OTD: Aravinda de Silva was born in 1965

Aravinda de Silva, a monumental figure in the history of Sri Lankan cricket, was born on this day, October 17, in 1965, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. de Silva completed his initial education at Isipathana College, Colombo, and then joined D. S. Senanayake College, Colombo.

De Silva was a right-handed batter and a right-arm off-spinner who was handy in ODI cricket. He possessed a dashing style of batting for his time and was nicknamed ‘Mad Max’ for the same.

He made his Sri Lanka Test debut against England in 1984 at Lord’s, and his ODI debut came the same year against New Zealand at home in Moratuwa. de Silva became a huge part of the Sri Lankan team in the late 80s and the entire 1990s, along with Sanath Jayasuriya, Arjuna Ranatunga, and Chaminda Vaas.

His biggest claim to fame was his performance in Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup winning run as he starred with 448 runs at an average of 89.60 and a strike rate of 107.69, including two tons and two fifties, with the highest score of 145. He scored a brilliant century, 107*, after taking three wickets in the final of the World Cup in Lahore against Australia, to give Sri Lanka their first 50-over ICC title.

He was prolific in ODIs, batting mostly at no. 3 or 4 and either steadying the innings or blasting the opposition into submission. He showed the same batting style in Test matches, with his highest score of 267 coming against New Zealand at Basin Reserve in 1991, in the same Test where Martin Crowe made 299.

His final outing for Sri Lanka in ODIs was in the 2003 World Cup, where he single-handedly tried to take Sri Lanka into the finals against a rampaging Australia in the semis. His final Test came against Bangladesh a year ago in 2002, and he signed off with a brilliant double century.

Overall, de Silva made 6361 runs at an average of 42.97 in 93 Tests, including 20 centuries and 22 fifties, with the highest score of 267. He also picked 26 wickets in Test cricket.

De Silva made 9284 runs at an average of 34.90 and a strike rate of 81.13 in 308 ODIs, including 11 centuries and 64 fifties, with the best score of 145. He also took 106 wickets at an economy of 7.79, with the best bowling figures of 4/30.

He led Sri Lanka in 18 ODIs. His record as captain is somewhat disappointing, with only FIVE victories and 12 losses, with one match being abandoned.

He was chosen as one of five Wisden cricketers in 1996. He also played county cricket for Kent. He briefly served as the Head of the National Selectors Committee for Sri Lanka Cricket in 2010-11.

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