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Talent and potential are two
different things. While the former is gifted to many the latter has to
be realised through actions. Ranasinghe Arachchige Suranga Lakmal has
combined these two elements cleverly to emerge as one of the biggest
prospects in the Sri Lankan bowling armory.
The 21-year-old right arm fast bowler is currently heading in the
right direction having made his mark for the Sri Lanka A team. He is now
a part of the Test team touring Pakistan.
 Suranga
Lakmal is an outstanding player who has the potential to become a
matchwinner with his solid action and a physique ideal for a fast
bowler, at six feet and two inches.
He had a dream of becoming a good fast bowler although he faced great
difficulties being the only son in a family of six siblings.
He could have easily ended up as a farmer while lending a helping
hand to his father in his cultivation in Kirinda. Instead, Suranga
Lakmal decided to wheel his arm for his country, becoming the first ever
national player from the Hambantota District.
Lakmal’s parents R. A. Albert and S. M. Chandralatha are now shedding
tears of joy simply for the reason that their only son has overcome the
near impossibility of becoming a member of the Sri Lanka Test squad.
Suranga Lakmal’s journey towards success is almost a fairytale
because he has made things happen from a skinny youngster going through
his daily routine of a tennis ball cricket match with his friends to
becoming a main strike bowler in the national team.
He proved this to a great extent in South Africa with the Sri Lanka A
team, knocking over some reputed players with his speed and accuracy
during the unofficial Test series last year. He was able to earn the
admiration of coach Chandika Hathurusinghe who quite appropriately
picked this youngster as one of the future prospects.
Suranga Lakmal has certainly kept that promise and his record in the
domestic scene too was quite impressive while representing Tamil Union
for the first time in the SLC Premier League and Premier limited over
tournaments.
 If
Debarawewa National School and Richmond College Galle opened the doors
to Suranga Lakmal’s cricketing career it was at Tamil Union that he
really made an impact with a lot of hard work and commitment.
He arrived in Colombo as a total outsider and within a short period
of two years changed the entire set up in becoming a genuine fast
bowler. His talents were initially spotted by his first coach Neil Kamal
when he was representing Debarawewa National School at the age of 14.
But as the school was struggling to field a first eleven side he was
forced to pack his bags and move towards Galle to represent Richmond
College. He lived up to expectations and captured over 50 wickets apiece
during his first two seasons and was also rewarded with School Colours.
This was a tremendous effort considering the fact that he had never
practised or bowled on a turf wicket. Lakmal had been a member of the
Southern Province cricket teams at all age group levels and had in the
process undergone a two year training stint under the watchful eyes
of former Sri Lanka fast bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake and Prabath
Nissanka. Lakmal said that he always had a dream of playing for the
national team but is surprised that he has made it much earlier than he
anticipated.
‘I had a dream of playing for the national team. I never thought I
will be picked so early. The cricketers face a lot of competition to get
into the team. I must thank my first coach Neil Kamal who is the man
behind my success.’
- Chris DHAMBARAGE
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