Mirando shines as an all rounder

Chris DHAMBARAGE

The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) coaching staff yesterday commended the magnificent efforts of Thilan Thushara Mirando who emerged as a genuine all rounder during the fourth one day international against India at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

The 27 year old left arm seamer from Balapitiya returned career best figures of five wickets for 47 and then followed up with a spirited knock of 40 in Sri Lanka’s final total of 212. In fact he is currently Sri Lanka’s second highest run getter and also the highest wicket taker in the series.

The Head of the SLC Coaching Unit Jerome Jayaratne said that they are very much pleased with the efforts of Mirando who has made steady progress in the recent past in all departments of the game.

Jayaratne noted that they are not surprised with the talent and potential of this young fast bowler who has worked hard under the guidance of Champaka Ramanayake and presently under Anusha Samaranayake the fast bowling coach of the SLC.

Samaranayake said that Mirando has improved tremendously as a fast bowler specially with his accuracy and variation.

He is now able to bring the ball back into the right handers, an art which bowlers in the calibre of Chaminda Vaas has been really successful throughout his career.

Samaranayake further noted that Mirando has more variation in his length with his short stint in the SLC Academy squad and the English League season has also helped him to improve his technique.

Another area that he has corrected is his non bowling arm which he tend to move towards the leg side with an open shoulder. This has been the main reason for his setback in the past few years that has cost him a permanent place in the national team despite having made his first class debut way back in 1998.

In fact Mirando never did any justice to be selected for the national team during the initial stages of his career as his bowling was rather inconsistent and erratic. But following the guidance and the advice from the SLC fast bowling unit, Mirando has emerged as a good replacement for veteran Chaminda Vaas in the future.

His batting of course has always been a plus point even during his school career at Siddhartha MMV, Balapitiya. However Mirando never had the opportunity of representing the country at age group level but came into the limelight once he entered into the SLC fast bowling unit in 2001.

Thilan Thushara Mirando’s performances in the series against India.

Batting:

1st ODI - did not bat

2nd ODI - 44

3rd ODI - 30

4th ODI - 44

Bowling:

1st ODI - 1 for 18 in

2nd ODI - 2 for 32 in

3rd ODI - 2 for 36 in

4th ODI - 5 for 47 in