Kaushal Silva - wicket-keeper in waiting
by Tyrell Peiris
 Twenty three year old Kaushal
Silva is one among several others who is dotting the rainbow in waiting
to make it to the Sri Lanka team. Kaushal came very close to doing so
when he made the tour squad to India recently when there were seres
exchanges between the two countries at Test and one-day level. But as it
is Kaushal, a former product of S.Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia had to
remain on the sidelines, his dream yet to be fulfilled.
But the fact that there is no doubt as to the youngster’s potential
was driven home by skipper Kumar Sangakkara himself when he went on
record that Kaushal has to keep waiting only because gloveman Prasanna
Jayawardene is around. Certainly, but for the presence of Jayawardene
who has done little wrong to be pushed up, Kaushal Silva would have worn
the Lanka cap.
And as Kaushal keeps waiting for that big day when he would realise
his dream it is worth dwelling on the youngster’s career so far. A
forceful right hand batsman and reliable wicket keeper, Kaushal has
successfully come through the youth teams having contributed to the
successes of the Lanka under-19 xi and the Lanka’s ‘A’ team. In fact one
of the high points of his career playing for the ‘A’ team was his
compelling 126 in Sri Lanka’s emphatic 81-run victory over South Africa
in Bloemfontein that enabled the side to register a series triumph. He
put on 210 runs with the Lanka ‘A’ team skipper Thilina Kandamby.
 In a short period Kaushal has built a reputation of being a calm ,
sensible and able batsman capable of batting under pressure situations;
a hallmark required in today’s highly professional lane of international
cricket. He also captained the Lanka ‘A’ xi against Pakistan in 2009 and
was also a member of the Lanka squad that toured Pakistan in the same
year.
Representing SSC at domestic level Kaushal made it the platform to
cut a niche for himself both as a safe wicket-keeper with the trait of
agility like a panther as well as a dependable batsman.
Indeed, time is on his side as Kaushal Silva remains the country’s
next gloveman to step into the Test firmament after Prasanna Jayawardene.
Born in 1986, Kaushal hails from Colombo and says that further fine
toning his game will take top priority.At a time good, athletic
wicket-keepers are hard to come by, the arrival of Jayan Kaushal Silva
is certainly a welcome thing for Sri Lanka cricket. And one hopes the
national selectors will accordingly blood the youngster in the big rungs
before his best years are gone. |
