Vishwa Fernando

Muthuthanthrige Vishwa Thilina Fernando (born 18 September 1991), commonly as Vishwa Fernando, is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer, who represents the national side in all three formats.^[1] He had his education in St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa. He is the elder brother of the emerging cricketer Nuwanidu Fernando.

Vishwa Fernando

Fernando playing for Yorkshire in 2023
Personal information
Full name	Muthuthanthrige Vishwa Thilina Fernando
Born	(1991-09-18) 18 September 1991 (age 33) Colombo, Sri Lanka
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Left-arm medium-fast
Role	Bowler
Relations	Nuwanidu Fernando (brother)
International information
National side	Sri Lanka (2016 Present)
Test debut (cap 137)	4 August 2016 v Australia
Last Test	24 April 2023 v Ireland
ODI debut (cap 182)	20 August 2017 v India
Last ODI	6 March 2019 v South Africa
Only T20I (cap 74)	20 December 2017 v India
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2012–2016	Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club
2020	Kandy Tuskers
2023–present	Chattogram Challengers
2023	Durham
2024	Yorkshire
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI T20I FC Matches 23 8 1 112 Runs scored 138 30 2 132 Batting average 8.62 15.0 – 9.82 100s/50s –/– –/– –/– –/– Top score 38 7* 2 41 Balls bowled 3537 297 12 14461 Wickets 64 5 – 299 Bowling average 33.09 67.40 - 29.91 5 wickets in innings 1 – – 10 10 wickets in match – – – – Best bowling 5/101 1/35 – 5/14 Catches/stumpings 5/– –/– –/– 36/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 5 April 2024

Early and domestic career

He played in the tour match between Sri Lanka Board President's XI vs Indian national cricket team in August 2015 and was called up for the 15-man squad for the three-match series.^[2] In July 2016 he was named in Sri Lanka's Test squad for their series against Australia.^[3]

In March 2018, he was named in Colombo's squad for the 2017–18 Super Four Provincial Tournament.^[4][5] The following month, he was also named in Colombo's squad for the 2018 Super Provincial One Day Tournament.^[6]

In August 2018, he was named in Kandy's squad the 2018 SLC T20 League.^[7] In March 2019, he was named in Dambulla's squad for the 2019 Super Provincial One Day Tournament.^[8] In August 2021, he was named in the SLC Greens team for the 2021 SLC Invitational T20 League tournament.^[9]

International career

Early years

Despite he has been a regular contender for the international cricket in many times, he could not play any match due to heavy fast bowling attack Sri Lanka had. But, when all four major fast bowlers were injured; Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera and Suranga Lakmal, Fernando played his debut Test match in the second Test against Australia on 4 August 2016 as the main pacer. In his first over, he took the wicket of Joe Burns. In rest of the match, he did not ball at all, where Sri Lankan spinners dominated the whole match by taking 19 wickets in two Australian innings.^[10] However, Sri Lanka won the match by 229 runs, to secure the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy for the first time.^[11]

In August 2017, he was named in Sri Lanka's One Day International (ODI) squad for their series against India.^[12] He made his ODI debut for Sri Lanka against India on 20 August 2017.^[13] He took his first ODI wicket in third match, when he dismissed Virat Kohli. In October 2017, he was named in Sri Lanka's Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for their series against Pakistan.^[14] He made his T20I debut for Sri Lanka against India on 20 December 2017. However, he bowled only two overs and did not take a wicket.^[15]

In May 2018, he was one of 33 cricketers to be awarded a national contract by Sri Lanka Cricket ahead of the 2018–19 season.^[16][17]

Test career

In February 2019, he was called up to the squad for the second Test against Australia due to injuries to main pace bowlers.^[18][19]

On 16 February 2019 against South Africa, Fernando along with Kusal Perera formed a 78-run partnership to win the match by one wicket. It was the highest last-wicket stand in a successful run chase in a Test match. It was Sri Lanka's second one wicket win in Tests.^[20] In the course, Perera scored a match winning 153 not out, which was the highest by a Sri Lankan batsman in a successful chase in a Test match.^[21] Bowling, he took four wicket hauls in both innings.^[22]

In second Test at Port Elizabeth, Fernando led the bowling attack again, where he dismissed Hashim Amla for a golden duck. This was Amla's first international golden duck as well.^[23] He took three wickets in the first innings and one wicket in second innings. Sri Lanka won the match and sealed the series 2-0.^[24] They were the first Asian team to win a Test series in South Africa.^[25] Fernando finished the series as the highest wicket-taker with 12 wickets at an average of 18.91.^[26]

In January 2021, in the second Test against South Africa, Fernando took his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket.^[27]

References

1. "Vishwa Fernando". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
2. "India tour of Sri Lanka, Tour Match: Sri Lanka Board President's XI v Indians at Colombo (RPS), Aug 6–8, 2015". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
3. "Siriwardana left out of Sri Lanka squad for first Test". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
4. "Cricket: Mixed opinions on Provincial tournament". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 26 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
5. "All you need to know about the SL Super Provincial Tournament". Daily Sports. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
6. "SLC Super Provincial 50 over tournament squads and fixtures". The Papare. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
7. "SLC T20 League 2018 squads finalized". The Papare. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
8. "Squads, Fixtures announced for SLC Provincial 50 Overs Tournament". The Papare. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
9. "Sri Lanka Cricket announce Invitational T20 squads and schedule". The Papare. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
10. "Perera bowls Sri Lanka to series triumph". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
11. "Warne-Muralitharan Trophy, 2016 – 2nd Test". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
12. "Thisara, Siriwardana return to ODI squad". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
13. "1st ODI (D/N), India tour of Sri Lanka at Dambulla, Aug 20 2017". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
14. "Thisara Perera to captain Sri Lanka in Lahore". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
15. "1st T20I (N), Sri Lanka tour of India at Cuttack, Dec 20 2017". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
16. "Sri Lanka assign 33 national contracts with pay hike". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
17. "Sri Lankan players to receive pay hike". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
18. "Doubts over Lakmal add to Sri Lanka's headaches". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
19. "Slippery fingers aggravate Sri Lanka's torrid day". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
20. "'Wanted to compete every hour, every session' - Karunaratne". ESPN Cricinfo.
21. "Perera and Fernando, the highest last-wicket stand in a successful chase". ESPN Cricinfo.
22. "Sri Lanka's green seamers 'caught us off guard', admits Quinton de Kock". ESPN Cricinfo.
23. "SA rally after Vishwa, Rajitha brilliance". ESPN Cricinfo.
24. "Kusal Mendis, Oshada Fernando lead Sri Lanka to historic series win". ESPN Cricinfo.
25. "Rude end to South Africa's seven series home streak". ESPN Cricinfo.
26. "Records / Sri Lanka in South Africa Test series, 2019/19 / Most Wickets". ESPN Cricinfo.
27. "Vishwa Fernando claims maiden five-for as Sri Lanka rally after Dean Elgar century". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 January 2021.

External links

• Vishwa Fernando at ESPNcricinfo