One of Sri Lanka’s most versatile sportsmen Richard Heyn has passed away in the USA after a long illness, a family spokesman said.
Heyn excelled in both cricket and hockey and was an imposing right full back of the highest class.
Joining the Burgher Recreation Club as a teenager, he was an automatic choice during the 1960s when the club won many tournaments. He captained the winning team in 1967.
He represented the Mercantile Hockey Association at the Nationals from 1965 to 1967 and was a member of Ceylon’s contingent to the 1962 Asian Games.
In cricket during a pre-Test era Heyn was a brilliant all-rounder on the club scene and was one of the prized products of St. Peter’s College along with his brother David.
In hockey Heyn’s crowning glory was when he was selected to play in all three Test matches against India in 1967 and withstood the might of the marauding Indian Forwards.
