Rex Clementine in Manchester
What is it that Sri Lanka keep producing quality fast bowlers from outstations? For their tour of England, they have brought in a host of fast bowlers and barring Vishwa Fernando, who is from Moratuwa, a suburb of Colombo, the rest of them are from outstations. Milan Ratnayake could go on to become the next fast bowling sensation as he was the standout performer during Sri Lanka’s warm-up game in Worcester against England Lions last week.
A tall quick standing at six foot and one inch, Milan played for the little heard Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya, Wariyapola. Then he moved to Colombo to start his professional career with Air Force. Four years ago, he shifted to Australia to play grade cricket, but COVID brought all those plans back to square one. He returned home and moved to Moors two seasons back and hasn’t looked back since then.
With plenty of seniors in the side, Milan doesn’t get to bowl with the new ball. He has developed the art of bowling with the older ball and in Worcester reverse swung the ball to good effect. He is a handy batter as well and with Sri Lanka possessing a long tail, the selectors are tempted to play him as he ticks so many options.
Vishwa Fernando and Asitha Fernando are certainties in the Sri Lankan line-up and were rested from the warm-up game. It is the third seamer that Sri Lanka have been pondering about in Manchester and it remains to be seen which way the selectors will go.
Lahiru Kumara was the hero during Sri Lanka’s last series win in Bangladesh and it will be tough to leave him out. So, to start with Kumara could partner the two Fernandos in the opening Test match. But it is just a matter of time before Milan goes on to make his Test debut and it could happen at Lord’s or The Oval.
Milan’s rise in cricket circles has been steady and the presence of Chris Silverwood in the Sri Lankan coaching set up would have no doubt helped him to develop. He is going to make a big impact in the sport moving forward.