Aravinda de Silva      

Full name Pinnaduwage Aravinda de Silva

Born October 17, 1965, Colombo

Current age 44 years 36 days

Major teams Sri Lanka, Auckland, Kent, Nondescripts Cricket Club

Batting style Right-hand bat

Bowling style Right-arm offbreak

One of the game's best entertainers, de Silva possessed the strengths of many of the tallest short run-scorers: unruffable technique, strong at cutting and hooking, an unrepentant attacker. His record is unrivalled among countrymen, his place in history secure after a match-winning century in a World Cup final. He stands 5ft 3 1/2in and arguably there has not been a better smaller player. His enthusiasm was amazing: he was a virtual ever-present in the Sri Lanka side and also played first-class and club cricket in England, South Africa and Australia. His international career ended with the 2003 World Cup, where he batted with all the verve and panache of old, and bowled his offspinners cannily. Sri Lanka's cricket authorities ensured that his wealth of cricketing experience would not go waste, appointing him a national selector. His other main interests are cakes and cars (usually fast ones).
Simon Wilde

Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1996

Jul 14, 2009

Clive Lloyd, Aravinda de Silva, Michael Bevan, Dilip Vengsarkar and Balwinder Sandhu with the World Cup

© ICC

May 9, 2006

Muttiah Muralitharan chats with Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva

© Getty Images

Jun 29, 2005

Sunil Gavaskar ,Mike Atherton and Aravinda de Silva

© Getty Images

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