UNFULFILLED TALENT

Pushpakumara - There's never been one like him

by Rex Clementine • Last updated on

The Sri Lanka pacer couldn't fulfil his potential, picking up 58 scalps in 23 Tests © Getty

Sri Lanka naming rookie fast bowler Shehan Madushanka in their squad for the tri-nation series in Bangladesh brings back memories of tearaway fast bowler Ravindra Pushpakumara. When Arjuna Ranatunga picked Pushpakumara from total obscurity to make his debut at the age of 18, very few had heard of him. It's the same case with the 22-year-old Madushanka, who has played less than a handful of domestic matches.

Pushpakumara was one of the brightest prospects around in mid-90s. He was never short of skill and his pace troubled the best of batsmen, but his success was short-lived.

Known for his eccentric behaviour, when Pushpakumara was picked to go to Madras for training under Dennis Lillee at the MRF Pace Academy, there were a few murmurs as he didn't come through the system.

He came from the little known St. John's College, Panadura. His case was pushed by Neil Perera, the long-standing Secretary of SLC in the 1980s and 1990s, who also hailed from Panadura.

Every leader has a favourite disciple. Even Jesus had. He trusted John more than his other disciples. So did Lillee. Pushpakumara spoke little English. Yet, he was Lillee's best student. Soon he was nicknamed 'Baby Waqar'.

Sri Lanka's most successful fast bowler Chaminda Vaas, one year older than Pushpakumara, also was at the academy at that time. He recalls Pushpakumara's heroics.

"Sir Dennis was confident that Pushpa[kumara] was going to be the next big thing in fast bowling. Whatever he wanted Pushpa to bowl, he could deliver. Inswinger, outswinger, bouncer, yorker. Everything. Pushpa was a jack of all trade. He was the complete fast bowler," Vaas told Cricbuzz.

At the academy, Pushpakumara was known for his mischief. Lillee had introduced novel techniques to coaching. Using the swimming pool for players to warm-down was one of them. When the coach wasn't around, the players would on the sly go and dive. Pushpakumara tried the dive too but ended up hurting his head. There was nothing wrong with the pool, Pushpakumara had tried his dive at the shallow end. The self-enforced injury ended his MRF stint. He was lucky to get another break at the academy a few months later and his legend grew.

As Pushpakumara spoke and wrote little English, when travelling overseas, his embarkation card had to be filled by the Team Manager. After replacing Dav Whatmore as Sri Lanka's coach, Bruce Yardley had encouraged players to express themselves in English even though they were making mistakes. During one of the tours, Pushpakumara informed Team Manager Ranjit Fernando not to worry about his embarkation card as he was confident of filling it by himself. So he filled in the blanks. In front of the column which said 'Profession' Pushpakumara had written 'FAST BOWLER'.

Although his team-mates were having a laugh, he never gave up. He kept speaking the Queen's language of course with a lot of mistakes.

Those were the days when the players used to share rooms. During a tour of New Zealand, Pushpakumara's roommate was Rumesh Kaluwitharana. Kalu(as he was fondly called) hails from an area called Moratuwa, about 15 kilometres from Colombo. Although Moratuwa is famous for arrack and baila, the place also has many famous Christian churches and the residents of the area are extremely religious. So is Kalu. He would start each day after reading a passage from the Bible.

Team Manager Duleep Mendis wanted to get through to Kalu. So he dialled the room. Pushpakumara picked up the call. Mendis asked for Kalu. Pushpakumara replied, 'I am sorry Manager. Kaluis in the religion.'

Yardley had stressed on fast bowlers showing aggression. So he told them to stare at the batsmen or let their disappointment known when someone played and missed.

The next day Pushpakumara bowled a juicy half-volley to Inzamam-ul-Haq. The ball was duly dispatched to the boundary. Pushpakumara with arms on his hip stared at Inzi and said, '**** you'. Ranatunga was at mid-off. He was perplexed and angry as he had a lot of admiration for Inzamam. Besides, how can you abuse someone after such a poor delivery? He wanted an explanation. In defence, Pushpakumara said he was trying to be aggressive. Ranatunga gave a piece of his mind, '**** you too.' He told his erratic fast bowler.

Pushpakumara's antics worked well at times. During the World Cup final, Aravinda de Silva and Asanka Gurusinha put on a crucial 125-run stand for the third wicket. A drinks break was fast approaching. Pushpakumara was one of the reserves and as he was getting ready to carry the drinks. Whatmore called up Pushpakumara and gave some instructions to be passed to the two batsmen. Ranatunga gave few more as well. Manager Duleep Mendis chipped in followed by other senior players. It was a tense dressing room on the 17th of March 1996.

As Pushpakumara ran onto the middle, he wondered why he should upset the momentum by giving too many instructions. So he went up to Aravinda and said, 'Well played aiyya'. Then he turned to Gurusinha and said, 'well-played aiyaa'. All other instructions he kept to himself.

Despite all the bizarre things he did, Pushpakumara could bowl. His finest hour came in Harare in 1994 when he picked up seven wickets in an innings. He was still 19-years-old. This wasn't a struggling opposition. This was the Zimbabwe of old comprising the Flower brothers, David Houghton, Alistair Campbell and Heath Streak.

Pushpakumara had made his Test debut early that year in 1994. Vaas also made his debut in the same game. Pushpakumara took four wickets in Pakistan's only innings and among his victims were Aamir Sohail, Saeed Anwar and Wasim Akram. Vaas failed to pick up a wicket. It was hardly an indication as to how the careers of two fast bowlers would progress.

With sheer hard work and dedication, Vaas went onto take 355 Test wickets. Pushpakumara failed to do justice to his immense talent finishing with just 58 wickets after 23 Tests.

After cricket, Pushpakumara encountered some hard times. He had sold the apartment the government had gifted him after the World Cup triumph. He was struggling to keep the home fire burning.

The arrival of Ranatunga as SLC Chairman in 2008 was a godsend to Pushpakumara. Ranatunga had immense concern for the well being of those who had played with him. So he recruited Pushpakumara as a fast bowling coach. Pushpakumara's father is a Tamil hailing from the north. So he was put in charge of Jaffna to scout talent from the area.

Pushpakumara has made an impact as a coach and some fine talents are emerging from Jaffna after the war. As a player with more focus and commitment, he would have gone on to achieve great things. But that was never to be. Pushpakumara will be always remembered. There's been never a one like him.

© Cricbuzz

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