‘Kalu’ feels Observer - Mobitel contest brings out the best

by Ranjan Anandappa

Former Test and ODI wicket-keeper Romesh Kaluwitharana who was an important ‘cog’ in the 1996 Sri Lanka World Cup winning team machinery along with Sanath Jayasuriya, believes that the foundation laid by a talented schoolboy cricketer during his playing days at school would be further enhanced and consolidated by the encouragement given by a contest like the Sunday Observer/Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer Of The Year.

Romesh Kaluwitharana, the present Sri Lanka ‘A’ team coach who won the Best Fielders’ prize in 1988 which Jopsephian Rohan Weerakkody was judged the Schoolboy Cricketer Of The Year.

The former St. Sebastian’s College Cricketer Kaluwitharana’s name was synonymous with Sanath Jayasuriya who devastated the bowlers and found a new formula while opening the batting at the World Cup which gave the team a tremendous advantage during the first ten or fifteen overs at the beginning of the innings.

Kaluwitharana made his Test début against Australia in 1992 at the SSC as a wicket-keeper and a middle order batsman. But at the 1996 World Cup competition, ‘Kalu’ was drafted in to the side as an opener with Sanath Jayasuriya and it was the beginning of a new era in cricket for the country.

He had a fairytale debut against Australia by scoring an unbeaten 132 after centuries scored by skipper Arjuna Ranatunga and Asanka Gurusinha. The Aussies were captained by Allan Border and had the players of the calibre of Mark Taylor, David Boon, Tom Moody, Dean Jones, Mark Waugh, Greg Mathews, Craig McDdermott and Shane Warne who played a crucial role for his team to snatch a win from the jaws of a Sri Lankan win.

The diminutive opener Kaluwitharana along with Sanatrh Jayasuriya kept the local and the foreign spectators spellbound with their outrageous batting. Kaluwitharana in particular, despite his small stature was always on the attack and did not hesitate to hook the short pitched balls and adopted the method of ‘attack as the best form of defence .

Referring to the contest, Kaluwitharana said that whoever the sponsors, they have done a great job in encouraging players.

“This contest will give some sort of hope for the emerging players and a lot to look forward to.

The contest is no doubt a memorable one which paves the way for the youngsters”. He added that the umpires who were involved in the selection process also should be commended for the part played during the selection of players. The umpires who have seen the players at close range, are the best judges to see a players potential

Kaluwitharana has played in 49 Test matches and 189 ODI’s. After making his Test debut against Australia in 1992. He played his last Test against Pakistan in Karachi in 2004.