Posted: Wednesday May 12, 1999 12:28 AM Sri Lanka Squad Arjuna Ranatunga (captain) Aravinda de Silva (vice captain) Sanath Jayasuriya Marvan Atapattu Mahela Jayawardene Roshan Mahanama Romesh Kaluwitharana (wicketkeeper) Hashan Tillekeratne Muttiah Muralitharan Chaminda Vaas Promodya Wickremasinghe Eric Upashantha Upul Chandana Chandika Hathurusinghe Ruwan Kalpage Arjuna Ranatunga Full name: Arjuna Ranatunga (captain) Known as: Arjuna Ranatunga Born: Dec. 1, 1963. Bats: Left-handed Bowls: Right-arm medium pace bowler Played for: Sri Lanka, Sinhalese Sports Club One-Day Debut: vs. England at Colombo, Second ODI, 1981/82 One-Day Matches: 264 Total Runs: 7,320 Average Score: 36.05 Highest Score: 131* Total Wickets: 79 Runs per wicket: 47.55 Best Result: 4-14 Appearing in his fifth edition of the event, Ranatunga is one of the most experienced Cup players. Given six-match ban and suspended for 12 months by International Cricket Council in January for improper conduct during a one-day series in Australia. Ranatunga captained Sri Lanka to triumph in the 1996 World Cup. Aravinda de Silva Full name: Pinnaduwage Aravinda de Silva (vice-captain) Known as: Aravinda de Silva Born: Oct. 17, 1965. Bats: Right-handed Bowls: Off-spinner Played for: Sri Lanka, Kent, Nondescripts Cricket Club One-Day Debut: vs. New Zealand at Moratuwa, Second ODI, 1983/84 One-Day Matches: 254 Total Runs: 8,020 Average Score: 36.12 Highest Score: 145 Total Wickets: 83 Runs per wicket: 39.03 Best Result: 4-45. Capable of taking apart the best bowling in the world, his off-breaks consistently make him his side's fifth bowler. Aravinda de Silva's successful 1995 season with Kent will no doubt serve Sri Lanka well. This will be de Silva’s fourth appearance in the World Cup. Sanath Jayasuriya Full name: Sanath Jayasuriya Known as: Sanath Jayasuriya Born: June 30, 1969. Bats: Left-handed Bowls: Left-arm orthodox spinner Played for: Sri Lanka, Colombo Cricket Club One-Day Debut: vs. Australia at Melbourne, World Series, 1989/90 One-Day Matches: 178 Total Runs: 4,672 Average Score: 28.66 Highest Score: 151* Total Wickets: 152 Runs per wicket: 35.19 Best Result: 6-29. Jayasuriya is an amazing all-rounder. He has the highest score of any Sri Lanka in one-day cricket, 140 against New Zealand and has also returned Sri Lanka’s best bowling result of 6-29. Jayasuriya is often the main force behind Sri Lanka's explosive starts in the first 15 overs. Marvan Atapattu Full name: Marvan Samson Atapattu Known as: Marvan Atapattu Born: Nov. 22, 1970. Bats: Right-handed Bowls: Right-arm off-break Played for: Sri Lanka, Sinhalese Sports Club One-Day Debut: vs. India at Nagpur, First ODI, 1990/91 One-Day Matches: 69 Total Runs: 2,028 Average Score: 33.80 Highest Score: 132* Total Wickets: -- Runs per wicket: -- Best Result: -- After an inauspicious start to his test career, in which he managed just one run in five innings in tours against India and Australia, Atapattu has developed into a consistent and prolific scorer. In his one-day international career Atapattu has scored two centuries and 14 half-centuries. Mahela Jayawardene Full name: Denagamage Proboth Mahela de Silva Jayawardene Known as: Mahela Jayawardene Born: May 27, 1977. Bats: Right-handed Bowls: Right-arm medium pace bowler Played for: Sri Lanka, Sinhalese Sports Club One-Day Debut: vs. Zimbabwe at Colombo, Second ODI, 1997/98 One-Day Matches: 20 Total Runs: 510 Average Score: 28.33 Highest Score: 120 Total Wickets: 1 Runs per wicket: 233.00 Best Result: 1-24 A stylish, technically correct batsman, Jayawardene has made some big scores in recent matches. Roshan Mahanama Full name: Roshan Siriwardene Mahanama Known as: Roshan Mahanama Born: May 31, 1966. Bats: Right-handed Bowls: -- Played for: Sri Lanka, Colombo Cricket Club One-Day Debut: vs. Pakistan at Kandy, First ODI, 1985/86 One-Day Matches: 208 Total Runs: 5,026 Average Score: 29.56 Highest Score: 119* Total Wickets: -- Runs per wicket: -- Best Result: -- An elegant batsman and brilliant fielder, one of the four players in the world who has held over 100 catches in one-day games. Mahanama has been in and out of the team recently due to inconsistent batting. His best shot is the cover drive. Romesh Kaluwitharana Full name: Romesh Shantha Kaluwitharana (wicketkeeper) Known as: Romesh Kaluwitharana Born: Nov. 24, 1969. Bats: Right-handed Bowls: -- Played for: Sri Lanka One-Day Debut: vs. India at Margao, Third ODI, 1990/91 One-Day Matches: 112 Total Runs: 1,930 Average Score: 18.92 Highest Score: 100* Catches: 74 Stumpings: 49 Best Result: -- Diminutive, dashing wicketkeeper batsman who strikes the ball hard and has played many useful one-day innings as an opener for Sri Lanka. Although Kaluwitharana scored a century in his test debut against Australia in 1992 he was unable to regularly hold on to his position in the side. His recent successes on the tour of Australia ensured his position on the squad. Hashan Tillekeratne Full name: Hashan Prasantha Tillekeratne Known as: Hashan Tillekeratne Born: July 14, 1967. Bats: Left-handed Bowls: right-arm medium pace bowler Played for: Sri Lanka, Nondescripts Cricket Club One-Day Debut: vs. India at Sharjah, Champions Trophy, 1986/87 One-Day Matches: 180 Total Runs: 3,438 Average Score: 29.89 Highest Score: 104 Total Wickets: 23.50 Runs per wicket: 6 Best Result: 1-3 Sri Lanka’s reserve wicketkeeper, Tillekeratne has proven to be a consistent performer on the Sri Lankan squad, especially over the last three years. He tops the current batting average in test matches for Sri Lanka. In one-day matches he can step up the run rate when needed. Muttiah Muralitharan Full name: Muttiah Muralitharan Known as: Muttiah Muralitharan Born: April 17, 1972. Bats: Right-handed Bowls: Off-spinner Played for: Sri Lanka, Lancashire, Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club One-Day Debut: vs. India at Colombo, Second ODI, 1993/94 One-Day Matches: 110 Total Runs: 151 Average Score: 5.81 Highest Score: 18 Total Wickets: 151 Runs per wicket: 27.96 Best Result: 5-23 Muralitharan has been one of the most controversial cricketers over the last few years after he was called for "chucking" (throwing) by umpires in tours of Australia in 1995/96 and 1998/99. An International Cricket Council (ICC) panel has since cleared his action. During Sri Lanka's tour of England last year he was regarded as the world's leading spin bowler. Chaminda Vaas Full name: Warnakulasuriya Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas Known as: Chaminda Vaas Born: Jan. 27, 1974. Bats: Left-handed Bowls: Left-arm medium-fast bowler Played for: Sri Lanka One-Day Debut: vs. India at Rajkot, First ODI, 1993/94 One-Day Matches: 108 Total Runs: 506 Average Score: 12.04 Highest Score: 33 Total Wickets: 136 Runs per wicket: 27.03 Best Result: 4-20. One of the leading figures behind the resurgence of Sri Lanka's fortunes on the cricket field. Vaas’ bowling has been compared to Wasim Akram. A hard-hitting batsman, Vaas is sometimes used as pinch-hitter. He became the first Sri Lankan to take 10 wickets in a test match. Promodya Wickremasinghe Full name: Gallage Promodya Wickremasinghe Known as: Promodya Wickremasinghe Born: Aug. 14, 1971. Bats: Right-handed Bowls: Right-hand medium-fast bowler Played for: Sri Lanka, Sinhalese Sports Club, Burgher Recreation Club One-Day Debut: vs. Bangladesh at Calcutta, Asia Cup, 1990/91 One-Day Matches: 111 Total Runs: 238 Average Score: 7.43 Highest Score: 21* Total Wickets: 89 Runs per wicket: 39.88 Best Result: 4-48. Most experienced of the squad's pacemen who gives the attack a useful blend of experience and control. Has been very accurate in recent one-dayers. Eric Upashantha Full name: Kalutarage Eric Amila Upashantha Known as: Eric Upashantha Born: June 10, 1972. Bats: Right-handed Bowls: Right-arm medium-fast bowler Played for: Sri Lanka, Colts Cricket Club One-Day Debut: vs. Pakistan at Rawalpindi, Third ODI, 1995/1996 One-Day Matches: 5 Total Runs: 28 Average Score: 9.33 Highest Score: 15 Total Wickets: 6 Runs per wicket: 30.50 Best Result: 2-24. Played his first one-day international against Pakistan in 1995-96 but has been in and out of the side and subsequently only has five one-day international matches under his belt. Upul Chandana Full name: Umagiliya Durage Upul Chandana Known as: Upul Chandana Born: July 27, 1969. Bats: Right-handed Bowls: Right-arm leg-spinner Played for: Sri Lanka, Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club One-Day Debut: vs. Australia at Sharjah, Australasia Cup, 1993/94 One-Day Matches: 51 Total Runs: 561 Average Score: 17.00 Highest Score: 50 Total Wickets: 48 Runs per wicket: 32.64 Best Result: 4-31. A utility all-rounder Chandana only debuted on the test squad against Pakistan in the final of the Asia Test Championship. Chandana adds variety with his steady leg-spin and middle-order batting. Chandika Hathurusinghe Full name: Upul Chandika Hathurusinghe Known as: Chandika Hathurusinghe Born: Sept. 13, 1968. Bats: Right-handed Bowls: Right-arm medium-fast bowler Played for: Sri Lanka, Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club One-Day Debut: vs. Pakistan at Sargodha, First ODI, 1991/92 One-Day Matches: 35 Total Runs: 669 Average Score: 20.90 Highest Score: 66 Total Wickets: 14 Runs per wicket: 52.14 Best Result: 4-57 Hathurusinghe made his one-day international debut seven years ago. He played in 1992 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, but then lost his place on the national squad. Hathurusinghe has made a comeback following impressive performances in domestic tournaments. Ruwan Kalpage Full name: Ruwan Senani Kalpage Known as: Ruwan Kalpage Born: Feb. 19, 1970. Bats: Left-handed Bowls: Right-arm off-break Played for: Sri Lanka, Nondescripts Cricket Club One-Day Debut: vs. Pakistan at Sargodha, First ODI, 1991/92 One-Day Matches: 86 Total Runs: 844 Average Score: 20.58 Highest Score: 51 Total Wickets: 73 Runs per wicket: 40.75 Best Result: 4-36 With 86 appearances on the one-day squad to his credit, Kulpage is an experienced all-rounder and excellent fieldsman. Although he has an average of over 20 runs a match, Kulpage has yet to score a century and has only one half-century to his name. He was selected for the 1992 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand but missed the 1996 tournament.

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