Dilruwan Perera      

Full name Mahawaduge Dilruwan Kamalaneth Perera

Born July 22, 1982, Panadura

Current age 27 years 125 days

Major teams Sri Lanka, Basnahira South, Colts Cricket Club, Panadura Sports Club

Batting style Right-hand bat

Bowling style Right-arm offbreak

Dilruwan Perera has made rapid progress since starting his career at Sri Sumangala College Panadura. He toured Australia with the Sri Lanka Under-19 team and, after he made his first-class debut for Panadura SC, was drafted into the A side in 2001. He played one season for Chilaw Marians Cricket Club and holds the bowling record for the Under-23s with 55 wickets from seven matches in 2004.

Perera's offbreaks and the arm-ball, which he uses to good effect, brought him his best bowling figures - seven wickets in an innings for Panadura SC v Galle CC in 2005 and was selected for Sri Lanka A's tour of England in 2007. On the advice of Muttiah Muralitharan - who he counts among his idols alongside Saqlain Mushtaq - he does "spot bowling" for at least an hour every day to perfect his skills. He has benefited immensely from being a member of the Sri Lanka Spin Academy where he came under the coaching of two former offspinners, Ashley Mallett of Australia and Ruwan Kalpage, the Sri Lankan.

Perera earned a call-up to Sri Lanka's squad for the Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa after Muralitharan was ruled out due to injury. He made his ODI debut in the CB Series in Australia and was named in the 30-member probables for the Champions Trophy.

Feb 29, 2008

Brett Lee struck early for Australia by trapping Dilruwan Perera leg before

© AFP

Feb 29, 2008

Brett Lee helps Dilruwan Perera to his feet after the latter had tripped over

© AFP

Feb 26, 2008

Dilruwan Perera is cleaned up by Ishant Sharma

© Getty Images

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