Anura Ranasinghe

Infobox Cricketer


nationality = Sri Lankan
country = Sri Lanka
country abbrev = SL
name = Anura Ranasinghe
picture = Cricket no pic.pngbatting style = Right-handed batsman
bowling style = Left arm medium pace
tests = 2
test runs = 88
test bat avg = 22.00
test 100s/50s = 0/1
test top score = 77
test overs = 19
test wickets = 1
test bowl avg = 69.00
test 5s = 0
test 10s = 0
test best bowling = 1/23
test catches/stumpings = 0/0
ODIs = 9
ODI runs = 153
ODI bat avg = 21.85
ODI 100s/50s = 0/1
ODI top score = 51
ODI overs = 54
ODI wickets = 2
ODI bowl avg = 140.50
ODI 5s = 0
ODI best bowling = 1/21
ODI catches/stumpings = 0/0
date = 22 September
year = 1982
source = http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/50241.html

Anura Nandana Ranasinghe (13 October 1956, Kalutara – 9 November 1998, Colombo) was a Sri Lankan cricketer, who represented Sri Lanka at international level 11 times. Ranasinghe's career, however, was cut short by deciding to tour South Africa in 1982-83, which resulted in him getting a 25-year ban from all cricket. He made his debut for the side in the 1975 World Cup, where he played all three matches for Sri Lanka, scoring a total of 19 runs in three innings and conceding 65 runs from ten overs.

His poor performances meant that he was not considered for the 1979 World Cup, nor the inaugural Test match where England played against Sri Lanka. He did play in two ODIs against England, but his fortunes were the reverse of Sri Lanka's - in the first ODI, he scored a quickfire 51, but was caught by Geoff Cook just as Sri Lanka needed to up the run rate to chase England's total. They finished six runs short of victory. In the second, Ranasinghe recorded a duck, and yet Sri Lanka won by three runs - although his nine economical overs, conceding only 37 runs, had some say in the win. His ODI performances may have played a part into his call-up for the 1981-82 tour of Pakistan. He didn't play the first Test, but came in for Ravi Ratnayeke in the second, the selectors wanting to bolster the batting. Despite the Sri Lankans doing well, Ranasinghe contributed little, scoring only eleven runs in two innings and bowling twelve overs for 40 runs - also taking the wicket of wicket-keeper Ashraf Ali.

He was dropped again for the third Test, but returned a year later, for Sri Lanka's 1982-83 tour of India. His first innings was another disappointment, as he was dismissed for a duck, but a rearguard 77 against Kapil Dev and Dilip Doshi ensured that Sri Lanka could draw the match. That was his last international game of cricket, however, as the South Africa tour meant that his career was curtailed.

Anura Ranasinghe won the best schoolboy cricketer award during the 1974-75 cricketing season when he first played cricket for Nalanda College.

Nalanda Junior Old Boys Association NJOBA organizes Old Ananda Nalanda Test Cricketers' Limited Over Encounter and it is named after Anura Ranasinghe.

Anura is the 13th Sri Lanka Test Cap [Pakistan Vs Sri Lanka at Faisalabad Pakistan 1981/82]

References

[http://www.dailynews.lk/2005/10/08/spo04.htm Cricket stars pay homage to Anura Ranasinghe an article written by SA'ADI Thawfeeq to Dailynews Paper]