Romesh Kaluwitharana Explained

Honorific Prefix:Deshabandu
Romesh Kaluwitharana
රොමේෂ් කලුවිතාරණ
Country:Sri Lanka
Fullname:Romesh Shantha Kaluwitharana
Nickname:Little Kalu, Little Dynamite
Birth Date:24 November 1969
Birth Place:Colombo, Ceylon
Batting:Right-handed
Role:Wicket-keeper-batsman
International:true
Internationalspan:1990–2004
Testdebutdate:17 August
Testdebutyear:1992
Testdebutagainst:Australia
Testcap:52
Lasttestdate:28 October
Lasttestyear:2004
Lasttestagainst:Pakistan
Odidebutdate:8 December
Odidebutyear:1990
Odidebutagainst:India
Odicap:61
Lastodidate:22 February
Lastodiyear:2004
Lastodiagainst:Australia
Club2:Colts Cricket Club
Columns:2
Column1:Test
Matches1:49
Runs1:1,933
Bat Avg1:26.12
100S/50S1:2/9
Top Score1:132
Hidedeliveries:true
Catches/Stumpings1:93/26
Column2:ODI
Matches2:189
Runs2:3,711
Bat Avg2:22.22
100S/50S2:3/23
Top Score2:102
Catches/Stumpings2:132/75
Date:9 February
Year:2016
Source:http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/49361.html Cricinfo

Deshabandu Romesh Shantha Kaluwitharana (Sinhala; Sinhalese: 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.

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]

Notes and References

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