided that the annual Big Matches between the country's top schools, traditionally held over two days, will now be played as three days encounters. Accordingly, Battle of the Brothers (Colombo) big match between Thurstan College and Isipathana College Colombo is played as a 3-day encounter this year. So as the Battle of the Saints (Colombo) between St Josephs College and St Peters College and the Battle of the Maroons (Colombo) between Ananda College and Nalanda College, Colombo is also played as a 3-day encounter.

List of Big Matches

Current

The following is a list of Big Matches which are still held annually as of 2025.

Former

The following is a list of former Big Matches which are no longer held regularly as of 2026.

Notes

External links

• at ThePapare.com