{"id":105195,"date":"2022-12-05T09:39:13","date_gmt":"2022-12-05T09:39:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=105195"},"modified":"2022-12-05T09:43:33","modified_gmt":"2022-12-05T09:43:33","slug":"two-sri-lankans-in-victorias-cricket-xi-hallelujah-by-michael-roberts-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/two-sri-lankans-in-victorias-cricket-xi-hallelujah-by-michael-roberts-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Sri Lankans in Victoria\u2019s Cricket XI \u2026Hallelujah! – By Michael Roberts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two Sri Lankans in Victoria\u2019s Cricket XI \u2026Hallelujah! – By Michael Roberts<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Michael<\/p>\n

Source :\u00a0thuppahis<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Two players of Sri Lankan parentage are presently playing for Victoria in their Sheffield Shield game. The 31 year-old medium-pace bowler Ruwantha Prasad Kellepotha<\/strong>\u00a0has joined\u00a0 Chandrasinghe\u00a0 in the Victorian Eleven<\/span><\/p>\n

\"AshleyKellepotha is aged 31 years and was born in Kandy but educated at S. Thomas College, Matale. He is primarily a leg-break bowler.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ashley Philip Chandrasinghe<\/strong>\u00a0is just about 21 years of age\u00a0 \u2026 birthday coming up on December. He is primarily a left-hand opening batsman, thoug h he can bowl leg-breaks and googlies. His entry into the Victorian squad at sucha young age suggests great expectations in the Victorian cricket community.<\/span><\/p>\n

Russell Gould\u2019s article below provides several interesting sidelights.<\/span><\/p>\n

Russell Gould:\u00a0\u201cNew Victorian batting star reveals his links to Test star Usman Khawaja\u201d ..<\/strong>\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u00a0 There\u2019s already a buzz about Ashley Chandrasinghe after his debut century and if he follows his hero there\u2019s a Test in his future.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

New Victorian batting sensation Ashley Chandrasinghe has found a friend in Test opener Usman Khawaja but hasn\u2019t quite worked up the courage to ask for a connection to his batting hero.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The elegant 20-year-old left-hander made an eye-catching, and unbeaten, century on Sheffield Shield debut against a Tasmanian attack featuring former Test quicks Peter Siddle and Jackson Bird last week that immediately put him in the spotlight.<\/span><\/p>\n

As he reflected on his breakthrough innings Chandrasinghe, who is of Sri Lankan descent but Victorian born, said he \u201cowes Australia everything\u201d. He revealed Aussie Test great Mike Hussey was the man he modelled his batting on as he made his way through junior cricket.<\/span><\/p>\n

Victoria\u2019s new head of cricket is David Hussey, Mike\u2019s brother, but the low-profile Chandrasinghe, who made 119 not out while facing 334 balls in that ultra-impressive debut innings, hasn\u2019t asked for a hook-up just yet.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ashley
Ashley Chandrasinghe receives his debut cap from Chris Rogers. Picture: Steve Bell\/Getty Images<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And while plenty have put the prospect of a Test call-up in Chandrasinghe\u2019s own future, he\u2019s more concerned about just getting another game for the Vics.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAny kid playing cricket aspires to represent Australia and get the baggy green,\u201d he said at the Junction Oval on Thursday. \u201cIt\u2019s definitely something you want to strive towards. I\u2019ve only played one game, so I\u2019m just trying to take it each game as it comes \u2013 if that comes further down the line, then so be it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose it gives you a bit more perspective and context when you achieve the things you have been wanting to achieve and you look to push further a little bit as well. But I\u2019m still just trying to work towards the next game and keep getting better. I try not to put any pressure on myself \u2026 just try to do as well as I can and keep pushing for Victoria.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ashley
Chandrasinghe stunned with an unbeaten century on debut. Picture: Steve Bell\/Getty Images <\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Chandrasinghe said he did make a connection with\u00a0Khawaja<\/strong>\u00a0as a rookie while attending his first Australian Cricketers\u2019 Association players\u2019 day. Having previously told the story of\u00a0how the Test star told him<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cwe\u2019re the only brown ones here, we\u2019ve got to stick together\u201d<\/strong>, Chandrasinghe said Khawaja made him feel immediately comfortable in a room full of stars he looked up to.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t really know anyone there and I was just really excited to be in a room with some well-established players,\u201d he said. \u201cI was by myself and (Khawaja) came over to me and introduced himself and we sort of got talking and he was just really good to talk to and what he\u2019s gone through at the highest level.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe said we have to look out for each other a little bit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Chandrasinghe said he \u201cdefinitely\u201d surprised himself with his first innings for Victoria despite having been a prolific century-maker at all levels below first-class cricket.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It was an innings, however, that gave him confidence to kick on having battled his own way to the big stage after falling out of most junior pathways.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe route I took, I\u2019m really happy I was able to push my way through that. I wouldn\u2019t change anything,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt the time when I was in the junior pathways I thought it was the end of the world when you don\u2019t really do that well. But as long as you find a way and keep pushing through, you can reach the end goal.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Chandrasinghe will next be in action for Victoria when they face Queensland at the Gabba, starting next Thursday.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n

NOTE<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n