Mario Villavarayan

Mario Suresh Villavarayan also spelt as Mario Villavarayen[1] (Tamil: மரியோ வில்லவராயன்; born 22 August 1973 in Colombo, Sri Lanka) is a former Sri Lankan cricketer of Tamil origin. He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm fast-medium bowler. He played 116 first-class and 58 List A matches for various teams in Sri Lanka. He represented Sri Lanka at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, where cricket was included in the Commonwealth Games for the first time. He also worked as fitness trainer of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh men's national cricket teams for six years each.[2][3] He also held the dual role as fast bowling coach and fitness trainer coach of defunct LPL team Jaffna Stallions. He is also renowned for raising his concerns over the need of national fitness policy in Sri Lanka.[4]

Mario Villavarayan
Personal information
Full name
Mario Suresh Villavarayan
Born (1973-08-22) 22 August 1973
Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
NicknameSuper Mario
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm fast-medium
RoleBowler
Career statistics
Competition FC LA
Matches 116 58
Runs scored 1580 199
Batting average 14.90 10.47
100s/50s 0/2 0/0
Top score 61 34*
Balls bowled 17603 2493
Wickets 378 71
Bowling average 22.38 24.35
5 wickets in innings 17 0
10 wickets in match 1 n/a
Best bowling 9/15 4/19
Catches/stumpings 59/0 8/0
Source: Cricinfo, 13 August 2021

Career

He made his Sri Lanka 'A' side debut in 1994. During the 1996-97 domestic season, he took 9 for 15 in an innings in a first-class match for Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club against Police Sports Club.[5]

Despite being a regular member of Sri Lanka A during his playing career, he received his maiden national call-up for the England tour of Sri Lanka in 1998. However, he didn't receive the opportunity to play in any of the international matches except for the tour matches.[6] Although he never played Test cricket or One Day International for Sri Lanka, he was selected to the Sri Lankan squad for the cricket tournament at the 1998 Commonwealth Games where Sri Lanka finished fourth in the competition.[7][8]

He retired from cricket after the end of 2004-05 domestic season and his last List A match appearance came on 14 December 2004 when playing for Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club against Galle Cricket Club.[9] He moved to Australia in order to pursue his coaching career. He then went onto play and coach Preston CC in Melbourne for two years. He also qualified as an Australian Level II coach and obtained bachelor's degree in Exercise Science.[1] He also pursued a three-year degree in Sports Science in Australia.[4]

He was roped in as the Strength and Conditioning coach by Sri Lanka Cricket in 2008 when he returned to Sri Lanka from Melbourne in that year. He served as the strength and conditioning coach of Sri Lankan team for six years until 2014 and also handled the Sri Lanka A and Development squads. In 2014, he was appointed as the strength and conditioning coach of Bangladesh cricket team replacing David Dwyer.[10][11][12] Following the end of 2019 Cricket World Cup, his contract was extended by the Bangladesh Cricket Board for further two years.[13]

However, in February 2020, he handed his resignation to BCB in order to join Sunrisers Hyderabad for the 2020 Indian Premier League.[14][15] He was subsequently replaced by Nick Lee as the trainer of Bangladesh team.[16] He was appointed as the fitness trainer of Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2020 for a three-year deal.[17] He was also appointed as the fast bowling coach as well as fitness trainer for Jaffna Stallions in 2020 ahead of the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League which commenced in 2020.[18][19]

References
  1. "Villavarayen: From a little known David to a Goliath among giants". Sunday Observer. 28 November 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  2. "Fathoming the Bangladesh cricket crusade". The Sunday Times Sri Lanka. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  3. Reporter, Sports (20 August 2019). "Satisfied but not happy: Mario". The Daily Star. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  4. "One size does not fit all". Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  5. "Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club v Police Sports Club 1996-97". CricketArchive. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  6. Thunderdog (20 September 2013). "The Tamil Tigers of Sri Lankan cricket". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  7. "Sri Lanka Squad". Cricinfo.
  8. "Sri Lanka's best first-class players who failed to win the Cap". The Papare. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  9. "Full Scorecard of Galle CC vs Tamil Union Semi-Final 2004/05 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  10. "Hathurusingha named Bangladesh coach". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  11. Daniel, Shehan (20 May 2014). "Bangladesh set to plunder Sri Lankan cricket treasures". Mirror Sports. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  12. "Conditioning coach Villavarayan to miss start of preliminary camp". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  13. Report, Star Online (30 January 2020). "Mario set to leave". The Daily Star. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  14. "Bangladesh's S&C coach resigns to sign with Sunrisers Hyderabad". Cricbuzz. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  15. Arya, Aakash (30 January 2020). "IPL 2020: Sunrisers Hyderabad sign Bangladesh's trainer Mario Villavarayan". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  16. Reporter, Sports (2 March 2020). "Lee appointed Tigers' new trainer". The Daily Star. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  17. "Villavarayan cuts ties with Tigers". Dhaka Tribune. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  18. Ratnayake, Leonard (4 December 2020). "Jaffna Stallions guided to extreme fitness by trainer Mario Villavarayan". www.srilankasports.com. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  19. Ratnayake, Leonard (4 December 2020). "Former pacie Villavarayan enjoys his role as fitness trainer". Ceylon Cricket. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
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