Sri Lanka is a rich country with many cricketing talents emerging every day. In a country where men’s international cricketers are treated as kings, a praiseworthy women’s cricketer in Shashikala Siriwardene has gone unnoticed among the cricket fraternity in this tiny Island.
The 30-year old genuine all-rounder has been the star performer for the Sri Lanka women’s team for the past decade and currently she is in the peak of her career. This most experienced Sri Lanka national player shared her journey exclusively with www.thepapare.com.
Tell us about your introduction to cricket?
I started playing cricket since a very small age where I went to play soft ball cricket with my elder brother in and around the street. I was just the fielder early on to fill up the team but when I was around 8 or 9, I got the chance to bat and bowl. I was introduced to leather ball cricket when I was just 11 years old at Parlink Cricket Club. I first started off playing cricket with boys as there were no girls early on. I was the only girl in the club team in the age categories of under 13 and 15 until the first girls team was formed in 2001.
Tell us about the national call up and when you were introduced to the Sri Lanka Women’s team?
I represented Parlink Cricket Club for 8 years. Those days we only had 5 matches per one season. At the age of 18, I was first called to the national team in 2003 where we toured West Indies. I scored 29 runs and took 2 wickets in my debut game.
How did you balance cricket with school and studies ?
My studies clashed when I used to represent Sri Lanka during AL/s, but the school administration at President’s Balika Vidyalaya, Kotte helped me a lot.
What do you think is the most noticeable quality that made you stand out from the rest?
I am totally committed on my cricket. In the beginning, I did not see the big picture or plan where I should reach but I did what’s best at that time and at one stage, I felt I could do something extraordinary and be a special cricketer.
What do you think the biggest difference between Sri Lanka women’s cricket and some of the better cricket playing nations?
I think countries like New Zealand, Australia and England have a long history in cricket and they are dominating because of the large amount of cricket they play. We started women’s cricket here in Sri Lanka only in 1997 under the sole guidance of Mrs Gwen Herath. In 2006, according to the new ICC constitution we were combined with Sri Lanka Cricket. From that onwards, we got many more matches and tours. I think we should play more and more international games while the upcoming players must be actively involved in the domestic circuit and play matches as much as possible.
How do you place yourself as a cricketer?
I think I am a genuine all-rounder. I first entered the team as a bowler but gradually I contributed with the bat and found myself batting at a higher position.
How do you balance cricket and your personal life?
I have been married to Namal Senevirathne since I was 28. He was also a professional cricketer and currently he works as the junior head coach at St. Benedict’s College and Mercantile Cricket Association. I was going to stop cricket after marrying but he insisted that I should continue playing because only a handful get the opportunity to represent their country. Sometimes it is extremely hard to balance yet he co-operates with me wonderfully and at times he coaches me on weekends to improve my game.
What do you think about being the first Sri Lanka women’s cricketer to score 1000 runs and capture 100 wickets?
I am extremely happy and humbly proud about all my achievements. It is only the 4th women’s cricketer around the world and first Asian to surpass 1500 ODI runs and take 100 wickets. I am glad I was able to achieve this feat and bring this type of recognition to my country.
If not cricket what would you have done?
I firstly wanted to be a banker, having a normal busy life. I never thought I will be a sportswoman when I was small.
Tell us about your tenure as captain?
I got the Sri Lanka women’s cricket team’s captaincy when I was just 19 years old and just one year of playing experience. I think they saw the maturity in me as soon as I entered the team. I am sure the selectors saw the leadership qualities in me and they must have had a long-term vision of keeping me at the helm for the next 10 years.
What is a typical day in your life?
I wake up early morning and follow my religious observances. Most of the time, I have my breakfast and lunch both at practices. Later on, I have my dinner with my husband and if it is off season, we watch a movie together at home. Most importantly, I maintain my perfect 8-hour sleep which is essential to any sports person.
Tell us about the sacrifices you made along the way and how you coped with them?
I had to make loads of sacrifices in my career. My family and friends helped me a lot to concentrate only on cricket. We never got all the facilities we have now those days when we were beginning our careers. Those days they only gave us bus fare. Before Sri Lanka Cricket contracted us in 2010, few of us had jobs at MAS Intimates, later on all the armed forces started women’s cricket. So we got two salaries (SLC and Armed Forces) which made us semi-professionals.
When do you plan to hang-up your boots?
Two more important World Cups are coming, ICC Women’s World T20 in 2016 and ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2017. I will definitely retire after 2017 World Cup.
Advise to young women taking up cricket?
My simple advice to every one hoping to play cricket is not to always go behind fame or money. Just play the game for the passion and be ready to sacrifice everything in order to be successful.
Finally, any people you wish to thank?
Firstly I would like to thank Gwen Herath madam for bringing women’s cricket to Sri Lanka and all the authorities at Sri Lanka Cricket. Personally I want to thank my mother and father for the help given. My husband, Namal Senevirathne for always being behind me. I will never forget to appreciate my first coach, Palitha Gunasekara. Finally, I want to thank all the coaches who have guided me throughout my career and nothing is possible without my team mates, a big thank you to all of them.
