Supposed to be in the Army -- who is Asela?

Supposed to be in the Army -- who is Asela?

After Sri Lanka trounced Australia twice one after the other with yesterday's victory at the T20 cricket match, all eyes of this country was focused on this new player called Asela Guneratne who in fact was behind these wins.

The question that sprang up among most people was as to where this 31 year old player was all this time. Devundagedera Asela Sampath

Guneratne who hailed from Kandy was born on 8th January 1986 and had received his education at Sri Rahula Vidyalaya, Kandy. After his schooling he had joined the Army. In fact he serves as a Bombardier attached to the 6th Field Regiment in the Army.

Asela who showed a liking for the game of cricket during his schooldays managed to find time for the game during his service with the Army. In fact he had played for the Sri Lanka Sports Club and also has taken part in first-class competitions too. At a later time he had become the cricket Captain of the Army team too. Subsequently he had joined Mohammedan Sports Club and had developed his cricketing skills and gained a reputation in the Army as a player who was aggressive enough to crack the ball with his shots. In this context the Sri Lankan Army team was able to boast of victories throughout a number of years because of this player. It was during that period that he was able to record his maiden double century which incidentally comprised of 22 fours plus 5 sixes all of which he amassed within a space of just 170 balls. Whatever it is, he was unable to find a place in the Sri Lanka team until he was 30 years old.

The moment came when he was selected for the Twenty 20 match between Sri Lanka and India for the first time as far back as February in the year 2016, an year ago. However he could score only 4 runs and when it came to bowling, after delivering 2 overs and 5 balls he was unable to clinch a single wicket after having given away 22 runs during that spell.

He was once more selected for Test matches and One-dayers in October -- November 2016. Whatever it is, Asela Guneratne became a foremost outstanding batsman in Zimbabwe Tests, One-Day match series and Sri Lanka Premier League competitions. It is the view of cricket critics that if an opportunity to play him in Tests against South Africa dawned on the selecting committee, the outcome of the Test series would have taken a different turn. Statistics of Asela's exploits are as follows