Avishka Gunawardena: Sri Lanka's New Master Blaster?

All those present at the scenic Welegadera Stadium in Kurunegala, during the first unofficial test match against Zimbabwe, one had the privilege of watching a quite stunning innings by Sri Lanka's newest 'master blaster.' Avishka Gunawardena richly entertained us all with a memorable 129 off 193 deliveries. In the process he made a statement as forcible and clear as his thunderous cover drives: I am good enough to play international cricket.

As per usual he started his innings like an inter-city bus, crashing the Zimbabwean new ball bowlers through the covers and over mid on. However to almost universal surprise in the press box he greeted the introduction of the spinners with a much more considered and mature approach. Still quick to punish the ball when it deserved to be so, he was prepared to patiently wait for that opportunity.

Speaking afterwards to CricInfo he said, "I have had the tendency in the past of getting out in the 50's and 70's but I have been working really hard on this aspect of my game. Perhaps I had a tendency to relax a bit when I a got a half century. Yesterday I was determined to get a three figure score and worked hard in the middle."

Avishka, who has played two test matches and 15 ODIs already, has been characterised by some commentators as primarily suited to the one-day format. However if one looks at the fundamentals of technique and temperament, the evidence suggests differently. Unlike Jayasuriya, a player against whom is regularly compared, Avishka plays with the full face of the bat and has the ability to hit the ball straight. The other clue to his potential is the simplicity of his footwork. There is no undue shuffling or complicated movements, he just gets into line and hits the ball. Like most of the best players he makes the game look simple.

In terms of his temperament he himself has admitted a need to concentrate more, especially after scoring a fifty. Concentration though can be learnt, self-belief can't. But as Steve Waugh always says, "success in test cricket is about ten percent ability and ninety per cent mental." The great players in International cricket have always been confident people. When one meets Avishka one is immediately struck by the confident manner in which he holds himself. He certainly does not lack the necessary self-belief to succeed in test match cricket.

"I have always been a positive person. I have self-confidence in everything I do, not just in my cricket. I think this came from my Father. Whenever there was a problem he sorted it out himself. He never had to go and ask people, should I do this or that? He just worked it out for himself. People say that I am like my Father so I think it must come from him."

So beneath the buccaneer image of this exciting opening batsman, there are the necessary ingredients for him to become a successful test player.

The danger is of course that someone will take him to one side and try to stop him playing so many shots. This would undoubtedly be counterproductive. He is born striker of a cricket ball and a natural aggressor.

"I have always played in my natural manner, throughout my cricketing career I have been an attacking batsmen. Even if it's the first ball I face, if I think I can hit the ball for four, I will hit it for four. That has been my style. I do not want to change it and neither do my coaches. Even in the longer game I will be my normal self. What I must do though is choose the correct ball to hit."

And that in a nutshell is what he has to do: Choose the correct ball to hit. It's a battle that he is starting to win as experience is giving him greater maturity.

"I am a better player now than when I last played international cricket. I have matured as a batsmen."

He is under no illusions of the tough task ahead if he is to reclaim his international place. "I have to score runs, a lot of runs. Most importantly I need to make some big scores." Indeed there is stiff competition for places in the current Sri Lanka batting line-up. One suspects though that he is not far from the thoughts of the selectors and that when his chance comes he will grab it.