Rex Clementine in Cape Town
Not many fast bowlers have played for Sri Lanka at the age of 19. For that matter, not many cricketers have walked straight into the national team after school cricket.
Cricketry – Lahiru Kumara is a fine prospect for Sri Lanka
Renowned Cricket Commentator, Roshan Abeysinghe brings you an exclusive audio analysis on Cricketry on day one of the second Test match between Sri Lanka and South Africa in Cape Town.
Fast bowler Lahiru Kumara at the age of 19 looks the brightest prospect in Sri Lankan cricket, but he was a late developer having first played hockey. It was at hockey that Kumara excelled at Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya in Kandy and after being brought into play cricket for the school’s under-15 team by Ranjit Colombage, he was selected for a tour of Malaysia. It was his performance in Malaysia that impressed Sri Lankan cricket enthusiasts and Trinity College Coach Sampath Perera, who is quick to spot talent, offered him a scholarship to country’s premier school. After playing just one game for Trinity’s 2nd XI, Perera pushed for his inclusion for the Big Match against St. Anthony’s College. Since then Kumara has not looked back.
Photos: Sri Lanka v South Africa 2nd Test – Day 1
He was part of Sri Lanka’s Under-19 team that toured England last year and his match bag of 11 wickets saw Sri Lanka beat England Under-19 in Northampton. Soon he was fast tracked to the senior team. His role model Dale Steyn is out of the South African side due to injury but was present at Newlands to watch the proceedings of day one.
“I like the pace he generates and his aggression. I have not still met him, but I would love to do so. He is such a crafty bowler,” Kumara said of Steyn.
“I made my Test debut in Zimbabwe, but I feel that conditions here in South Africa are tailor-made for fast bowlers. The wicket has lot of assistance and I enjoyed bowling out here. There’s lot of bounce and movement here,” Kumara said.
Having bowled so well and taken three wickets, Kumara will be delighted with a maiden five wicket haul in Tests.
“I have three wickets now and maybe a chance for me to finish with a five wicket haul. Let’s see how it goes. But the most important thing is to bowl them out as quickly as possible. We need to get their remaining four wickets soon and then put up a decent total.”
Kumara was introduced to the attack in the 19th over after South Africa had recovered to post 66 for one after Suranga Lakmal dismissed opener Stephen Cook for a duck. Kumara soon made it 66 for three with two wickets in an over. His delivery to bowl Hasim Amla through the gate just before lunch was outstanding.
“I loved the Hashim Amla dismissal. He is one of the best players in the world and to dismiss him in that manner was very pleasing.” Kumara’s aim is to improve his speed and accuracy, something he says he is working on.
“My aim is to play for Sri Lanka as long as I could. I have a decent pace at the moment and I need to work with my coaches to improve my pace further. More than the pace, what is important is to get my line and length right. You can have the pace, but if you are not accurate then your pace is of little use.”
Kumara was one of the changes that Sri Lanka did along with Upul Tharanga from the side that lost the first Test in Port Elizabeth. Tharanga was impressed with Kumara’s effort in the opening day of New Year Test.
“Lahiru Kumara plays with me at NCC. I have faced him in the nets. He was pretty quick today and bowled really well. This is only the third Test for him. I am sure he is pleased with the effort today against a strong batting line-up like South Africa,” Tharanga said.
“I am pretty sure he will improve his pace and will be a great asset for us as he is only 19. At the moment, the fastest bowler we have is Dushmantha Chameera, but he is returning from injury and lacks bit of rhythm and both of them look bright prospects for the future,” Tharanga added.
Brilliant Dean Elgar keeps Sri Lanka at bay
Left-handed opening batsman Dean Elgar stroked his career-best knock of 129 to lead the South African batting effort against Sri Lanka on day one in the second Test in Cape Town. Elgar’s superb 230-ball 129, which is also his 6 th Test ton contained 15 fours as he resisted the Lankans and pushed the total to 296 for 6 at close of play.
