Quick answer
The Sinhalese Sports Club ground stands on Maitland Place in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo 7. The club dates from the colonial era, when Colombo's sports clubs were divided along community lines. The ground hosted its first Test in 1984, against New Zealand, and in 2006 saw Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara add 624 against South Africa, the highest partnership in Test cricket. It has long hosted the Royal-Thomian big match.
Key takeaways
- The SSC is on Maitland Place, Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo 7.
- The club grew out of Colombo's colonial-era sports clubs, organised by community.
- Its first Test was in 1984, against New Zealand.
- Jayawardene and Sangakkara's 624 stand against South Africa in 2006 is the Test record.
- The Royal-Thomian big match has long been played here.
A club from colonial Colombo
Colombo's sports clubs in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were organised largely along community lines, and the Sinhalese Sports Club was founded as a club for Sinhalese players. Other clubs nearby served Tamil, Burgher, Muslim and European members, which is why so many historic grounds sit close together in Cinnamon Gardens.
The SSC moved to its present ground on Maitland Place in the mid-twentieth century, and the pavilion, scoreboard and trees around the boundary give it the feel of a club ground rather than a stadium.
Today membership is no longer defined by community, but the club's name and history are a reminder of how cricket in Ceylon was once organised.
- →Location: Maitland Place, Colombo 7.
- →Founded: in the colonial era, as a Sinhalese club.
- →Neighbours: other historic club grounds in Cinnamon Gardens.
Test cricket at the SSC
The SSC hosted its first Test in 1984, against New Zealand, and has been one of Sri Lanka's main Test grounds ever since. For many years it was the venue where the national team played most often, and many players regard it as their home ground.
The pitch has historically favoured batting, producing big totals and long innings, though it can help spin later in a match. In 1992 Australia won a famous Test here after Sri Lanka had led by a large margin on first innings.
The SSC also hosts one-day internationals and domestic cricket, and it is the headquarters ground for many of the club's teams.
- →First Test: 1984, against New Zealand.
- →Pitch: traditionally good for batting.
- →A regular Test venue for four decades.
The 624 stand
In July 2006, against South Africa, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara came together at 14 for 2 and added 624 for the third wicket, the highest partnership in Test cricket and the highest for any wicket in first-class cricket. Jayawardene went on to make 374, the highest Test score by a Sri Lankan.
Both players were products of Colombo school cricket, and both later captained Sri Lanka. The stand is part of the SSC's identity, and members and staff are proud to point out where it happened.
Visitors who love cricket history should know the story before going; standing in front of the pavilion where it unfolded is a quiet thrill.
The Royal-Thomian
The Royal-Thomian, between Royal College and S. Thomas' College, is one of the oldest school cricket rivalries in the world, first played in 1879. For decades it has been held at the SSC each March, a three-day match that is as much a social event as a game.
Old boys gather in tents and stands, bands play, and the atmosphere is unlike any international match. Tickets are usually sold through the schools and old boys' associations, and some areas are reserved.
For a visitor in Colombo in March, the Royal-Thomian is one of the best ways to experience Sri Lankan cricket culture, though it can be crowded and loud.
- →First played: 1879.
- →Usually held: at the SSC in March.
- →Tickets: through the schools, so check locally.
Visiting the SSC today
The SSC sits among leafy streets in Cinnamon Gardens, close to other historic grounds and a short drive from Viharamahadevi Park and the National Museum. Outside match days, the ground can be glimpsed from the road, and entry is at the discretion of the club.
On match days, the SSC feels more intimate than the Premadasa, with good views from most stands. Shade is limited in some areas, so a hat and water are essential for a day of Test cricket.
Lankan Stays & Trails can include the SSC in a Colombo cricket day, and the companion pages cover where to sit and how it compares with the P Sara Oval.
- →Nearby: the National Museum and Viharamahadevi Park.
- →Atmosphere: intimate, club-like.
- →Bring: a hat and water.
Why the SSC matters
More than any other ground, the SSC links Sri Lanka's cricket past and present: colonial club cricket, school rivalries, the early years of Test cricket and the great batsmen of the 2000s.
Seeing it alongside the newer stadiums shows how cricket in Sri Lanka grew from a club game in Colombo to a national passion played in big stadiums across the island.
For many cricket lovers, a visit to the SSC is the closest thing Sri Lanka has to a pilgrimage, and an afternoon here is time well spent.
Frequently asked questions
When did the SSC host its first Test?
The Sinhalese Sports Club ground hosted its first Test in 1984, against New Zealand. Since then it has been one of Sri Lanka's main Test venues, and many players regard it as the national team's home ground. It also hosts one-day internationals and domestic matches.
What is the highest partnership at the SSC?
Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara added 624 for the third wicket against South Africa in July 2006, the highest partnership in Test cricket. Jayawardene went on to score 374, still the highest Test innings by a Sri Lankan batsman.
Where is the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo?
The SSC is on Maitland Place in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo 7, a leafy district close to the National Museum and Viharamahadevi Park. Several other historic club grounds are nearby. A tuk-tuk from Galle Face or Fort takes roughly 10 to 20 minutes.
What is the Royal-Thomian?
The Royal-Thomian is the annual cricket match between Royal College and S. Thomas' College, first played in 1879 and one of the oldest school rivalries in the world. It has long been held at the SSC in March, with tents, bands and huge crowds of old boys.
Can visitors go inside the SSC?
On match days, entry is by ticket. On other days, entry is at the discretion of the club, which is a private members' ground, so ask politely and accept that access may not be possible. The ground can usually be glimpsed from the surrounding roads.
Is the SSC good for batting?
The SSC has traditionally produced good batting pitches, with big totals and long innings, though spinners can come into the game later on. Conditions vary from match to match, and recent surfaces have sometimes offered more help to bowlers than in the past.
Why are there so many cricket clubs in Colombo 7?
Colombo's sports clubs grew up in the colonial era, organised largely by community, and many acquired grounds in and around Cinnamon Gardens. The SSC, the Nondescripts, the Colombo Cricket Club, Bloomfield and others are all within a short distance of one another.