I like to play aggressively

Dilanka MANNAKKARA

Shaminda Eranga is the latest pace sensation in Sri Lanka and he has been a breath of fresh air for the 75 miles per hour mediocre pace bowler which Sri Lanka possesses. The guy is quite quick, nippy and can bowl some good slower balls as well.

A brisk fast-medium bowler, Shaminda Eranga’s ODI and Test debuts were both spectacular: In his first ODI, against Australia in 2011, he needed only two balls to make an impact, bowling Brad Haddin through the gate.

An even more memorable dismissal followed, when Ricky Ponting failed to read his slower ball and pushed back a return catch. Eranga continued to impress everyone when he made his Test debut against the Aussies at one of the flattest decks in the world, SSC a nightmare of a pitch for pace bowling and became only the second Sri Lankan bowler to strike with his very first delivery, when he dismissed Shane Watson. Eranga took four wickets in the first innings and showed the other Lankan bowlers that if you can be consistent and hit a good length, you can take wickets. I met up with this tall, lanky promising pacie and here are some excerpts from the interview.

Q – In a short period of time you have made huge strides in to the national level, Talk about it.

A - I was first discovered in 2006 in an all-island `Pace Ace` competition. Champaka Ramanayake and Anusha Samaranayake, who are now my fast bowling coaches, picked me up at that competition. I then played for Chilaw Marians and got a chance to play in the division-one premier league tournament, which opened the way for me to get into the Sri Lanka development squad.

After that, I got a chance to play provincial level tournaments. Finally, I got into the Sri Lanka-A squad. It has been a long hard road before I was selected for the Test squad in November for the West Indies tour though I couldn’t play any matches due to rain. Then I toured England with the Sri Lanka A team and performed very well with bat and ball and I was selected for the ODI squad against Australia.

Q – You are a fast bowler and most often pacies are the biggest, baddest and meanest guys in the team. Do you like to play attacking cricket and play mind games with the batsmen?

A – Well, I have always played my cricket aggressively. I give 100% for the team and if a word or two with the batsmen and quick stare makes them loses their wicket, then mind games are on. Sometimes batsmen lose their concentration when a bowler looks at them eye ball to eye ball. (laughing)

Q - Did you play cricket in school?

A - I played cricket and football when I was at St. Mary`s College in Chilaw. I played cricket from the under-13 level to under-19, and I was a good all-rounder back then, too.

Q –When you came in to the scene,it was said that you could bowl at 140 kmph and beyond but we haven’t seen you bowl that fast. Is it because you are concerned about your accuracy?

A – Well, I have the ability to bowl some deliveries at 140 kmph but one got to realize that it is much easier in England to bowl faster with the comfortable weather, wind and also the fact that you like to bowl fast since the pitch assists you. But in Sri Lanka life isn’t easy for a fast bowler and it’s quite tiring to bowl at brisk pace specially on these slow, batsmen friendly tracks like the SSC.

In the ODIs I was much more concerned about my line and length. You got to have the pace, but if you aren’t accurate, the batsmen will pick you and hit you all over.

Q - What is the fastest you have clocked on the speed gun?

A - I can bowl at 140 km/h and above, which is my fastest. I think that`s pretty good by Lankan standards.

Q – Do you think that your “pace” was the main reason that you came in to the national squad so quickly?

A – Well yeah, after Lasith Malinga retired from Test cricket, the selectors were looking for genuine pace bowlers and since I had some pace under my belt, I think that was a plus factor in me coming in to the team.

Q – You are renowned as a hard hitting lower order batsman. Do you intend in improving your batting in the future?

A – Definetly. Nowadays even bowlers need to be able to get some runs for the team. Since I was an all rounder at school and for my Club, I want to improve my batting and hopefully play at number seven or eight for the National team.

Q - As a bowler, what is your greatest strength? Do you move the ball both ways?

A - Yes, I can move the ball both ways. I also can be quite accurate use reverse swing when the ball is old. Fast bowlers must be healthy and in good physical condition, and I am in peak physical condition. My ability to bowl fast, my physical fitness and the ability to move it both ways are my strengths.

Q – What’s your most memorable moment in international cricket?

A - (laughing), Well it’s obviously got to be taking the wicket of Ricky Ponting. He is a legend and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I got his wicket. That is the most special moment in my career and will remain as that forever.