Chaminda Vaas:

Sri Lanka's new fast bowling coach

Premasara Epasinghe

His full name is probably one of the longest names of a World Test and ODI cricketer. Warnakulasuriya Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas - this unassuming gentleman Test Player who was regarded as one of the best of Sri Lanka's pacemen is today, the new fast bowling coach of Sri Lanka.

In his cherished career, he was selected for the World Test and One Day XI at the inaugural ICC Awards. He was once again selected for the World Test XI at the 2005 Awards. Chaminda Vaas was born on January 27, 1974. He holds the record for the best bowling analysis in ODIs (8 for 19 against Zimbabwe in 2001) and who in 2003 World Cup became the first bowler in any form of cricket to take a hat-trick with the first three balls of a match - in the ODI against Bangladesh at Pietermaritzburg. This is the first time this has been done in any form of cricket. He went on to take another wicket in the same over to make it four for the over. In 32 attempts, in 1995, Sri Lanka won an overseas Test when they beat New Zealand at Napier by 241 runs. Chaminda Vaas grabbed a five wicket haul (5 for 47 + 5 for 43) and became the first Sri Lankan to take ten wickets in a Test.

In 2004, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 35 in the Third ODI against Sri Lanka at Harare. Chaminda Vaas, who took 4 for 12 became the second Sri Lankan and the sixth bowler to take more than 300 wickets in ODIs.

In 1990 Wasim Akram of Pakistan became the first player to take two hat-tricks in ODI cricket, Saqlain Mushtaq and Chaminda Vaas are the others who have taken two hat-tricks in ODIs.

M K G C P Lakshitha became the 13th bowler to take a wicket with his first ball in Test Cricket, when he dismissed Mohammed Ashraful of Bangladesh in the second Test at Colombo. He also became the second Sri Lankan bowler, to have five initials before his name after W P U J Chaminda Vaas.

December 3, 2002 was an important day for SL cricket, as Sri Lanka beat West Indies by ten wickets in the third Test at Colombo. This match was unforgettable where we witnessed outstanding performances from Chaminda Vaas and Brian Lara. Vaas took 7 for 129 and 7 for 71 to return his career best analysis and the second best by a Sri Lanka after Muralitharan's 16 wickets against England in 1998.

An old boy of St Anthony's College, Wattala and St Joseph's College, Maradana, he represented a leading club in Sri Lanka Colts Cricket Club, and made his debut for the Sri Lanka Cricket Team, about 17 years back in 1994, against Pakistan in the 3rd Test, played at the picturesque Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy the hill capital of Sri Lanka.

Architect of First Test victory abroad

Chaminda Vaas is a left hand batsman as well as left arm medium Fast bowler. He made a fine impact in his first year of international cricket, as he helped Sri Lanka, to their maiden Test match victory, away from Sri Lanka, against Sri Lanka. Against New Zealand in Napier, this brilliant bowler - Chaminda Vaas, in the first innings took 5 for 47, and in the second innings, recorded 5 for 43 - A match bag of 10 for 93, fantastic indeed. In 2001-2002, Chaminda was in his peak form - unplayable. He took 26 wickets in a series win against the West Indies. Tests - 88, Innings - 126, Not outs 25, Runs - 3807, HS - 136, Average 37.69 - 6 x 100s, 18 x 50s, 28 catches, Balls - 19,458, Runs - 8258, Wickets - 362, Average - 21.11, Best Bowling figure 7/52. On 25th March 1992, at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia, under the able shrewd captaincy of Imran Khan, Pakistan annexed the fifth World Cup in 1992.

At the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, held in South Africa, Chaminda Vaas collected 23 wickets in the grassy fast tracks and became the leading wicket taker in the tournament.

Hat-trick against Bangladesh

This great performance of Chaminda Vaas as a bowler was against Bangladesh. He took 6 for 25 including a hat-trick with the first three deliveries.

He made his maiden Test century on June 26, 2007, playing against Bangladesh, in Colombo Sri Lanka, out of a total of 572 for 6 wickets. This was his 97th Test Match. In November, 2007, Vaas played his hundredth Test, and that was against England. Incidentally, this was Sanath Jayasuriya's First Test Match for Sri Lanka.

Captures 400 ODI wicket - Yuvraj Singh

Another landmark in Chaminda Vaas's distinguished career was that in August 2008, in the fourth one day international in India he captured His 400th wicket, when he held onto a catch given by Yuvraj Singh off his own penetrative bowling. Thus, he joined the illustrious "400 Wicket Takers Club" with Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and his team mate Muttiah Muralitharan. The smiling assassin Murlaitharan is the other Sri Lankan bowler in international cricket circuit to have taken 400 ODI wickets.

County Player of Repute

Chaminda Vaas was born on January 27, 1974, at Mattumagala, in the Gampaha District. Some of the major teams that he played were Colts Cricket Club, Hampishire (2003), Northamptonshire (2004), Middlesex (2007), Worcestershire (2005).

His Test debut was in 1994/95 against Pakistan, 3rd Test played at Asgiriya stadium. In 2009, he played his last Test against Pakistan in the 3rd Test played at the SSC grounds.

In 1993/1994, at Madhavro Scindia Cricket Stadium, India he played his first ODI against India and ended his cherished ODI career, again against India, at R Premadasa Stadium in the 4th ODI.

Northamptonshire Professioanl Chaminda Vaas, on 2011 January 11, capturing 10 wickets enabled Northamptonshire to beat Glamorgan. This was one of his highlights in his career.

1996 World Cup Mark Waughs wicket was a Turning Point

Chaminda Vaas's bowling in the 1996 World Cup is still remains embelled in my memory as the Sri Lanka's Cricket Commentator for Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.

This great left arm medium pace bowler Chaminda Vaas in 1996 World Cup matches against Kenya (10-0-44-1), England (8-1-29-1), Semi Final against India (6-1-25-1) and in the Final against Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium, Pakistan on 17 March 1996 captured the vital wicket of Mark Waugh for 12 runs, caught to a stunning catch by Jayasuriya off Chaminda Vaas's bowling. It was undoubtedly this vital wicket at the Australia total of 36 was the real break for Sri Lanka's victory. Due to this, Sri Lanka were able to restrict the powerful Australian batting line-up to 241 for 7 in their 50 overs.

The Biggest Disappointment for SL and Vaas

Cricket, is sometime a Game of Disappointment. For Chaminda Vaas, probably his biggest disappointment was his non-inclusion for the ICC 2011 World Cup. The Indians were overjoyed when they learnt the experienced ODI War Horses Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas were excluded.

Cricket is a mind game. For example, a bowler of the calibre of Chaminda Vaas who captured Sachin Tendulkar and many Indian wickets on several occasions, would have been psychologically affected once they face a bowler like Chaminda Vaas in ICC World Cup 2011.

He is a first class left arm swing bowler. He used to open bowling for SL, and his In-Dipper is a dangerous ball. He bowls an off-cutter too. Added to all this his Reverse Swing, paid dividends. He dropped his speed. Still, he continues a fine length and direction.

As a batsman too he was useful his 3,000 odd runs in Test includes 13 fifties and a century. Another important fact sometime many are unaware is that only eleven (11) bowlers in Test History have 200 wickets, have scored more runs than Chaminda Vaas.

This charming, charismatic, God fearing, unassuming through gentlemanly cricketer Chaminda Vaas is the most penetrative and successful new-ball bowler I have seen in my four and half decades of commentating career.

It was a pity, he was not selected to play in the 2011 ICC World Cup. Of course, I am not a selector!