Malsiri Kurukulasuriya a glamorous cricketer

Sporting Personalities with Ken de Joodt :

SPORTING PERSONALITIES: In this 'topsy-turvy' world of burdensome 'uncertainties' in life, some can either pray and ask God for relief from burdens or they could also give thanks for the 'creation' of Cricket, a game of "glorious uncertainties'... which 'burns out' time with relaxation and consoles the weary 'souls' who experience the 'burn outs' of day-to-day exertions of life! Going back in years to the 'Fabulous Fifties', it was 'jolly' fun to hear many young and old Cricket fans around the world, sing or whistle their version of a popular Caribbean Calypso - "Cricket lovely Cricket"! This was a special composition to become the flamboyant cricketers of the West Indies Test Team, who at that time startled the Cricket world with their brilliant batting trio - Weekes, Worrell and Walcott - and the sensational 'spin twins' in bowling, Ramadhi and Valentine!

At about the same time, many sparkling Cricketing 'stars' emerged from the hills of Kandy, performing excellently with bat and ball, on the lush green Cricket fields of Sri Lanka! Amongst them, was an outstanding glamorous Cricketer, a dashing, stylish, right-handed batsman, Malsiri Kurukulasuriya, from Trinity College, Kandy.

Malsiri was a delight to the eye, a brilliant strokemaker, smooth, graceful and one who could effectively attack and destroy the best of bowlers.

As an effective off-spin bowler, he did well but he was admired and highly respected as a classy batsman, (compared with the likes of the great West Indian batsman Rohan Kanhai of that era). Immaculately dressed, he was the epitome of smartness and elegance, whether on the Cricket field or 'walking around' in social circles!

As a 'Glamour-Boy' of School cricket, his playing years commenced at Trinity, from the tender age of 13 years when he was selected to play for the under 16 cricket team in 1953 and scored his first Century against Kingswood College, Kandy.

He stepped into his '1st eleven boots' by 1956 at the age of 16 years and scored his first Inter-Collegiate Century (106 runs) against Dharmarajah College, Kandy in 1957. This was followed by more centuries in 1958, with another 110 against Dharmarajah, 99 not out against Zahira College, Colombo and 102 against St. Josephs, Colombo.

In 1959, Malsiri knocked-up a record, four centuries in the season - against Zahira (150 not out), St. Thomas College, Mt. Lavinia (118), St. Sylvesters, Kandy (110) and a strong Jaffna Combined Colleges (118).

In addition, he had 16 scores of over 50 runs in those three years of school cricket and ended up his school cricketing career Captaining Trinity College in March 1959.

He was also chosen as the number two Best Schoolboy Batsman for the season. Malsiri represented the Ceylon Combined Schools against the Indian Schools and the South Australian Schools boys.

His Trinity College contemporaries were Nimal Maralanda, M. U. Odayar, Seneca de Chickera, Asoka Peiris, Sena de Sylva, Jayantissa Ratwatte, Lakshman Karalliadde, Errol Fernando, Tilak Ratwatte, Ken de Joodt, Vohara de Silva, D. C. Abeyratne, Malcolm Dias, Eric Roles, Gamini Fernando, Russel Va Rooyen, Tissa Kodituwakku, Denzil Kobbekaduwa and S. A. de Silva.

Moving on from Trinity College in 1959, to enter the University of Ceylon as an undergraduate up to 1964, Malsiri continued his prolific run scoring and captured crucial wickets with his clever off-spin bowling.

This period of his life bore significant changes, to his betterment in employment opportunities, club and country cricket, as well as for valuable life-time friendships.

Some of his Varsity cricket team-mates were Dr. H. I. K. Fernando, Neil Chanmugam, Dr. Brendon Goonaratne, Dr. C. Thurairaja, D. H. de Silva, Carlislye Perera, Dr. Michael Joachim, Dr. B. G. Reid, N. Fernando, Errol Fernando, Seneca de Chickera, A. T. Fonseka and Ranjith Doranegama.

In 1964 Malsiri pursued higher studies in England, at the Oxford University and was selected as a 'trialist' under the Captaincy of the Nawab of Pataudi. In his first appearance for Oxford University, he scored an unbeaten 154 runs.

He had bright prospects of gaining his Cricket Blue, as the only others to do so up to that time had been F. C. de Saram (Royal), Dan Piachaud (S. Thomas'), Gamini Goonasena (Royal) and P. I. Peiris (S. Thomas')

On his return to Sri Lanka in 1965, Malsiri joined the Sinhalese Sports Club to add strength with his tremendous batting reputation, participating in the P. Sara Trophy Tournament.

As Vice-Captain of the SSC to P. I. Peiris (Captain in 1966/67), Malsiri played along with a galaxy of cricketing 'Stars' like, C. I. Gunesekera, E. L. Perera, Stanley de Alwis, Maurice Wanigaratne, L. Senanayake, Tyronne Le Mercier, Sarath Silva, L. S. Perera, S. Wimalaratne, Nihal Amaradasa and Nihal Kodituwakku.

Malsiri decided to return to England in 1968 for employment and joined the Uxbridge Cricket Club and played in the Middlesex League upto 1971. He scored over 2000 runs in one season, which stands as a record to this day.

From England he moved to Canada in 1972, which he considers a very rewarding experience in his working career, mixed with greater cricketing achievements. Having been selected to represent the Canadian National Team in International cricket fixtures from 1972 to '80.

Malsiri was the first Sri Lankan to represent Canada in 1972, in their Annual fixture, with USA, the oldest international series (over 150 years old). He was also in the 1973 team which beat an Australian touring team, led by Ian Chappell, including great Test players like Greg Chappell, Doug Walters, Rod Marsh and Dennis Lillee.

From 1973 to '78 he toured England, Ireland and the West Indies. In 2003 Malsiri was invited to coach the Canadian Cricket Team, taking over from the famous West Indian Test cricketer-Gus Logi. With glee in his eyes and a love for his only son Dilhan Kurukulasuriya, Malsiri was proud to say that Dilhan participated at the 8th International Youth Tournament at Radley College, Oxford, as wicket-keeper for the under 19 Canadian Youth Team. Following in the footsteps of his father, Dilhan has turned out to be a solid batsman, at No.4.

Malsiri now resides in Kandy in his ancestral home and is married to Emma, a pretty, faithful, 'young-at-heart' Filipino lady. In 1982, an unfortunate road accident in Toronto, compelled Malsiri to return to Sri Lanka in 1985, as he suffered severe nerve damage in the neck.

This in no way hindered or hampered his normal life nor did it stop him from pursuing his interests in cricket. Today, Malsiri is seen on the Trinity cricket grounds at Asgiriya, coaching the youngsters, defying all medical advice.

Doctors diagnosed and predicted a bleak future, advising him not to drive or play cricket. In his own words, Malsiri said "I never gave up hope, and I can live a normal life if I fight it, I have accepted this as part of my life and I do not worry about what others have to say. I thank the Doctors for their kind advice and my wife Emma who is by my side."

It is said that some are 'born with a Silver Spoon in the Mouth' - as a form of flattery of those who have things gainfully going their way! Perhaps one could say.

Malsiri was born with a "Golden Bat in his Hands! and had it 'going his way' in the cricket fields of play!!

As some cricket experts affirmed, Malsiri was one of the best stroke-players in the schools, the most talked of batsman, who scored all round the wicket and a 'nightmare' to all bowlers! Due to his frequent sojourns to other countries he was deprived of playing for his own country... but eventually played for another - Canada, where he was highly acclaimed!!