Ravindra Pushpakumara

Ravindra Pushpakumara burst on to the Sri Lankan cricket scene in 1994-95, when he made his Test debut against Pakistan at Kandy, after impressing with the Under-19 team on tours to Malaysia and Singapore. He was the quickest Sri Lankan bowler to emerge for some time and was immediately touted as a perfect new ball partner for Chaminda Vaas. Blessed with a strong, broad-shouldered physique, he raced in off a long run and bowls with a powerful, muscular action. But despite his raw pace he lacked the necessary variation and cunning, especially on the subcontinent's bland surfaces, to trouble top class players and and he failed to secure a regular berth in the national squad. His last outing was against Bangladesh in the Asian Test Championship in 2001.
Charlie Austin (July 2004)