Brendon Kuruppu - 201 not out - the highest for Sri Lanka

Leslie FERNANDO

CRICKET: Brendon Kuruppu represented Ananda in 1979 and went on to become the wicketkeeper of the Sri Lankan side. Kuruppu made his Test debut against New Zealand in 1984. He later went on to improve on the record for the highest runs by a Sri Lankan scoring 201 not out against the Kiwis. His innings erased the previous best which was by an Anandian Sidath Wettimuny 190 against England in 1984.

Brendon, in addition to being a top class cricketer, has turned out to be a good cricket coach. Asian Cricket Academy Executive Director in 2005, he has managed Sri Lanka cricket teams in 2004 to New Zealand, Pakistan (2004 and 2009) and will also be the manager of the Sri Lanka side for the World Cup Twenty20 in England next month.

Don Sardha Brendon Priyantha Kuruppu, born 5 January 1962 is a former Sri Lanka wicket-keeper and opening batsman. He has often been used in ODIs where he has played 54 one-day internationals from 1983 to 1990, but his Test career was not very remarkable, but for one special innings in Colombo.

His international career started with a bang at the 1983 World Cup in England where he hit two sixes and seven fours in what was to be career best 72 against Pakistan, Sri Lanka lost by 50 runs and his next three matches were disappointing as the team lost all three and he failed to pass 30. However, at Derby against England, he found form again with 62 anchoring a chase towards 182 and Sri Lanka won by 3 wickets, their only win in the tournament.

Kuruppu was in and out of the ODI team following the successful World Cup but didn't play as a regular wicketkeeper until 1986 when he got his chance in the Asian Cup tournament against Pakistan and Bangladesh which Sri Lanka won. He made a string of low scores, but, batting was difficult and he had clearly made an impression.

The next winter, he got his Test debut against New Zealand at the Colombo Cricket Club ground, where he took the place of Guy de Alwis whose continued failings with the bat had made the selectors bring in Kuruppu. In a match frequently interrupted by rain and against such accomplished bowlers as Richard Hadlee and Ewan Chatfield, Kuruppu stood tall making his maiden first-class century on the second day. But Kuruppu had set his sights on higher targets. Sidath Wettimuny held the Sri Lankan record for the highest Test individual innings when he scored 190 against England in 1984. Kuruppu, however, passed that score by 11 runs making 201 not out in 777 minutes to become the first Sri Lankan to hit a double century.

Six players have later repeated his feat.

Brendon's unbeaten 201 enabled Sri Lanka to make a formidable 397 for 9 declared. New Zealand made a handsome 406 for 5 wickets in the first innings at close of play. The match ended in a draw. Jeff Crowe made an unbeaten 120 and R. J. Hadlee was unbeaten on 151.

Apparently, New Zealand's tour of Sri Lanka ended abruptly after the completion of the first Test, following a bomb blast on the final day of the Test. The incident occurred a kilometre away from the hotel where the tourists were staying.

Kuruppu would probably have played more Tests in that series, but, the two teams agreed to cancel the rest of the tour owing to security fears. However, the double centurion cemented his place in the selector's minds and by the end of the three team World Series tournament in January 1988, he was a regular member in the ODI side. However, he failed to back that up with the bat and after a disastrous Nehru Cup in October 1989, where he scored 36 runs in five innings and Sri Lanka finished last out of the six teams, Kuruppu was dropped from the team and Hashan Tillekaratne took his place behind the stumps. Kuruppu was given one last chance as opener in 1991 when Sri Lanka travelled to England for a Test but Sri Lanka lost by 137 runs and Kuruppu only made scores of 5 and 21.

Kuruppu then went on to the administrative side and he was made interim team manager for the tours of Pakistan and New Zealand in the last months of 2004.

The 47-year-old Brendon Kuruppu, after leaving Ananda played for Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club and Burgher Recreation Club in Sara Trophy tournaments with great success.Brendon's career statistics: Tests-4 matches, scored 320 runs, batting average 53.33, top score of 201 not out, one catch. One-Day Internationals: 54 matches, scored 1,022 runs batting average of 20.03, four half centuries, top score of 72, held 30 catches and 8 stumpings.