 
The most successful fast bowler in Sri Lanka’s cricket history, Chaminda Vaas announced his retirement from Test Cricket. Last week’s
third and final Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at SSC grounds was
Vaas’ farewell Test.
We would never see this celebrated fast bowler in Test Cricket. But
ofcourse there is some hope for his fans as he would be playing in one
day and Twenty20 internationals.
“I officially retired from Test Cricket after the third Test against
Pakistan, but will continue to play one-day internationals and Twenty20
matches till the 2011 World Cup,” said 35-year-old Vaas in announcing
his decision to hang up his boots from the established game.
There were tributes and greetings to Vaas when he announced that the
third Test was his farewell Test. Captain of the Sri Lanka team, Kumar
Sangakkara led the tributes, saying it would be hard for Sri Lanka to
find an equally good replacement.
“No matter who replaces ‘Vaasy’ (as he is fondly called by his team
mates) in the lineup they will take years and years to reach the
standards that he has. May be they never will.
He’s a true champion, probably the only Sri Lankan fast bowler we can
call a true legend of the game,” said Sangakkara in his lavish tribute
to the team mate.
 Warnakulasuriya Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas was born on
January 27, 1974 in Mattumagala, Wattala and showed early signs of a
champion as a school boy cricketer at St. Joseph’s College, Colombo. He
was a prodigy and was the cynosure of all eyes when he made his big
match debut for his alma mater in the Battle of the Saints encounter as
a 15-year-old youngster.
Ever since, Vaas blossomed to become the most successful fast bowler
that Sri Lanka has ever produced. Besides spin wizard Muttiah
Muralitharan, Vaas accounts for most number of wickets for Sri Lanka in
both forms of cricket - Tests and ODIs. As Sangakkara stated, Vaas’
achievements were the benchmark quick bowlers in our country will strive
for.
It was an emotional end of an exemplary career by one of Sri Lanka’s
most persevering and successful fast bowlers. In 110 Tests prior to his
farewell game, Vaas has captured 354 wickets at an attractive average of
29.40 apiece. It was after his Nelsonian Test that Vaas called it a day.
Incidentally, it was against the identical opponent that Vaas played
his first and the last Tests. He made his Test debut exactly 15 years
ago - against Pakistan in 1994. He is the only specialised Sri Lanka
bowler to score a Test century.
It was this champion bowler who anchored Sri Lanka’s first ever Test
victory on foreign soil as he outbowled New Zealand’s seamers in green
conditions at Napier in 1994-95.
As skipper Sangakkara said, it will be hard to find another Vaas,
whose contribution for Sri Lanka cricket is immensurable. Thank you
Vassy for making Sri Lanka proud in international arena. |
