Tillakaratne: I had to prove that I could perform at the highest level
Rex Clementine - 31 August 2001
With the selectorial axe hanging over his head Hashan Tillakaratne
walked out to bat on Thursday evening knowing that this was likely to be
his last chance to resurrect his Test career after two years in the
wilderness.
The wicket may have been good and the bowling ordinary, but
Tillakaratne played under incredible pressure and his unbeaten 136 was
not only his highest Test score, beating the 126 he scored against
Zimabawe five years ago, but it was his best innings.
"I was feeling tense beforehand as I had a couple of hiccups in the
series," he admitted afterwards. "I decided before the innings,
however, that I had to play my natural game and enjoy myself, which I
did not do in the first two Tests."
Tillakaratne's last Test was in the inaugural Asian Test Championship
final against Pakistan in 1999. He was then axed as the selectors
adopted a bold youth policy after Sri Lanka's poor showing in the 1999
World Cup. Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva stayed, but Roshan
Mahanama's and Tillakaratne's careers look finished.
Mahanama soon called it quits and went to play club cricket in
Australia, where he started to write his autobiography, aptly named
"Retired Hurt." Tillakaratne, however, never gave up hope of playing
for his country again.
At first he seethed with frustration and anger, which eventually led
to him verbally abusing Sidath Wettimuny, the Chairman of Selectors at
the time when he had been given the boot, in the Nondescripts Cricket
Club car park.
"I wasn't ready to retire like Roshan (Mahanama) so after the anger
died down I concentrated on getting back my place," he said.
He did just that and by sheer weight of runs in domestic cricket he
forced his way back into the squad, as Sri Lanka searched for an
experienced player to give the middle order greater stability in
absence of Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva.
"I don't have to prove a point to anyone," he said defiantly today.
"It's just that I had to prove to myself that I still can play in the
highest level."
"I hope this hundred will help to continue my career."
"Everyone was right behind me and was very supportive," he said. "The
credit should go the players."
Coach Dav Whatmore paid tribute afterwards: "He came back after two
years without much success in the first two Tests. He was under real
pressure today and must have been losing sleep last night."
"It was a great relief for him and the team when he bounced back today
with a hundred," said Whatmore. "We were looking for a player to
solidify the middle order and he did just that. He worked and
concentrated really hard out there today."
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