Brendon Kuruppu highly impressed with Observer- Mobitel cricket
show
The Sunday Observer/ Mobitel School Cricket Contest is no doubt a
stepping stone to all those aspiring cricketers who want to play for Sri
Lanka. The players who have gone on to represent the country at the
highest level know what this contest is all about. Brendon Kuruppu who
won the Best Fielders award at the show and went on to represent Sri
Lanka. He was very impressed with the show.
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Brendon Kuruppu |
Kuruppu said that the contest was a much looked forward to one as
cricketers and their parents eagerly wait for the 'big' day.
Brendon himself has a unique record, being the only Sri Lankan
cricketer to score an unbeaten double hundred on his Test debut. He did
it against New Zealand in April 1987, striking 201 n.o after opening
with Roshan Mahanama. Kuruppu carried out his bat through out the
innings and being the wicket keeper in the side also had another feat of
being in pads right through out the match.
However, the match came to an abrupt halt with a LTTE bomb explosion
in Pettah which drove the Kiwi players back to New Zealand halfway
through the match.
Sri Lanka were 397 for 9 declared with Brendon's 201 n. o and New
Zealand were 406 for 5 when play was abandoned due to the bomb
explosion.
New Zealand had Richard Hadlee top scoring for his side with an
unbeaten 151.
He also took two 4 for 102. The Crowe brothers Jeff and Martin,
Chatfield, John Bracewell were some of the other players.
After his debut double hundred, Brendon went on to play in three more
Test matches in an era where fewer Test matches were played due to the
ethnic war.
However, Brendon has represented the country in 54 ODI's including a
World Cup. His highest score in an ODI's is 74 against Pakistan.
The 52 year old aggressive opener's ability to hit the ball hard made
him an automatic choice for most of the ODI's. Kuruppu played his last
Test match at Lord's against England in 1991. |
