Australia were the overwhelming favorites to clinch the 1996 World Cup final in Lahore, but Aravinda de Silva rose to the occasion with an innings for the ages, steering tiny Sri Lanka to cricketing immortality. His unbeaten 107 was a knock straight out of the top drawer, overshadowing his all-round brilliance – three prized scalps, including Mark Taylor, Ricky Ponting, and Ian Healy, with his off-spin, and two sharp catches to boot. It was the perfect World Cup final, scripted by a man with a penchant for the grand stage.

However, de Silva’s mastery over the Australians wasn’t born overnight. Long before his World Cup heroics, he had left his mark with a majestic 167 at the Gabba, becoming the first Sri Lankan to notch up a Test century on Australian soil. Some players wilt under pressure, but for Aravinda, the Aussies were the flint that sharpened his blade.

“Some of my friends wanted tickets for the Test match, and I realized they had only printed tickets for the first four days. They weren’t expecting the game to last five days,” de Silva recalled with a chuckle. “Simon O’Donnell, who was on radio at the time, questioned why Sri Lanka was even playing Test cricket. Those digs spurred me on to prove a point,” he told Telecom Asia Sport.

“I’ve always thrived on challenges, and facing the Aussies was something I relished. When I started, the West Indies were the top side, but soon enough, Australia took over as the team to beat. They make you earn every single run, and of course, they have a bit to say as well – things that fired me up and brought out the best in me. Off the field, though, they’re some of the friendliest guys you’ll ever meet.”

One of the friendships de Silva forged over the years was with the legendary Shane Warne. Today, Sri Lanka and Australia contest the Warne-Murali Trophy, and Aravinda fondly recalled his bond with the leg-spin wizard.

“Shane’s confidence in his craft was phenomenal. He genuinely believed no one could do it better than him, and that’s what made him so special. He was ultra-competitive, but what I admired most was his authenticity – what you saw was what you got. He was always upfront and brutally honest,” Aravinda reminisced.

“We often met and went out together. On the field, he was a fierce competitor, but off it, you realized what a genuine, down-to-earth guy he was. I was shocked when I heard about his passing, especially since we had met just a month before his tragic death. We had gone out for a meal, chatting about our kids and life in general. His cricketing acumen was second to none, and his loss left a gaping hole in the game.”

As Australia touched down in Colombo on Saturday morning for a three-week tour, they braced themselves for a trial by spin. With two Test matches on the cards alongside two ODIs – part of their preparations for the Champions Trophy – the tourists will need to dig deep to overcome Sri Lanka’s formidable home advantage.

“This Australian team plays spin better than most sides that have toured Sri Lanka in recent years,” de Silva observed. “It’s going to be a tough series, but with both Tests being played in Galle, Sri Lanka should hold the upper hand. The Aussies are known for their fighting spirit, so the Lankans will have to dig in and ride out the tough phases. But Sri Lanka have been playing some outstanding cricket of late, and they just need to keep their momentum going.”

De Silva also heaped praise on the young Sri Lankan batting brigade, likening their confidence to a well-set batsman in full flow.

“I’ve been really impressed with the self-belief these young batters have shown. Cricket is a game of confidence and I can see some of them destined for greatness. I believe Sri Lanka’s batting order is right up there with the best in the world. After India, I’d say we have the most formidable line-up, and I see this team doing some remarkable things in the future.”

(Telecom Asia Sport)