Nuwan Pradeep

Aththachchi Nuwan Pradeep Roshan Fernando (Sinhala: නුවන් ප්‍රදීප්; born 19 October 1986), commonly known as Nuwan Pradeep, is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer.[1] Despite being a national cricketer, he had never actually played the game until he was 20 and most importantly never played with leather ball until his 20s.[2][3] He shot into prominence after winning a bowling speed contest in 2007 and he was sent to Sri Lanka's Cricket Academy and also went onto earn a national test call up less than 3 years later.[4] He is regarded as the most unconventional find of Sri Lanka cricket.[5]

Nuwan Pradeep
Personal information
Full name
Aththachchi Nuwan Pradeep Roshan Fernando
Born (1986-10-19) 19 October 1986
Negombo, Sri Lanka
NicknameSirasa
Height1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm fast
RoleBowler
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 119)18 October 2011 v Pakistan
Last Test6 October 2017 v Pakistan
ODI debut (cap 153)31 July 2012 v India
Last ODI18 January 2022 v Zimbabwe
ODI shirt no.63
T20I debut (cap 65)5 July 2016 v England
Last T20I23 June 2021 v England
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2007–2008Burgher Recreation Club
2008–2011Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club
2009–2010Basnahira North
2011Ruhuna
2020Kandy Tuskers
2021-presentDambulla Giants
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI T20I
Matches 28 49 16
Runs scored 132 35 10
Batting average 4.00 4.37 10.00
100s/50s 0/0 0/0 0/0
Top score 17* 7 8*
Balls bowled 5,077 2,345 278
Wickets 70 63 15
Bowling average 42.90 37.12 29.06
5 wickets in innings 1 0 0
10 wickets in match 0 0 0
Best bowling 6/132 4/31 4/25
Catches/stumpings 5/0 7/0 2/0
Source: ESPNCricinfo, 26 July 2022

Early life

Pradeep was born in Negombo, Western Province and grew up in the multilingual fishing neighbourhood in Negombo.[6] He was a product of soft ball cricket when he grew up in his young days.[5]

Domestic career

In 2011, he was surprisingly picked by Royal Challengers Bangalore for the 2011 Indian Premier League even before his international debut.[7] However, he did not play in any matches.[8]

In March 2019, he was named in Kandy's squad for the 2019 Super Provincial One Day Tournament.[9] In October 2020, he was drafted by the Kandy Tuskers for the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League.[10] In August 2021, he was named in the SLC Greys team for the 2021 SLC Invitational T20 League tournament.[11] In November 2021, he was selected to play for the Dambulla Giants following the players' draft for the 2021 Lanka Premier League.[12] In July 2022, he was signed by the Dambulla Giants for the third edition of the Lanka Premier League.[13]

International career

In 2010, Pradeep was called up to the Sri Lankan squad for the second Test against India. He was selected to Sri Lankan provisional squad for the test tour to England in 2011 and he took 4/29 in the warmup match against England Lions as Sri Lanka won it by 38 runs.[14] However, he was ruled out prior to the test series after suffering injury.[15][16] He was also initially selected in Sri Lankan squad for the test tour of South Africa in 2011 but was ruled out due to hamstring tear.[17]

In 2011 he was again selected to the national Test squad, in the tournament against Pakistan in the UAE.[18][19] He made his Test debut against Pakistan in October 2011, at the age of 24 but did not take a wicket on debut.[20]

He became an in and out pace bowler for Sri Lanka due to most of the injuries. Despite the fact, he is one of the fastest bowlers ever found on current Sri Lanka squad. He took his first international wicket by dismissing Mohammad Ayub of Pakistan on 25 June 2012 at Galle International Stadium.[21][22] After the tour of New Zealand in 2014/15 season, Pradeep showcased his bowling abilities, which sealed him in the permanent spot in Test squad. He became a bowling partner of Dhammika Prasad in Test cricket.

He was also known for being stranded in a famous test match draw against England at Lord's in June 2014, where he batted to save the test match for Sri Lanka with just one wicket left.[23][24] He survived five deliveries in the final over of the match bowled by Stuart Broad.[25]

On 5 July 2016 he made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut for Sri Lanka against England.[26]

On 28 December 2016 he took the 10,000th lbw in Test cricket, when he dismissed Hashim Amla during Sri Lanka's tour to South Africa.[27][28] However, Pradeep was injured during the second T20I against South Africa and was sent to Sri Lanka.[29]

After injury, Pradeep was re-called for the India tour in July 2017.[30] In the first match of the series, he took his maiden Test five-wicket haul at Galle International Stadium. His bowling performance in the match was highly praised by commentators as well. However, finally Sri Lanka lost the match by 304 runs.[31][32] However, during the day two of second test, Pradeep was injured and did not bowl further throughout the match. He did bat in both innings, but was released from the remaining matches of the series.

on 13 December 2017, during the second ODI against India at Mohali, Pradeep conceded 106 runs in his 10 overs. This is the worst bowling figures by a Sri Lankan in ODIs and joint third-most by a bowler in an ODI. In the match, Rohit Sharma scored his third ODI double century and Sri Lanka lost the match by 141 runs.[33] He was also part of the Sri Lankan team at the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy and was also the leading wicket taker for Sri Lanka during the tournament.[34]

In May 2018, he was one of 33 cricketers to be awarded a national contract by Sri Lanka Cricket ahead of the 2018–19 season.[35][36]

He was included for the ODI squad for the Scotland tour prior to World Cup in 2019. In the second ODI, he took a four-wicket haul by restricting Scottish total to 199. Sri Lanka won the match by 35 runs in DLS method. Pradeep won his first man of the match award for the bowling performance.[37]

In April 2019, he was named in Sri Lanka's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.[38][39] During second match in the World Cup, Pradeep delivered a match-winning bowling spell against Afghanistan to take four wickets for 31 runs.[40] Sri Lanka won the match by 34 runs, with Pradeep was named man of the match.[41] However, Pradeep was ruled out of Sri Lanka's last two matches of the tournament, after contracting chickenpox. He was replaced by Kasun Rajitha.[42][43]

In the third ODI against West Indies on 1 March 2020, Pradeep bowled only 4.3 overs in Pallkelle, picking up a hamstring injury three deliveries into his second spell. He did not com back to the field after the injury. Therefore, he is out for at least six weeks and missed the T20I series against West Indies and Tests against England.[44]

In September 2021, Pradeep was named in Sri Lanka's squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.[45]

Personal life

Pradeep is married to his longtime partner, Nilakshi Champika. Their wedding was celebrated on 7 May 2015.[46][47]

References
  1. "Stranded on 99, and stranded on four". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  2. "Pradeep makes his stand". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  3. "Nuwan Pradeep | Stats, Bio, Facts and Career Info". www.cricket.com.au. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  4. "Nuwan Pradeep". www.icc-cricket.com. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  5. "Nuwan Pradeep Profile - ICC Ranking, Age, Career Info & Stats". Cricbuzz. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  6. "Cricket can't undo the horrors of the bombings, but it can be a balm to Sri Lanka". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  7. "Sri Lankan cricketers to leave IPL on May 5". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  8. Apte, Atharva (29 May 2018). "IPL 2018: 4 shocking overseas signings made by the RCB over the years". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  9. "Squads, Fixtures announced for SLC Provincial 50 Overs Tournament". The Papare. 19 March 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  10. "Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Shahid Afridi among big names taken at LPL draft". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  11. "Sri Lanka Cricket announce Invitational T20 squads and schedule". The Papare. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  12. "Kusal Perera, Angelo Mathews miss out on LPL drafts". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  13. "LPL 2022 draft: Kandy Falcons sign Hasaranga; Rajapaksa to turn out for Dambulla Giants". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  14. "Sri Lanka overcome England Lions". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  15. "Sri Lanka hit by Pradeep injury". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  16. "Nuwan Pradeep set to fly home". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  17. "Pradeep flies home with injury". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  18. "Sri Lankan test squad". Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  19. "Samaraweera dropped for Pakistan Tests". Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  20. First Test: Pakistan v Sri Lanka – espncricinfo.com. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  21. "Nuwan Pradeep: Sri Lanka's latest maverick". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  22. "(Photos) Nuwan Pradeep celebrates his first Test wicket | Sri Lanka | Cricket". www.islandcricket.lk. Archived from the original on 30 September 2014.
  23. "Full Scorecard of England vs Sri Lanka 1st Investec Test 2014 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  24. "Sri Lanka cling on for dramatic draw". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  25. "Five last-over thrillers in Tests from the 2010s". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  26. "Sri Lanka tour of England and Ireland, Only T20I: England v Sri Lanka at Southampton, Jul 5, 2016". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  27. "Cook century drives South Africa's dominance". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  28. "Marshall's lbw bunny, and a Darling who never got that way". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  29. "Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  30. "Dhananjaya, Pradeep return to Sri Lanka's Test squad". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  31. "Pradeep's miserly resurgence amid Sri Lanka's continued misery". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  32. "India run through top order after amassing 600". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  33. "Rohit: three double-hundreds; Others: four". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  34. Srihari (13 June 2017). "ICC Champions Trophy 2017: Top 5 performers who won't be playing in the semi-finals". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  35. "Sri Lanka assign 33 national contracts with pay hike". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  36. "Sri Lankan players to receive pay hike". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  37. "Pradeep leads the way as Sri Lanka break win-less streak". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  38. "Thirimanne, Siriwardana, Vandersay picked in World Cup squad". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  39. "Jeevan Mendis, Siriwardana, Vandersay make comebacks in Sri Lanka World Cup squad". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  40. "Nuwan Pradeep, Lasith Malinga bowl Sri Lanka to scrappy win". ESPN Cricinfo.
  41. "Full Scorecard of Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka". Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  42. "Nuwan Pradeep ruled out of CWC19 through illness". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  43. "Nuwan Pradeep ruled out of Bangladesh game after blow to bowling hand". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  44. "Nuwan Pradeep, Dhananjaya de Silva out of West Indies T20Is". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  45. "Theekshana, Jayawickrema make the cut as Sri Lanka announce T20 World Cup squad". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  46. ( STUDIO ART NEGOMBO )TEST CRICKETER, NUWAN PRADEEP & NILAKSHI CHAMPIKA WEDDING DAY PHOTOS, retrieved 1 July 2021
  47. "Studio ART Photography". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
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