Those hoping to get a glimpse of Sri Lankan Test players when they travel to Australia later this summer need not wait any longer, all they have to do is head down to a Wests first-grade match.
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The Devils have been lucky enough to secure the services of former Sri Lankan international Udara Jayasundara in a major coup for both the club and Cricket Illawarra as a whole.
Currently living in the region while his wife studies at the University of Wollongong, Jayasundara has impressed for the Devils.
“I’m enjoying it, I think it’s a good club and I’m really happy to play here,” Jayasundara said.
“I’m very comfortable, the last time I was in Australia was in 2009 for an under 19 tour. We played against Australia in Melbourne and Darwin. It’s a nice country, so I like being here.”
An experienced first-class player, Jayasundara played two Tests for Sri Lanka against New Zealand in 2015. He played 88 first-class games, scoring over 6000 runs, with a top-score of 318.
While he would have liked to play more than two Test matches, Jayasundara is proud of his achievements in the international sphere.
“I played two Tests in December 2015 in New Zealand. Unfortunately I played only two Test matches, they did not give me a chance in the next series.
“But I still played for Sri Linka A for seven or eight years and went on around 15 or 16 tours, I’m happy to have played for them. I have a Test cap, a Test number, that is my big achievement.”
Jayasundara's impact on Wests has been immediate, according to those at the club, with the batting all-rounder passing on his vast cricketing knowledge to the side's numerous young squad members.
“His energy has been very impressive,” Wests teammate Grant Newman said. “He gets around to all the junior players, shows them what to do and directs them. It’s been great so far.”
Wests president Mark Waldock agreed Jayasundara’s presence has the potential to help lift the club to the top of the Cricket Illawarra ranks after a number of lean years.
“It’s massive for the club,” Waldock said. “We have a very young side, with his depth of experience, his cricket knowledge is phenomenal and he’s given a lot of confidence to all our younger players.”
As to how the arrangement came about, Waldock concedes it was simply a giant dose of luck.
“His wife had been shopping at Figtree Westfield last year and saw our sign at the ground and rang the club. I sat down with her and we organised it for when he received his visa and came over.”
Now settled in Wollongong, and feeling more comfortable at the crease, Jayasundara is looking forward to making an impact as the two-day matches get underway this weekend with a clash with defending premiers Balgownie.
“I’m enjoying my cricket and looking forward to making a bigger impact. The club is great, they have a lot of young guys and I’m trying to support them, teach them as best I can.”