A Long Name

[Line and Length]

I don't expect this thread to attract too many responses if any. I just wanted to share something I found interesting.

When it comes to names Sri Lankan cricketers often have quite long ones that must have commentators struggling at times.

I had cause to look up Akila Dananjaya recently - not an unremarkable name - and was gobsmacked when I saw his full name.

Here it is!

Mahamarakkala Kurukulasooriya Patabendige Akila Dananjaya Perera

 

[vcs]

Good cricinfo profile pic as well

 

[ataraxia]

The one in the OP is 64 chars; there's of course the famous Warnakulasuriya Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas at 57 as well.

Herath Mudiyanselage Rangana Keerthi Bandara Herath tips the scales at 51, whereas 21-test quick Uda Walawwe Mahim Bandaralage Chanaka Asanka Welegedara wields 55.

There's plenty of big ones out there.

 

[zorax]

The longest surname belongs to a first-class cricketer from Fiji

likena Lasarusa Talebulamainavaleniveivakabulaimainakulalakebalau

49 characters in that alone. Literally translated his name means "returned alive from Nankula hospital at Lakeba island in the Lau group".

https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/24046.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I._L._Bula

 

[Howe_zat]

Sri Lankans have a lot of pedigree in this area, but they’re yet to reach the level offered by the Fijians.

Ilikena Lasarusa Talebulamainavaleniveivakabulaimainakulalakebalau (born 15 November 1921) is a Fijian cricketer who played nine first-class matches for Fiji between 1947–48 and 1953–54. - Wikipedia

 

[Migara]

How about " Ilikena Lasarusa Talebulamainavaleniveivakabulaimainakulalakebalau"

https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/24046.html

 

[zorax]

lmao

beat you both to it

 

[Howe_zat]

Huh.

 

[mr_mister]

Luteru Ross Poutoa Lote Taylor

this bloke might hold the record for most names from a non-asian test nation, 5 would be hard to match I assume. I'm sure a few had 4 though, I know MacGill was SCG MacGill

 

[Line and Length]

.... and Cowdrey had the illustrious MCC initials.

 

[vcs]

The longest surname belongs to a first-class cricketer from Fiji

likena Lasarusa Talebulamainavaleniveivakabulaimainakulalakebalau

49 characters in that alone. Literally translated his name means "returned alive from Nankula hospital at Lakeba island in the Lau group".

https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/24046.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I._L._Bula

Sri Lankans have a lot of pedigree in this area, but they’re yet to reach the level offered by the Fijians.

Ilikena Lasarusa Talebulamainavaleniveivakabulaimainakulalakebalau (born 15 November 1921) is a Fijian cricketer who played nine first-class matches for Fiji between 1947–48 and 1953–54. - Wikipedia

How about " Ilikena Lasarusa Talebulamainavaleniveivakabulaimainakulalakebalau"

https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/24046.html

Thanks guys

Now tell us how it's supposed to be pronounced

 

[NotMcKenzie]

Luteru Ross Poutoa Lote Taylor

this bloke might hold the record for most names from a non-asian test nation, 5 would be hard to match I assume. I'm sure a few had 4 though, I know MacGill was SCG MacGill

Loads have four names; from memory:

P. B. H. May
S. P. D. Smith
A. P. E. Knott
P. C. R. Tufnell
M. J. K. Smith


...okay, that's five, but it's not that uncommon.

Edit:

Syed Mujtaba Hussein Kirmani
Syed Zaheer Abbas Kirmani



Not sure about number of characters, though.

 

[fredfertang]

England skipper John William Henry Tyler Douglas, dubbed 'Johnny Won't Hit Today' by our friends in the southern hemisphere

 

[Migara]

Loads have four names; from memory:

P. B. H. May
S. P. D. Smith
A. P. E. Knott
P. C. R. Tufnell
M. J. K. Smith


...okay, that's five, but it's not that uncommon.

Edit:

Syed Mujtaba Hussein Kirmani
Syed Zaheer Abbas Kirmani



Not sure about number of characters, though.

CEL Ambrose

 

[Dendarii]

Another five name player is Nicolaas Hendrik Christiaan de Jong Theunissen who played one test match for South Africa in 1889.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/47568.html

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Keemo Mandela Angus Fraser Paul.

 

[Engle]

WPUJC Vaas is the only cricketer whose initials are more than his last name - a trivia question to quiz your crowd

A.M.E Roberts
I.V.A Richards
R.G.Willis added a D for Dylan

 

[Starfighter]

Luteru Ross Poutoa Lote Taylor

this bloke might hold the record for most names from a non-asian test nation, 5 would be hard to match I assume. I'm sure a few had 4 though, I know MacGill was SCG MacGill

Sheik Faoud Ahamul Fasiel Bacchus
Henry Thomas Raphael York Thornton (is he still a thing? Is he still injured? Cricinfo actually found him fifth initial too)

 

[a massive zebra]

By the end of his life, Mr Talebulamainavaleniveivakabulaimainakulalakebalau may hold two records: Longest surname and longest lived first class cricketer. He has about 5 years to go to beat the Oceanic continental record and 7 years to go to break the world record.

 

[BoyBrumby]

England skipper John William Henry Tyler Douglas, dubbed 'Johnny Won't Hit Today' by our friends in the southern hemisphere

Doesn't he have a gold medal in boxing from the 1908 Olympics too?

Actually I may have garnered this from the profile I think you penned, now I think about it.