I don't want to be someone else

I want to be me says SL cricket's latest find, Jeffrey Vandersay:

by Heshan Perera

Jeffrey Dexter Francis Vandersay is the latest addition to the National T20 Cricket team. In T20 International debut match against Pakistan in July 2015, he managed to strangle the strike rate of the Pakistan batting line-up, giving away 25 runs off his 4 overs, without letting them score a single boundary.

Before the T20 game, this 25-year-old leg spinner made an eight-wicket haul against Pakistan in the tour opener, giving hope for Sri Lanka as the next spinner sensation.

Fascinated with cricket since he was a child, his dream was always to be part of the big league. When he was 13 years old, his brother was playing for the Wesley College Cricket team, but Jeffrey couldn't play because his father was ill and the brothers took turns looking after him.

He indulged in his passion with some softball cricket in the backyard when his brother was free. However, he had his dream come true, when his brother quit the team and Jeffrey got the opportunity to represent the Wesley College Under-14 Cricket team. He has never looked back.

He played his first school match against Ananda Shastralaya College in 2004. And next year playing for the Under-15 team, he received the award for the Best Bowler at the School Colours Night. After that he was appointed the School Vice-Captain of the Under-17 team, and at age 16 he played his maiden 1st-XI match against S. Thomas College, Mount Lavinia. He was in the 1st-XI team for four years and led the team in five matches.

After he left school he joined the Wattala Antonians Cricket Club and played in the 2nd division Under-23 league.

After playing at the Sara Tournament, he went to England to play County/ Club Cricket.

Upon completing a season there Jeffery returned to Sri Lanka and joined the Seeduwa Raddolouwa Cricket Club.

Having a successful season he took 50 wickets in 9 matches in his first class career.

He returned to England for another season and on his return, joined the Moors Cricket Club.

In 2013 Jeffery played for the NCC in the Under-23 season and went back to England for one more season. Upon his return he got the opportunity to play for the SSC in 2013 and 2014, and in his first match playing for the SSC he took 7 wickets for 77 runs. That was his career best performance.

He has been with SSC since then, taking 28 wickets in 6 matches and making a mind blowing seasonal performance which caught the attention of everyone.

It was the consistency of his performance that caught the eye of the selectors who included him for the warm up match against Pakistan. In what he considers the highlight of his career, he delivered a stellar bowling performance, taking 8 wickets in the match.

From there he was given the chance to practice with the national team and was selected as part of the T20 squad against Pakistan this year.