Cricket was first introduced to the Colombo Academy with the arrival of J. Brook H. Bailey in 1838 Assistant Master to Rev. J. H. Marsh (Jnr). Cricket was promoted and organised at the Colombo Academy after the arrival in Ceylon of Ashley Walker, Cambridge Blue & Yorkshire Country Cricketer in November 1876. Sports at Royal started with the introduction of Cricket 163 years ago (1986) Ashley Walker formed the Royal College Cricket Club in 1878. The very first Cricket match played by Royal was against St. Thomas' Mutwal in July 1879 with masters taking part. The first inter-school Cricket match in Ceylon was organised by Ashley Walker when the Academy met St.Thomas' College, then situated in Mutwal. The first recorded match was initiated on 16th & 17th July