The delicacy and class in his batting has mesmerized many astute cricket lovers and he has quickly become one of the leading players in the present Sri Lanka schools cricket arena; Avishka Fernando from St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa is making heads turn as a future prospect.
Avishka, a naturally-talented cricketer and a comical personality outside the ground, shared his journey with www.thepapare.com.
Hailing from a family of two children from Wadduwa, the 17-year old batting Mozart has only one habit in his life, which is to play the game we all love, Cricket.
Fernando recalled his memories on how he started playing cricket, “I started playing cricket since I was in grade 2 and I still have that same liking and desire to play cricket.”
Many young players were inspired by their parents and Avishka’s story is no different, “My father was the main person who gave me all the support in playing cricket. He brought bats and balls for me to practice and helped me a lot. “
Avishka was fast-tracked to the first XI team when he was just 13 years old and that leap was the turnaround in his school career according to him,” I started leather-ball cricket in 2009 and since then I was in the under 13 ‘A’ team for 3 years. In grade 8, I got my chance to represent our college first XI team under Amila Aponso’s captaincy.”
“Nobody thought I would score a century in under 19 cricket because I was just 13 years but I did so against Thurstan College (109), which will always be my best knock” Avishka highlighted the knock of his life.
Currently representing Sri Lanka under 19s, Avishka donned the national jersey when he was 14 and one year later he was the captain of the Sri Lanka under 15 team, “I toured Malaysia with the Sri Lanka under 15 team and we won the Tuanku Ja’afar International trophy’ in 2013 beating South Africa in the final under my captaincy.”
Avishka has been in great form recently when he passed the 1000-run mark twice this year, “Earlier this year, I was the highest run-scorer in the under 19 tournament as I scored over 1000 runs and few months back I scored 1060 runs in the under 17 tournament. I won the Best Batsman award in the Schools Cricket Awards and was adjudged runner-up Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year.”
Apart from his brilliant right-hand batting, Avishka is a reliable right-arm medium fast-bowler who destroyed a strong St. Peter’s College first XI team in 2013 with a match-bag of 9 for 27. He has contributed with the ball on many occasions for his alma mater.
Fernando owns a technically-correct stance and has shots all-around the ground. He favours fast-bowlers more often but loves smashing spinners. Avishka who usually bats at number 4 without a doubt will become another school-cricket prodigy who will go on to becoming one of Sri Lanka’s finest stroke-makers. On his favourite Avishka waxed-eloquent, “My cricket idol is Mahela Jayawardene.”
“I usually play shots in the nets before I bat in the middle. I do batting drills and I believe practice is the key to success.” Avishka responded on how he trains.
With high hopes of representing Sri Lanka under 19s in the upcoming Youth World Cup in Bangladesh in 2016, Avishka has already led Sri Lanka juniors against Bangladesh in three-day unofficial Test matches. He was the deputy in the one-day leg and against Australia a few months ago, “I need to work hard and improve my game to perform better in the upcoming Pakistan U19, India U19 & England U19 series’.”
Avishka made his club debut this season when he represented Colts Cricket Club in few under 23 games, “They liked my ability and asked me to play and I am really grateful for giving me that chance. I look forward to pursue my club cricket career after I finish my school career. I have two more school seasons left.” He said.
Every school cricketer faces many difficulties in balancing studies and cricket both but Avishka thanked his school authorities for the great help, “Yes, I miss many classes due to matches and practices but our principal, teachers and my friends help me out by giving me notes, handing photo copies of certain books and many more. I would never be here without my school, St. Sebastian’s College. “
Sri Lanka is a country with no shortage of talented cricketers but in the end only 11 players take the field. Young Avishka as does every cricketer, dreams of representing Sri Lanka in the future, “It is the ultimate goal to represent my country in the highest level. I want to play in all formats and bring glory to our motherland.”
Finally, Avishka thanked all those who supported throughout his career so far, “I want to thank my first coach, Rashan Peiris, first XI coach, Pasan Wanasinghe, Frank Cooray, Ajith Pethangoda, Roger Wijesuriya and all coaches at Sri Lanka Cricket. I am thankful to my father, mom and all my family.”
The world stage is all set for Avishka to conquer and become a cricketing legend for Sri Lanka in the future.
We at www.thepapare.com wish him a glittering career.
