Bernard Rulach
Yet another Sri Lankan gentleman cricketer of his era, Bernard Rulach, passed away in Melbourne, Australia on Friday at age of 77, his daughter Deborah said.
She said Rulach, a household name at the time, was peacefully listening to the golden voice of Jim Reeves in song along with family members when he passed away.
Rulach was the most famous cricketer produced by St. Mary’s College in Dehiwela at a time the school was private and second to none and captained the Sri Lanka Schools X1 against the London Schoolboys in 1966.
He also toured Australia in 1964 as a member of the Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) Schoolboys team and subsequently played for Colts Cricket Club in the first class tournament.
His most famous team-mate at Colts was the legendary Roy Dias, another gentleman both on and off the field and played against heavyweights Michael Tissera and David Heyn in domestic cricket.
Rulach was known for his aggressive style of batting as a left hander and was also a cut above many while fielding.
In remembrance and as a tribute to Rulach, the present Colts cricket team wore black bands as they took on Ragama CC in the current premier league match yesterday.
To celebrate Rulach’s life a memorial service will be held at St. Anthony’s parish in Melbourne on Tuesday December at 11 a.m.
