Chamara, 40, still counting to make 15,000 runs
Chamara Silva wants to wind up his career in style
At 40 years and 295 days, there is only one thing that keeps him going. He wants to reach 15,000 first class runs. Just 37 runs shy, he will reach the milestone during the next domestic cricket season and then call it a day, ending over two decades of professional cricket.
A disastrous World Cup campaign in England by Arjuna Ranatunga’s men in 1999, three years after winning it in Lahore, made way for young stars like Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Chamara Silva to make their way to the national side. But unlike Sangakkara and Dilshan, Silva did not make the cut early in his international career. Having scored a fifty on his debut, he went out of selectors’ radar in 2002, just ten innings into his international career.
Silva made a return to the national team in 2006 on the back of a prolific domestic performances and he did not disappoint those who had placed their trust in him. Silva collected a pair on his Test debut against New Zealand but the courageous right-hander justified his selection, scoring a century and half century in the next match. His unbeaten 152 in the second innings, adding to his gritty 61 in the first innings helped Sri Lanka record a crushing 217-run win over New Zealand and Silva was aptly adjudged the man-of-the match for his 213 runs in the match.
Despite impressing early in his Test career, his performance in the longer format did not guarantee him a long Test career. He represented Sri Lanka only 11 times with the last match coming against West Indies in 2008. However, he continued to excel in the two shorter formats before calling it a day in 2011 following a shoulder injury.
The year 2007 was probably the best in his 12-year international career. Just three innings in his second coming, Silva made his only hundred in ODI cricket — a majestic unbeaten 107 against India heralding a new chapter in his career. His good form continued in the 2007 World Cup as he scored 350 runs at an average of 43.75 with four half centuries and a highest score of 64.
From there onwards, Silva was an integral member in the team. It was during that time he got an opportunity to play for Deccan Chargers in the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
He was a part of two 50-over World Cup (2007 and 2011) and one T20 World Cup (2009) tournaments where Sri Lanka had reached the finals on all three occasions. He was also a member of the victorious team that went on to beat Australia on their home soil in 2010.
“I don’t think it was because of lack of form. I could not find a regular place in the national side early in my career because of the competitiveness. We had a very good team during that period. It was not easy to get back into the side, if one goes out. Such was the competition that existed then,” Silva explained.
Chamara Silva is one of those talented players who came from the outstation to fulfil his desire of representing the national team. His family had to make numerous sacrifices in enabling him to chase his dream of becoming a professional cricketer. However, his career took a turn at the age of 17 when former Sri Lanka skipper Anura Tennakoon gave him a scholarship to train in Colombo.
“I had to face a lot of challenges during the early stages of my career. The support that I got from my family has been incredible. Throughout my journey I was focused and I had the desire to fulfil my ambition and make my country proud. When I recall it after 24 years it gives me great satisfaction,” he said.
Having groomed under the watchful eyes of Sisira Hadunge during his school cricket career, he scored heaps of runs including a record double ton in a session. In 1997 he went on to score 1,000 runs helped by five centuries and four half centuries. Those were the times when people started to compare this elegant right-hander with legendary batsman Aravinda de Silva.
His performances were closely monitored by the Panadura Sports Club and he was able to play first class cricket even before he had left school. The gritty batsmen scored his maiden first class century when he was just 18 years.
He was a prolific run scorer in domestic cricket as well. Due to his stellar performances he was selected for the 1998 Under-19 World Cup in South Africa. Soon after that Silva was picked for the Under-19 team tour of India where he was a consistent performer. His consistency was rewarded when he earned his maiden call up into the national team for the series against Australia in 1999.
Despite being retired from international cricket, he still continues to play domestic cricket. As an experienced cricketer who has played the local tournaments for 24 years, he expressed his views on how the standard of cricket that is being played in Sri Lanka has declined over the past few years.
According to him, the lack of experienced players at domestic level has hampered the development of the youngsters. When he made his first-class debut for Panadura Sports Club as a youngster, there were a lot of experienced players as role models.
“There’s also a lack of player commitment,” he said adding Sri Lanka must have qualified coaches at school level. “This is an area Sri Lanka Cricket needs to give priority.”