A dream come true, says Maharoof

Thousands of ambitious schoolboy cricketers throughout Sri Lanka's cricket-crazy island aspire to one day representing Sri Lanka. For Farveez Maharoof, just 19 and fresh out of his school shorts, the elevation was particularly sudden as he crammed his ODI and Test debut into just 11 days. No wonder then that Maharoof, a man of the future, described his recent tour to Zimbabwe as "a dream come true."

Maharoof's promotion was not unexpected after starring for Sri Lanka at a junior level. But his rise has nevertheless been rapid for the former Wesley College pupil, so fast that he's hardly had time to let it all sink in. "When I left for Zimbabwe I thought I was only going to be in the one day squad," said Maharoof after the second Test. "Suddenly, I was told that I am to stay back for the Test squad."

"I was very happy the day I got my first Test cap in Harare. It also happened to be the Test that Murali broke the world bowling record. It was a Test debut I couldn't possibly forget," he said. "I was a bit nervous and had butterflies in my stomach when I took the field, but they started to disappear once I got going and started to find out what Test cricket was all about."

Maharoof hardly found out what real Test cricket was "all about" against one of the weakest teams in the game's long history, but he enjoyed it all the same, thanks in part to the support from his fellow players: "All the players including the reserves and the team management supported me. The senior players were very nice. They always came and talked to me about cricket - batting, bowling and fielding."

It didn't take long for Maharoof to make his mark as he clung onto a sharp return catch off Zimbabwe opener Brendan Taylor in his third over. When his turn came with the bat he impressed with 92-minute 40, an innings that included a couple of breathtaking offside strokes. His ODI debut was even more successful with a wicket off his fourth ball, as Vusumuzi Sibanda slashed to cover point. He finished the remarkable figures of 3-2-3-4,

Since Arjuna Ranatunga made his Test debut as a puppy-faced 18-year-old, 22 long years ago, there have been a handful of other players who have jumped straight from their school teams into the national squad. But the sad decline of schools' cricket means that it's now rare for boys to join the men so quickly. Maharoof has bucked that trend - a considerable achievement.

Maharoof went on to play in three one-day international and two Tests. "It was a good tour to start off with," he says. "I'm very happy with my performances in both the Tests and one-dayers and it was nice that we also made a clean sweep in both the series. All the players and officials have been like brothers and father to me."

So what was it really like to play alongside world cricketing icons like Muralitharan and Jayasuriya? "To play alongside them was like a dream come true. I have played with Sanath at club level (they play for Bloomfield) and it was the first time that I played with Murali. It was an experience to be beside such great cricketers," said Maharoof.

And what of his future? Maharoof certainly hopes he can cut the grade when the real cricket recommences: "I think I have started well. I just want to do my very best for my country. I need to minimise some errors in my game and improve on it slowly and make sure I will be there for the long term."

"I have been struggling with my run up and I am hoping to get it right when I get back with Champaka Ramanayake (the Sri Lanka fast bowling coach). In the batting department, I need to play straight always, hang around in the middle and try to make big scores. When I'm bowling I need to keep a nagging length and wait for the batsman to make a mistake," said Maharoof. It all seems so simple.

Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa were quick to help him and offer advice. "When I was getting hit for runs they come and talk to me and tell me to stick to the basics and not to get nervous." Maharoof claims most of his wickets bowling `induckers', but he also bowls a ball that cuts back off the seam.

His role model is Glen McGrath with the ball: "I always liked the way McGrath bowls. I haven't met him but I keep following his tactics and bowling strengths. I like the way Marvan (Atapattu) bats. They are the two heroes of mine," said Maharoof.

As a schoolboy, Maharoof grabbed his fair share of headlines. He made six centuries for Wesley between 1999 and 2004; of which his 243 not out against Richmond at Galle in 2002 was the highest. He came to bat with the side in trouble at 80-4 and saw them finally reach a total of 389-6. He recorded his best bowling figures - 8 for 20 - against the same school the following year.

Maharoof captained his country in the recent 2004 Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh after gaining valuable experience for the A team during the Kenstar tri-series in Kolkatta last year, taking four for 30 in the final against India A to win the Man of the Match award.

Maharoof's greatest inspiration is his parents. "From the age of eight I started watching cricket matches with my parents. My dream was to play for the school first and then gradually work myself upwards. But everything has happened so fast I cannot believe it. Cricket has been in my blood since I was a kid. My uncle Parveez Marzook played a little school cricket. I must have taken a liking to the game after him," he adds. Well done, Parveez!