Sri Lanka's oldest Test cricketer D.S. de Silva passes away at 83

First Sri Lankan bowler to take five wickets in an innings in a Test match Tributes from Past-Captains Michael Tissera, Anura Tennekoon

- By Sa’aDI THAWFEEQ

SRI Lanka’s oldest Test cricketer and former Test Captain Dandeniyage Somachandra de Silva (popularly known as D.S. de Silva) has passed away after a brief illness in London at the age of 83.

A right-arm leg-spinner of repute, De Silva was the first Sri Lankan bowler to take a five-fer in a Test — 5/59 against Pakistan at Faisalabad in 1982. He had quite a few unusual records to his name in his career — being the eighth oldest player to take a maiden five-wickets in an innings (at the age of 39 years, 276 days), the seventh oldest Test Captain on captaincy debut (40 years, 266 days) - v New Zealand at Christchurch 1983 and eighth oldest ODI captain on captaincy debut (40 years, 264 days) — v New Zealand at Dunedin 1983.

De Silva was pushed into the captaincy during Sri Lanka’s tour to New Zealand in 1983 as regular Captain Duleep Mendis and his deputy Roy Dias were both injured. It is very unfortunate that by the time Sri Lanka got Test status De Silva was nearing his forties, which naturally shortened his career. He made his Test debut against England in Sri Lanka’s inaugural Test at the P Sara Oval in 1982 at the age of 39 years, 251 days and became the oldest ever Test debutant for his country. His Test debut came at a time when he was way past his prime years, but he managed to play in Sri Lanka’s first 12 Tests before retiring at the age of 42 with 37 wickets (avg. 36.40). With the bat he was more than useful making two half-centuries, both as captain during the series in New Zealand in 1983.