Lalith Kaluperuma - Present Chairman of Selectors played in the First Test - 1982 and the First World Cup - 1975

Life and times in sports by Premasara Epasinghe

Selector, is a person, a member of a committee, selecting a national sports team. To be the chairman of a sports body is always a tough assignment. In a way, it is a tight-rope walk. When a team is performing well, the public offer big bouquets. When a team fails, they, especially the Chairman of the Selection Committee faces many brick-bats. So, that is how it goes.

Today, I thought of penning a few lines on a former Sri Lankan Test player, right-arm off-break bowler and a right-hand bat - Lalith Wasantha Silva Kaluperuma - the present Chairman of the Selection Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket.

Lalith was born on 25th June 1949, in Colombo. Studying at Nalanda College, Colombo, he started playing junior cricket and later graduated to the senior team. He had the proud distinction of captaining Nalanda First XI in 1969. I was his master-in-charge of cricket and prefect of games. Soft-spoken, unassuming, 'Kalu' as a schoolboy, showed his class as a fine leader. Under his astute leadership, Nalanda remained an unbeaten side and in 1969, they were crowned as the schools champion outfit. Lalith Kaluperuma, was selected as the schoolboy cricketer of the year 1969 too.

He was undoubtedly the Best off-spin bowler among the school circuit who tormented many schoolboy cricketers.

Lalith Kaluperuma's champion outfit comprised of Bandula Warnapura (Director Operations, SLC) Palitha Seneviratne - Jayantha Seneviratne brothers, Gamini Mahasinha, Leslie Narangoda, Nandadeva Perera, Dhammika Samarawickrama, Daya Sirisena, Sarath Soysa, Lal Weerasinghe Madava Samarasinghe, Jayantha Pathirana, Asoka Kudahetty, Nihal Mendis, Aruna Wijeratne.

Going down memory lane

Going down memory lane, two incidents woven round Lalith Kaluperuma, I will never forget, as the Master-in-charge and Prefect of Games at Nalanda in 1969.

I usually start cricket practice sessions at about 2.30 p.m. and take them, till our coach arrives.

It was a Tuesday in February 1969, I requested Lalith to don pads to have a batting session. At the weekend, Nalanda were down to travel to Galle, to play Mahinda College. Lalith was not his usual.

He looked tired and weary and his shot selection was much to be desired. I was not happy. When coach Gerry Gooneratne arrived, I reported the matter to him. He wanted Lalith to have another batting turn. I still remember medium pacemen Nanda Perera and Bandula Warnapura were bowling. Lalith was finding difficult to face them. Gerry walked up to him. He asked him what was wrong with him. Gooneratne had a sharp look at Lalith, from head to toe. He immediately examined his eyes. Gerry Gooneratne yelled at me.

"Epa, how can this boy bat. He is having high fever. His eyes are yellow. Take him immediately to a doctor.

I immediately took him to a doctor friend of mine, apparently a relation of Lalith, who was residing close to Campbell Place - Dr. Mahinda Jayasinghe who captained Ananda in 1956. He examined Lalith and the symptoms were not very favourable. Two of us, immediately rushed him to General Hospital and he was admitted to Professor Rajasooriya's ward. Kaluperuma was in hospital for days. After about three weeks, he was completely cured and I met Prof. Rajasooriya and obtained green light, for him to play in the Big Match. Professor Rajasooriya granted permission for Lalith to play. He captained the 40th Ananda-Nalanda encounter.

Gutty player and able leader

I consider Lalith Kaluperuma as one of the guttiest players that I have seen. He is a great fighter, who always put team before self.

The inter-school cricket encounter between Nalanda and Prince of Wales was played on the first week of February at Moratuwa.

Those were the days the matches start at 12 noon. Believe it not on the first day Nalanda were shot out for 60, wherein PoW replied with 65. In the second essay on the first day itself Nalanda were again shot out for 55. The Cambrians had a whole day to score 55 runs for victory on the second day.

Moratuwa crowd in thousands sensing an early victory flocked to Prince of Wales grounds.

I made him a dual purpose bowler

Before the start of the second day, I adopted a different strategy as the Master-in-charge and advised Lalith Kaluperuma to open the bowling as a paceman, with Bandula Warnapura. It was a chance I took. I made Lalith Kaluperuma a dual purpose bowler, in this match.

It was like an Alfred Hitchcock movie. Kaluperuma and Bandula Warnapura two gutty fighters gave their best. When the last man walked in, Cambrians were struggling with 55 for 9. They had to get five runs for victory. The last man drove a full toss powerfully into the hands of burly Daya Sirisena, who took a brilliant catch. Nalanda won the match by 5 runs. Then trouble broke out as the Moratuwa crowd was so upset.

Luckily, one of our former teachers and an old Nalandian Army captain Pathiraja, came to our rescue. Under police escort victorious Nalanda team went to Captain Pathiraja's residence. He was the Chief Security Officer at Moratuwa campus. We all had dinner at his place. Lalith Kaluperuma throughout his club cricket career represented Bloomfield Cricket Club Colombo.

Member of the first Test team and first World Cup team

He had the proud distinction of representing Sri Lanka in first ever Test played at the P. Saravanamuttu stadium (Oval) in 1981/1982 against England. Incidentally, his team mate Bandula Warnapura captained the Sri Lanka team.

His last Test, was the 2nd Test played at Faisalabad against Pakistan in 1981/1982.

The present Chairman of the Selection Committee, had the rare distinction of playing in the first ever World Cup in 1975, against the mighty West Indians at Manchester. His last One-Day International was against England in 1981/1982. This match was played at the Sinhalese Sports Club grounds (SSC).

South African safari

His cricket career was cut short due to the rebel tour of South Africa in 1982, led by Bandula Warnapura.

Lalith Kaluperuma played in two Test matches. In 4 innings scored 12 runs with 11 not out. He bowled 27 overs, gave away 93 runs and went wicketless.

In four One Day Internationals played (including 13.02.1982) he scored 33 runs, and captured 2 wickets for 137 runs.

From 1970/71 - 1982/83 in the first class matches, Lalith Kaluperuma played in 57 matches and in 81 innings, scored 1023 runs.

As a night-watchman, against Pakistan, Lalith Kaluperuma scored 96 runs. In the bowling department, he bowled 9,372 deliveries, with 381 maidens gave away 3,931 runs and captured 129 wickets. He held 48 catches.

In the List A limited overs, Lalith Kaluperuma played in 16 matches, and in 11 innings scored 80 runs. In the bowling analysis, he bowled 636 balls gave away 414 runs, and captured 14 wickets.

Lalith's brother Sanath Kaluperuma too represented Sri Lanka.