Big Match

In Sri Lankan cricket, a Big Match is an annual school cricket match often played between two rival schools in Sri Lanka. These schools have often competed against one another for many years, some for over a century. Big matches have become an important part of modern Sri Lankan culture, with school children and adults participating in the activity.

The oldest known example of a big match is the Royal–Thomian cricket encounter, played between S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia and Royal College, Colombo since 1879.

Most big matches are played over two days. Three Big Matches; Battle of the Blues (Colombo), Battle of the Blues (Matara) and Battle of the North; are notably played over three days.

History
Annual Big matches are played between two rival school cricket teams in Sri Lanka. The majority of big matches are held at the end of the first school term, in March for most Sri Lankan schools. Big matches compete among schools and serve as a meeting place for many old boys. Many of these encounters have been played for several years, many over 100 years old.

The Battle of the Blues (Colombo) is the oldest big match in Sri Lanka and has been played between Royal College, Colombo and S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia since 1879.

The Hill Capital Battle of the Maroons has been played between Dharmaraja College, Kandy and Kingswood College, Kandy. It is the oldest cricket match series in the central province and 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.

Continually, many other Big Matches were established in the following years.

Current
The following is a list of Big Matches which are still held annually as of 2023.

Former
The following is a list of Big Matches which are no longer held as of 2023.