Editorial

Security

Politics

World

Letters

Sports

Obituaries

Archives

Sa'adi Thawfeeq reporting from England

LONDON, May 18 - Sri Lanka's leading run-getter in Tests and one-day internationals Aravinda de Silva may have played his last Test at Lord's and for that matter anywhere.

Speaking to the media at the end of the second day's play, De Silva when questioned whether this was his last tour to England replied: "Playing Test cricket in England or anywhere for that matter, yes".

"It was a challenge for me to come over. When I got the opportunity I thought I'll take the challenge It was a pleasant surprise when I was recalled, but I decided to take it," said De Silva.

"I played in a Test after 1 1/2 years and knowing this is probably the last time I'll play at Lord's and in England, I was quite determined not to take any risks early on in my innings, but to keep going as long as possible.

"I was looking to bat till tea or maybe half an hour after tea to try and set up a decent score. I was looking at a total of around 600. I would have been happier if we had got it. I actually worked towards that," he said.

De Silva said losing 12 kilos to get fit for the tour involved a lot of hard work.

"It was quite a bit of sacrifice which I had to make. Knowing that there was a tour of England which is my second home, I was quite determined to try and work as hard as I did in the last four months," said De Silva.

"I really enjoyed playing cricket in England because I feel the public is very interested in the game and acknowledges good cricket. I think it's a knowledgeable crowd and I thought I should salute them in my last appearance at Lord's which is for sure," he said.

During his innings of 88 on his Test recall, De Silva (36) became the first Sri Lankan to pass 6,000 runs in Test cricket. He was playing in his 90th Test match.

De Silva made his Test debut at the age of 19 against England at Lord's in 1984 and has been on all four tours Sri Lanka has made to England since. On his last tour here in 1998 he made 152 at the Oval. He also played one successful season of county cricket with Kent in 1995 winning the Man of the Match Gold Award for a superb century in the Benson and Hedges one-day final at Lord's.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager