Romesh Kaluwitharana

Deshabandu Romesh Shantha Kaluwitharana (Sinhala: රොමේෂ් ශාන්ත කලුවිතාරණ; born 24 November 1969) is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who represented the Sri Lanka national cricket team from 1990 to 2004.[1] He was a key member and wicket-keeper for 1996 Cricket World Cup winning team and renowned for his aggressive batting style.

Deshabandu
Romesh Kaluwitharana
රොමේෂ් කලුවිතාරණ
Personal information
Full name
Romesh Shantha Kaluwitharana
Born (1969-11-24) 24 November 1969
Colombo, Ceylon
NicknameLittle Kalu, Little Dynamite
BattingRight-handed
RoleWicket-keeper-batsman
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 52)17 August 1992 v Australia
Last Test28 October 2004 v Pakistan
ODI debut (cap 61)8 December 1990 v India
Last ODI22 February 2004 v Australia
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
Sebastianites Cricket and Athletic Club
Colts Cricket Club
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI
Matches 49 189
Runs scored 1,933 3,711
Batting average 26.12 22.22
100s/50s 2/9 3/23
Top score 132* 102*
Catches/stumpings 93/26 132/75
Source: Cricinfo, 9 February 2016

Kaluwitharana along with Sanath Jayasuriya, are credited for having revolutionized one-day international cricket with explosive batting in the mid-1990s, which initiated the hard-hitting modern-day batting strategy of all nations.[2][3] He made his Twenty20 debut on 17 August 2004, for Colts Cricket Club in the 2004 SLC Twenty20 Tournament.[4] He was appointed as the interim cricket coach of Malaysia on the 17 May 2008.[5] He was educated at St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa.

International career

His early career made him look like a good Sri Lankan prospect, and the undoubted highlight of his career was the entertaining innings of 132 not out (including 26 boundaries) that he made on Test debut against a powerful Australian side in 1992. However, he failed to deliver on his promise in a declining Sri Lankan team (prior to the revival of Sri Lankan cricket at the 1996 World Cup).

Once in the national side, he sometimes threw his wicket away due to poor shot-selection and was suspect to the swinging delivery. However, he relished pace and would often be quick to put away any delivery off line or length. His greatest contribution to ODIs came after he was promoted to the top of the batting order to partner opener Sanath Jayasuriya during the 1995–96 tour of Australia, helping to give birth to an aggressive batting approach in the first fifteen overs of fielding restrictions. This new strategy of attacking from the outset heavily contributed to Sri Lanka to win all their matches and secure the 1996 Cricket World Cup as all other teams were not prepared for such an attack. Kaluwitharana was the wicket keeper and opener with Jayasuriya in that world cup series that was captained by Arjuna Ranatunga.

Beyond cricket

He started a project Kalu's Hideaway, a luxury jungle retreat in Udawalawe.[6]

References
  1. "Romesh Kaluwitharana". ESPNcricinfo. ESPN Inc. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  2. "Sanath Jayasuriya: Sri Lanka's humble cricketing hero". TalkAsia. CNN. 17 December 2008. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  3. Alter, Jamie (25 December 2009). "Sanath Jayasuriya – the entertainer". ESPNcricinfo. ESPN Inc. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  4. "1st Round, Colombo, Aug 17 2004, Twenty-20 Tournament". ESPNcricinfo. ESPN Inc. 17 August 2004. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  5. Brar, Hemant (5 November 2018). "Where are Herath's team-mates from his 1999 Test debut?". ESPNcricinfo. ESPN Inc. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  6. Weerasuriya, Sanath (11 December 2019). "Kalu's Hideaway for nature lovers". The Sunday Times. ISSN 1391-0531. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
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