All images are courtesy of AFP and ESPNcricinfo
Sri Lankan cricketer Milinda Siriwardana (L) celebrates with teammate Dimuth Karunaratne (R) after dismissing West Indies cricketer Shai Hope during the final day of the second Test cricket match between Sri Lanka and the West Indies at the P. Sara Oval Cricket Stadium in Colombo on October 26, 2015. AFP PHOTO/ Ishara S. KODIKARA (Photo credit should read Ishara S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)
Sri Lankan cricketer Rangana Herath (2L) celebrates with teammates after dismissing West Indies Cricketer Darren Bravo (2R) during the final day of their second Test cricket match between Sri Lanka and the West Indies at the P. Sara Oval Cricket Stadium in Colombo on October 26, 2015. AFP PHOTO/ Ishara S. KODIKARA (Photo credit should read Ishara S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images
Sri Lankan cricket captain Angelo Mathews (C) takes a catch to dismiss West Indies Cricketer Marlon Samuels (L) during the final day of their second Test cricket match between Sri Lanka and the West Indies at the P. Sara Oval Cricket Stadium in Colombo on October 26, 2015. AFP PHOTO/ Ishara S. KODIKARA (Photo credit should read Ishara S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)
Sri Lankan cricketer Rangana Herath celebrates after dismissing West Indies cricketer Kemar Roach during the final day of their second Test cricket match between Sri Lanka and the West Indies at The P. Sara Oval Cricket Stadium in Colombo on October 26, 2015. AFP PHOTO/ Ishara S. KODIKARA (Photo credit should read Ishara S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)
Sri Lankan cricketer Dhammika Prasad holds the match stumps after victory in the Test match series between Sri Lanka and the West Indies at the P. Sara Oval Cricket Stadium in Colombo on October 26, 2015. Sri Lanka defeated the West Indies by 72 runs in the second and final Test in Colombo to sweep the series 2-0. AFP PHOTO/ Ishara S. KODIKARA (Photo credit should read Ishara S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)
Milinda Siriwardana could well have been Man of the Match because of his batting contributions. His efforts are especially significant because this was only his second Test Match. He has made it into the highest arena at the late age of 29 by improving his batting capacities. Let us hope that he is going to become another Thilan Samaraweera in the abtting department, while yet retaining his bowling skills.
Full name Tisse Appuhamilage Milinda Siriwardana
Born December 4, 1985, Nagoda
Current age 29 years 326 days
Major teams Sri Lanka, Basnahira South, Chilaw Marians Cricket Club, Chittagong Division, Dhaka Division, Kalutara Vidyalaya, Kandurata Maroons, Ruhuna, Sebastianites Cricket and Athletic Club, Sri Lanka A, Victoria Sporting Club
Playing role Allrounder
Batting style Left-hand bat
Bowling style Slow left-arm orthodox
Fielding position Short cover
Height 5 ft 11 in
Education Kalutara Vidyalaya
| Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | Ct | St | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 2 | 3 | 0 | 111 | 68 | 37.00 | 179 | 62.01 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| ODIs | 5 | 5 | 1 | 121 | 52* | 30.25 | 89 | 135.95 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| T20Is | 2 | 2 | 0 | 58 | 35 | 29.00 | 37 | 156.75 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| First-class | 91 | 153 | 14 | 5130 | 185* | 36.90 | 7801 | 65.76 | 7 | 36 | 550 | 115 | 76 | 0 |
| List A | 117 | 104 | 19 | 2170 | 97 | 25.52 | 2552 | 85.03 | 0 | 10 | 158 | 64 | 56 | 0 |
| Twenty20 | 67 | 61 | 14 | 938 | 66 | 19.95 | 676 | 138.75 | 0 | 3 | 72 | 38 | 35 | 0 |
| Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 2 | 4 | 240 | 124 | 7 | 3/25 | 5/51 | 17.71 | 3.10 | 34.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ODIs | 5 | 4 | 91 | 79 | 3 | 1/19 | 1/19 | 26.33 | 5.20 | 30.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T20Is | 2 | 1 | 12 | 17 | 1 | 1/17 | 1/17 | 17.00 | 8.50 | 12.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| First-class | 91 | 129 | 6567 | 4103 | 136 | 5/26 | 9/120 | 30.16 | 3.74 | 48.2 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| List A | 117 | 89 | 2774 | 2046 | 80 | 6/40 | 6/40 | 25.57 | 4.42 | 34.6 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Twenty20 | 67 | 45 | 650 | 816 | 32 | 4/22 | 4/22 | 25.50 | 7.53 | 20.3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Test debut | Sri Lanka v West Indies at Galle, Oct 14-17, 2015 scorecard |
| Last Test | Sri Lanka v West Indies at Colombo (PSS), Oct 22-26, 2015 scorecard |
| Test statistics |
| ODI debut | Sri Lanka v Pakistan at Dambulla, Jul 11, 2015 scorecard |
| Last ODI | Sri Lanka v Pakistan at Hambantota, Jul 26, 2015 scorecard |
| ODI statistics |
| T20I debut | Sri Lanka v Pakistan at Colombo (RPS), Jul 30, 2015 scorecard |
| Last T20I | Sri Lanka v Pakistan at Colombo (RPS), Aug 1, 2015 scorecard |
| T20I statistics |
| First-class debut | Colombo Cricket Club v Sebastianites Cricket and Athletic Club at Colombo (CCC), Dec 16-18, 2005 scorecard |
| Last First-class | Sri Lanka v West Indies at Colombo (PSS), Oct 22-26, 2015 scorecard |
| List A debut | Sebastianites Cricket and Athletic Club v Colts Cricket Club at Moratuwa, Nov 1, 2005 scorecard |
| Last List A | Sri Lanka v Pakistan at Hambantota, Jul 26, 2015 scorecard |
| Twenty20 debut | Sebastianites Cricket and Athletic Club v Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club at Colombo (CCC), Oct 16, 2005 scorecard |
| Last Twenty20 | Sri Lanka v Pakistan at Colombo (RPS), Aug 1, 2015 scorecard |
| Bat & Bowl | Team | Opposition | Ground | Match Date | Scorecard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 68, 2/26, 42, 3/25 | Sri Lanka | v West Indies | Colombo (PSS) | 22 Oct 2015 | Test # 2182 |
| 1, 0/13, 2/60 | Sri Lanka | v West Indies | Galle | 14 Oct 2015 | Test # 2181 |
| 0/23, 105* | SL Pres. XI | v West Indians | Colombo (SSC) | 9 Oct 2015 | Other |
| 0/14, 32, 1/5, 4 | SL Pres. XI | v Indians | Colombo (RPS) | 6 Aug 2015 | Other |
| 23, 1/17 | Sri Lanka | v Pakistan | Colombo (RPS) | 1 Aug 2015 | T20I # 449 |
| 35 | Sri Lanka | v Pakistan | Colombo (RPS) | 30 Jul 2015 | T20I # 448 |
| 52*, 1/19 | Sri Lanka | v Pakistan | Hambantota | 26 Jul 2015 | ODI # 3672 |
| 19, 1/28 | Sri Lanka | v Pakistan | Colombo (RPS) | 22 Jul 2015 | ODI # 3671 |
| 2 | Sri Lanka | v Pakistan | Colombo (RPS) | 19 Jul 2015 | ODI # 3670 |
| 1/22, 26 | Sri Lanka | v Pakistan | Pallekele | 15 Jul 2015 | ODI # 3669 |
A busy middle-order batsman and a capable left-arm spinner, Milinda Siriwardana broke through to the national side in 2015 after several years of encouraging domestic returns. Outstanding form in the 2015 Premier League Tournament prompted his elevation. He was the first-class season’s top scorer with 1144 runs at an average of 67.29, and had also claimed 20 wickets for Badureliya Cricket Club.