Romesh Kaluwitharana

Romesh Kaluwitharana
රොමේෂ් කලුවිතාරණ
Personal information
Full name	Romesh Shantha Kaluwitharana
Born	24 November 1969; Colombo, Dominion of Ceylon
Nickname	Little Kalu, Little Dynamite
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm medium
Role	Batsman wicketkeeper
International information
National side	Sri Lanka (1990–2004);
Test debut (cap 52)	17 August 1992 v Australia
Last Test	28 October 2004 v Pakistan
ODI debut (cap 61)	8 December 1990 v India
Last ODI	22 February 2004 v Australia
Domestic team information
	Sebastianites Cricket and Athletic Club
	Colts Cricket Club
Career statistics
	Source: Cricinfo, 9 February 2016

Romesh Shantha Kaluwitharana (Sinhala: රොමේෂ් ශාන්ත කලුවිතාරණ; born 24 November 1969) is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played in 49 Test and 189 ODIs from 1990 to 2004.[1] He was appointed as the interim cricket coach of Malaysia on the 17 May 2008.[2] He was a key member and wicket-keeper for 1996 Cricket World Cup winning team and renowned for his aggressive batting style.

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.[3]

References

"Romesh Kaluwitharana". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
"Where are Herath's team-mates from his 1999 Test debut?". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
"Kalu's Hideaway for nature lovers". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 December 2019.

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[1] "Romesh Kaluwitharana". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 13 March 2019.

[2] "Where are Herath's team-mates from his 1999 Test debut?". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 13 March 2019.

[3] "Kalu's Hideaway for nature lovers". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 December 2019.