A Big Match is an integral part of Sri Lanka’s cricket culture. It is a domestic match that is played between two rival schools in Sri Lanka. As of 2024, over 30 Big Matches are played between rival schools.
The first of these big battles was the Battle of the Blues, played between Royal College and S. Thomas College. It was played in 1879 and is currently played in both Test and One Day International format. It is one of the three Big Matches that last for over three days. The other two are the Battle of the Blues (Matara) (that is played between St. Thomas College and St. Servatius’s College) and Battle of the North (played between Jaffna Central College and St. John’s College). Both these matches were first held in 1900-01.
The Hill Capital Battle of the Maroons is the second oldest battle and features teams from Kandy’s Dharmaraja College and Kingswood College. This rivalry dates back to 1893. The Lovers’ Quarrel is another big game that has been played 118 times since its inception in 1905. Other Big Matches that have been played over 100 times are the Battle of Blues (Kandy) that is played between Trinity College and St. Anthony’s College, and Battle of the Golds (Jaffna) between Jaffna College and St. Patrick’s College.
The Big Matches groom young talents at an early age. Most of these matches are held at the end of the first school term in weekends. Schools declare a holiday on these days for spectators to enjoy these matches. Furthermore, some Big Matches also allow participation of parents and family members who have a knack for cricket.
A total of 34 teams representing different schools have been a part of these matches. 13 of these teams were involved after the 21st century. Some Big Matches have also adopted the T20 format as their primary format. Big Matches have been a stepping stone for the development of several former players who went on to represent Sri Lanka in International cricket.
