Mahela Jayawardene

Mahela Jayawardene

Date of Birth: 27 May 1977, Colombo  Test Debut: Against India at Colombo in 1997/98  ODI Debut: Against Zimbabwe at Colombo in 1997/98  Bats: Right Hand Bat  Bowls: Right Arm Medium

Sri Lanka's 'Danger Man', Mahela Jayawardene was placed seventh in the top ten fastest scorers of the 1999 World Cup with a strike rate of 96.23. On his Test debut against India in Colombo, Jayawardena smashed 66. Against Zimbabwe, in his one-day debut, in the 1997-1998 series in Colombo, he was again unstoppable.

His list of achievements seems to be endless. In 1998, he hit 157 against New Zealand and a classy 242 against India in February 1999. In the fastest scoring players' list, he was placed ahead of Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly. Jayawardene has a good temperament, while his style and modesty, on and off the field, have won him many admirers.

Jayawardena was appointed the vice-captain of the Sri Lankan team after it's 1999 World Cup washout. He has since slammed six centuries in limited-overs internationals.

The 22-year-old batsman is a wonderful right-hand bat and a right arm medium pace bowler.

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