For Warnapura the waiting is over

For Malinda Warnapura the long wait is over. When he walks out to open the Sri Lanka innings against Bangladesh in the first Test starting on June 25 at the SSC in Colombo it will hopefully launch him on a course that will ensure a permanent place in the national team. Despite his impending Test debut, there are no signs of nervousness, instead a steely determination to make the best out of the opportunity. "I am waiting to play and I am hoping I can make it good," he deadpanned.

For Warnapura, 28, the remarkable change to his career came two years ago. "I used to play a season with my club Colombo Colts and then go to England and play league cricket. I did it for five seasons thinking that this is as far as I will go in the game. But Romesh Kaluwitharana (the former Sri Lanka wicket-keeper-batsman) changed all that," said Warnapura.

"Romesh who took over as coach of Colts said you can do better than that and one day play for your country because you have the talent and the ability. I was batting at No.5 or 6 and he pushed me up the order to No.3 from where I started to make a load of runs," Warnapura, nephew of Sri Lanka's first Test captain Bandula Warnapura, said. Chandika Hathurusingha, the Sri Lanka A team coach too had a big influence in his career. "He's made better cricketers out of all of us because he thinks like an Australian," Warnapura remarked.

The 2005-06 season was special. Warnapura enjoyed his best season with Colts, accumulating the third highest aggregate with 829 runs (avg. 59.21), including three centuries and three fifties from 11 first-class matches. He was picked for the Sri Lanka A team's tour of India for the Duleep trophy and showed outstanding form in the tournament hitting back-to-back unbeaten centuries at the famous Eden Gardens in Kolkata. His 111 not out steered the team to the final and in the final against North Zone (the eventual winners) he compiled 149 not out to finish with an aggregate of 421 runs (avg. 105.25) from three matches.

Disappointment was to follow when he was left out of the tour to New Zealand in preference to Chamara Silva. Warnapura was selected to tour West Indies with Sri Lanka A instead, but illness for the most part prevented him from producing his best. But the chance for redemption came when Bangladesh A toured Sri Lanka in March-April this year. Warnapura began the unofficial 'Test' series with a monumental double century, the first in his career - 242 off 367 balls, an innings which clearly showed his temperament for the big occasion. He was made captain for the one-day series that followed and opening the batting in the second game hit an unbeaten 104 off 113 balls. Sri Lanka A made a clean sweep of the series 3-0.

"Although most people think that I am good for Test cricket I know I can adapt myself to both versions of the game," said Warnapura. He has already broken into ODIs making his debut for Sri Lanka against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi last month. Warnapura's strong point is his wonderful temperament which enables him to concentrate for long periods in the middle. Backed by a good technique he looks ideal Test match material.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene confirmed the prevailing view. "I've played against Malinda quite a while ago in club cricket. He was a very gutsy cricketer at that time as well. In the last year and a half he's been very consistent with the bat with the A team and scored some big runs under pressure situations especially in India in the Duleep trophy.

"It's good to see that he is mentally prepared to fight out tough situations. He looks pretty good in technique and has a good temperament. We feel that he is a player who definitely is part of our longer version of the game. It's good that he's got his opportunity when he is in form. He deserves his spot. The only thing is that he is not an out-and-out opener but a No. 3. I am sure he can handle this situation. It will be a very good opportunity for him."