Asanka Gurusinha

Deshabandu Asanka Pradeep Gurusinha (Sinhala: අසංක ප්‍රදීප් ගුරුසිංහ, [asaŋkə prədiːp gurusiŋɦə]; born 16 September 1966) is a Sri Lankan Australian former international cricketer^[1] who had an 11-year international career, playing 41 Tests and 147 One Day Internationals for Sri Lanka. He was a key member for 1996 Cricket World Cup winning team for Sri Lanka, who is a specialist batsman helped to win the final with 65 in a partnership of 125 with the final's Man of the Match, Aravinda de Silva.

Deshabandu

Asanka Gurusinha
අසංක ගුරුසිංහ

Personal information
Full name	Asanka Pradeep Gurusinha
Born	(1966-09-16) 16 September 1966 (age 58) Colombo, Sri Lanka
Batting	Left-handed
Bowling	Right-arm medium
International information
National side	Sri Lanka (1985–1996)
Test debut (cap 32)	7 November 1985 v Pakistan
Last Test	18 September 1996 v Zimbabwe
ODI debut (cap 42)	3 November 1985 v Pakistan
Last ODI	8 November 1996 v Pakistan
Domestic team information
Years	Team
	Nondescripts Cricket Club
Head coaching information
Years	Team
2020–2022	Nigeria
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA Matches 41 147 124 173 Runs scored 2,452 3,902 7,169 4,365 Batting average 38.92 28.27 43.71 26.77 100s/50s 7/8 2/22 20/32 2/23 Top score 143 117* 162 117* Balls bowled 234 264 5,142 2,035 Wickets 20 26 107 39 Bowling average 34.04 52.07 21.47 42.97 5 wickets in innings 0 0 1 0 10 wickets in match 0 0 0 0 Best bowling 4/68 2/25 5/54 3/36 Catches/stumpings 33/– 49/– 89/– 56/–
Medal record Men's Cricket Representing  Sri Lanka ICC Cricket World Cup Winner 1996 India-Pakistan-Sri Lanka
Source: Cricinfo, 25 February 2015

He was educated at Isipathana College, Colombo & Nalanda College Colombo and had been residing in Melbourne, Australia.^[2][3] He was formerly the manager of the Sri Lanka national cricket team and a member of the selection committee.^[4][5] In December 2020, he was appointed as head coach of Nigeria national cricket team.^[6] In 2022 he was announced as the senior coach of Victorian Premier Cricket club Essendon.^[7]

International career

Early career

Gurusinha was called up at 19 as a wicket-keeper, a role he took in a further two ODIs and one Test. He gradually established himself as a No. 3 batsman, playing 33 Tests and 109 ODIs in that position, and was described by Simon Wilde of Cricinfo as "the rock on which Sri Lankan batting was founded". He was also known for his big stature and wide stance when batting.

Late career

Gurusinha was one of the main pillars of Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup winning batting line up. His application at the crisis situations to drag the team scorecard was a major highlight for those who watched the World Series tournament back in 1996.

Gurusinha was the 32nd Sri Lankan Test cap, making his debut against Pakistan in Karachi in 1985/86.^[8] He was also a useful part-time bowler, with Michael Atherton, Sunil Gavaskar, Dean Jones, Steve Waugh and Inzamam-ul-Haq among his 20 Test wickets.^[9]

He was the first Sri Lankan to score a Test century at Seddon Park.

Coaching career

He is a Level 3 certified Cricket Coach, and was also the Consultant Regional Cricket Coach for Cricket Australia.^[10] Gurusinha was appointed as the Manager for the National Cricket Team of Sri Lanka in 2017.^[11] However, with consecutive defeats to India in all formats, Gurusinha along with the selection committee resigned from their positions on 29 August 2017.^[12] The resignation did not last for a week, where on 19 September 2017, Gurusinha was re-appointed as the selector, along with three new selectors - Graeme Labrooy, Jeryl Woutersz, Gamini Wickremasinghe, and Sajith Fernando.^[13]

In December 2020, he was appointed as head coach of Nigeria national cricket team.^[6] He resigned in April 2022.^[14]

International centuries

Key

Key	Meaning
*	Remained not out
Lost	The match was lost by Sri Lanka.
Won	The match was won by Sri Lanka.
Draw	The match was drawn.

Test centuries

Test centuries of Asanka Gurusinha

No.	Score	Against	City	Ground	Date	Result	Ref
[1]	116*	Pakistan	Colombo, Sri Lanka	P Sara Oval Stadium	22 March 1986	Draw	[15]
[2]	119	New Zealand	Hamilton, New Zealand	Seddon Park	22 February 1991	Draw	[16]
[3]	102	New Zealand	Hamilton, New Zealand	Seddon Park	22 February 1991	Draw
[4]	137	Australia	Colombo, Sri Lanka	Sinhalese Sports Club Ground	17 August 1992	Lost	[17]
[5]	128	Zimbabwe	Harare, Zimbabwe	Harare Sports Club	11 October 1994	Draw	[18]
[6]	127	New Zealand	Dunedin, New Zealand	Carisbrook Stadium	18 March 1995	Draw	[19]
[7]	143	Australia	Melbourne, Australia	Melbourne Cricket Ground	26 December 1995	Lost	[20]

ODI centuries

ODI centuries of Asanka Gurusinha

No.	Score	Against	City	Ground	Date	Result	Ref
[1]	117*	New Zealand	Sharjah, UAE	Sharjah Cricket Stadium	18 April 1994	Lost	[21]
[2]	108	New Zealand	Auckland	Eden Park	1 April 1995	Won	[22]