Malinda Warnapura

A hugely talented former Sri Lankan cricketer, Malinda Warnapura is one of the unfortunate ones who could have served his nation for a long period of time. Warnapura was a fluent opening batsman who always knew to roll his arm with some handy off-spin bowling, but could only play 17 international games. 

Warnapura made his First-Class back in the 1998-99 season, however, could not find his feet at the highest level until 2007. He had to go through the grind of domestic cricket for almost a decade before receiving his due national call-up. When Sri Lanka A toured India to play the Duleep Trophy, it was Warnapura who earned the most from it. He finished the three-match tournament with an aggregate of 421 runs at 105.25. After that, the Sri Lankan scored his highest first-class score of 242 against Bangladesh A in 2007 to seal the final deal. 

The Sri Lankan made his ODI debut against Pakistan in June 2007. A month later, he got his Test cap to make his debut against Bangladesh and got dismissed on a golden duck. However, Warnapura redeemed himself by whacking 82 in the second game. The following year, the southpaw hit his maiden Test century against West Indies and backed in with another one against India. 

Warnapura showcased a thorough solid technique like an old-school opener who could bat for longer phases in the game but a lean patch in his career ended his two-year-long international career, post the Pakistan tour of 2009. The Sri Lankan tried to prove at the domestic level until the end of the 2015 season and then retired from the game after playing more than 350 professional games. 

(As of April 2021)