It is impossible to say how many Aravinda’s there are in Sri Lanka. But this Aravinda can instantly be named about one person known to the whole world. It was none other than Arvinda de Silva, who was the leading batter of Sri Lankan cricket ever.
Aravinda de Silva, born on October 17, 1965, was educated at D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo. Even though he had been interested in cricket since childhood, he did not know that he would become a great cricketer.
Meanwhile, Anuruddha Polonnovita, a cricketer, was the most vital factor that decided Aravinda’s fate. Anuruddha Polonnovita was a talented player. Polonnovita, who has been playing cricket even before Sri Lanka got a Test mandate, is a player who has also represented the Sri Lankan national team. He is also a very talented coach.
8 years old- very short and little
Between 1970 and 1973, he had received information about Aravinda. Polonnovita acted immediately and took steps to find Aravinda to Van Silva, who had worked as a coach for the Sri Lankan national team. Accordingly, Aravinda was immediately called for training activities. Van paid particular attention to this little player who was about 08 years old.
Van silva immediately invited a bowler of the same age to test Aravinda’s batting style. Aravinda hit a huge six off the very first ball. The coach was surprised and told him to come for training from the next day. This is how Aravinda’s cricket journey began.
In this way, Aravinda joins the superstars born in the history of Ceylon cricket. Aravinda, who was a pilot in the 1996 World Cup victory, won the man of the match award in the semi-finals and finals of the World Cup, adding new records to the record books for Sri Lankan cricket. This great all-rounder, who stayed on the international cricket field between 1984 and 2003, participated in 401 Test and ODI matches and scored 15645 runs with 31 centuries and 86 fifties.
Polonnovita’s prophecy came true
Anuruddha Polonnovita said that this excellent player would definitely be able to write down the name of the cricket record book as a world-famous batsman, and it took exactly a decade and a few years for it to be shown truthfully by directing the attention of the world towards Aravinda.
Meanwhile, while training under Van Silva, Aravinda had also taken measures to measure his off-spin ability. By referring to Charles Varnakulasuriya, a talented coach, Van created the necessary background.
Charles, a legs spinner who had represented Ceylon in the pre-Test mandate era, was an expert in producing brilliant bowlers, so Van had taken steps to entrust him with the responsibility of training Aravinda.
First wicket “Vivian Richards”
In such a background, Arvinda managed to get Test and ODI mandates in 1984. It was also decided to use Aravinda as a leading bowler during Donald Smith’s tenure as a Sri Lankan coach. The 1987 World Cup was where he was mainly entrusted with bowling.
In the first match against Pakistan, he managed to end his ten overs by giving only 44 runs. Aravinda demonstrated his bowling ability for the first time in the match against the West Indies. Vivian Richards, a super batsman, scored 14 runs, as no one expected. It is Aravinda’s maiden ODI wicket. Aravinda had later said that Smith’s guidance led to his success as a bowler.
In the 1996 World Cup final, his bowling ability was on display. In that match, Arvinda brought victory closer to Sri Lanka by taking three wickets for 42 runs against the Australians. Aravinda de Silva, who was active in this way, had made a name for himself as a bowler who took 135 wickets when he retired from international cricket.
Penalty to Australia
Aravinda’s memories in cricket history are wonderful. In 1989, when the Sri Lankan team participated in a tour to Australia, a remarkable incident is also remembered here. The Sri Lankan team left for Australia to participate in two 05-day test matches, and arrangements were made to hold the first match at Brisbane. However, it was discovered that the tickets were sold only for 04 days.
The news was first brought to Arjuna and Aravinda by the late Percy Abeysekera, who was the encourager of the Sri Lankan team. Percy considered that this action could reveal that Australia was determined to finish the match in 04 days. There, Percy said to Aravinda, “You are a great batsman… You can take this match for 05 days. This is my request. Fulfill it without fail.
Aravinda and Arjuna got a lot of courage from Percy’s words. Accordingly, they encouraged the Sri Lankan team to enter the match with strong mental strength. The Australian team, who batted first in the Brisbane, scored 367. When Aravinda came to the wicket, the Sri Lankan team had scored 114 runs for four wickets and, after a while, fortunately, dropped by Merv Hughes. Aravinda, who got an advantage of that chance, hammered the Australian bowlers with 17 fours and a six, recording 167 runs in front of his name.
Sri Lanka scored 418 runs in their first innings. Even though the match was ended in a drew. The Sri Lanka, led by Arjuna and Aravinda, fulfilled Percy’s wish to play all 05 days.
Aravinda, the great born from Sri Lanka – “Epasingha”
Cricket commentator Premasara Apasinghe once said that Aravinda de Silva is the best batsman born in Sri Lanka. No batter can match Aravinda.. Apasinghe mentions.
Aravinda, who played the first Test match on August 23, 1984, joined the 93rd Test match on July 13, 2002. By then, he had accumulated 6,361 test runs, with 20 centuries to his name. Also, Aravinda, who played in the first one-day match on March 31, 1984, said goodbye to the one-day matches on March 18, 2003. At that time, he had accumulated 9284 runs in 308 ODIs with 11 centuries.
Hall of Fame honouree
Scoring 107 runs in the 1996 World Cup final is something Aravinda and Sri Lankan cricket fans will never forget. Arvinda scored 7 Test centuries in 1997 alone, held the record for the most centuries in a single year, and was a gentleman player who played for Sri Lanka.
Cricket commentary is heard on the radio before a stump falls, and Aravinda enters the field. That was the way many people in this country watched cricket matches during Aravinda’s era. This is Tony Greig’s voice. “Aravinda De Silva, The best batsman of Sri Lanka, is coming to the middle.”
Former Sri Lankan cricketer Aravinda de Silva has been honoured with the Hall of Fame by the International Cricket Council almost 20 years after he retired from cricket. However, sports fans worldwide will be happy that Aravinda de Silva will receive the highest award for a cricketer. That is because cricket is a gentlemanly game.
