Roy Dias - a treat to watch and a threat to opponents

by Leslie FERNANDO

CRICKET: Roy Luke Dias, former St. Peter's College, Colombo Cricket Club and Sri Lanka middle-order batsman, and the current coach of Napal National Cricket Team was one of the most elegant and stylish batsmen Sri Lanka has produced.

He was a treat to watch and threat to the opposition. Dias who retired from international cricket in 1987 has moulded Nepal cricket into a force to be reckoned in the Asian region.

Roy Dias born on October 18, 1952 in Colombo, played for St. Peter's College from 1969 and went on to captain the school in 1972. He was a member of Sri Lanka Schools team that played against Robert Goldin's Australia Schoolboy XI in 1972. After a very successful school's cricket career, he turned out for Colombo Cricket Club in first class cricket.

Roy played in Sri Lanka's inaugural Test in February 1982 against England at the P. Sara Stadium. His debut was inauspicious. Batting at number three, in the first innings he was dismissed by Bob Willis for a duck. However, in the second innings, the right-hand bat made 77. He was a joy to watch at the crease. He was one of those blessed with a wonderful sense of timing combined with a classical style. In fact some old-timers reckon that he is perhaps second only to the great Sathasivam in classical strokeplay.

Leading batsman

In the Sri Lanka team, he formed the backbone of the batting along with Duleep Mendis, Ranjan Madugalle and Sidath Wettimuny during those early days after being granted Test status. In the following tour of Pakistan, Roy Dias highlighted his class. He scored 295 runs at 49.16 including 98 in the Faisalabad Test and 109 at Lahore. He held firm while the top order crumbled around him in the face of a withering barrage of fast bowling from Imran Khan.

In Sri Lanka's first Test victory and series victory at `home' over India in 1985-86, Roy Dias' contribution was decisive. Twin fifties in the second Test helped Sri Lanka to win the match. Then with Sri Lanka on the brink of collapse in the final Test, Dias rescued Sri Lanka with a magnificent 106 which ensured a draw. He has played against all Test playing countries. His other century was against New Zealand at the SSC grounds in 1982.

At the World Reliance Cup cricket tournament played in October 1987 in Pakistan and India, Dias scored two centuries 122 against Pakistan and 102 against England. Dias was Vice-Captain to Duleep Mendis on that tour.

Roy Dias, in an interview with the international press once said that he feared bowlers like Sir Richard Hadlee, Imran Khan and the West Indies battery of fast bowlers - Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Andy Roberts and Sylvester Clark.

National coach

The 56-year-old Roy, was Sri Lanka's national team coach till the 1999 World Cup and he was also a ICC Match Referee.

His Test debut was in 1982 against England in Colombo and the last Test was against New Zealand in Colombo in 1987. The One-day International debut against New Zealand at Nottingham in 1979 and last ODI against England at Pune, India in 1987.

Roy has played in 20 Test matches and scored. 1,285 runs in 36 innings, 109 being the highest score at an average of 36.71. He made three centuries and eight fifties and held 6 catches.

In the One-day Internationals he played 58 matches and scored 1,573 in 32 innings, highest score of 122 average of 31.46, strike rate 62,94, two centuries and eleven fifties and held 16 catches.