“ I have always wanted to win matches for Sri Lanka more than my personal achievements. I know that I have made my retirement at the right time said Sri Lankan paceman Suranga Lakmal who is retiring from International cricket after the second test against India in Bangalore.
Lakmal the 35 year old seamer further said this is the right time to retire from test cricket I have allowed another bowler to be groomed in my place,” I can easily play more matches but if I will do that it’s very unfair depriving another youngster of playing for the test team.
The right-arm fast bowler, Suranga Lakmal was first spotted by Sri Lanka Cricket’s fast bowling coaches while still a student at Debarawewa Central at Hambantota.They closely monitored his progress when he shifted to Richmond College and then to the Tamil Union where he developed his skills to enter the National team The coaches were impressed by Lakmal’s height and ability to get bounce and swing the ball. His commitment to his club Tamil Union is very high.From Debarawewa to Richmond and then moved to Tamil Union to get employment at Janashakthi Insurance. He never changed his club Tamil Union and up to date he continued to play for the club and captained the club to get Premier League championship at domestic level.
Lakmal first entered the National team to play ODI against India on December 18 2009 in Nagpur while now he is going to retire from International cricket against India team in Bangalore after playing 70 tests .From his test debut against West Indies in 2010 at R.Premadasa Stadium Lakmal was able to get 170 wickets ( before this Bangalore test) including four five wickets hauls and his best bowling figures are 5 for 47 .
“I have played for Sri Lanka for the past 13 years and when I look back I can be satisfied that I have done something for Sri Lanka cricket said Lakmal.I never go for personal milestones and always play for my team and country .. If I wanted to go for 200 test wickets I don’t know how many Tests it will take me to get there. Thereby I will be only preventing another bowler from being groomed.”. Test cricket is the real cricket. A player must take a liking to it first before branching off into other formats. What I find is some players dislike Test cricket because it is not easy and there is a lot of hard work involved said Lakmal.
“Test cricket is not easy. I know how much of a sacrifice I had to go through in the 13 years. You can gain a lot of satisfaction from what you achieve from Test cricket. We have to play a lot of red ball cricket if we are to find quality fast bowlers for the future.”
As a player I gave my full effort to the team while I had opportunity to captain in five test matches in my test career.Especially the day night test against West Indies at Barbados we won and that was my most unforgettable match. There are up and downs for any cricketer and we have to face that but most important is maintaining good mental and physical fitness during the game. During Lahore terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team I was wounded and that incident will never be forgetten by me.
I had a dream to play English county cricket after my test career and finally I got that opportunity to play for Derbyshire county and looking forward to do well. But I never forget my country and any time like to give my support to another young cricketer said Lakmal .
Especially I have to thank my loving parents, family members two children and loving wife Dilani Chalanika they always encouraged me and all my coaches from school level to club and then at National level with out them I couldn’t come this journey said Suranga Lakmal.He started Cricket from Debarawewa with lot of difficulty then moved to Galle and Colombo and now planning to go to England for county cricket but his hard journey and dedication to the game is a good example for young cricketers .