by Doug Ackerly

Romesh Kaluwitharana is one of 29 people doing a level-II coaching course run by Cricket Victoria at MCG. Here is ‘Little Kalu’ playing a slashing drive from the back of his bat! His unorthodox nature earned Kalu a remarkable name in international cricket, shows this article.

In January 1996, Romesh Kaluwitharana was about to lose his spot in the Sri Lankan cricket team. The diminutive wicketkeeper had scored 16 runs in four innings batting at No. 7 in the triangular one-day series. The second preliminary match against Australia at the MCG would be his last chance.

"The captain and manager came up to me and said, 'Do you like to open the innings? You don't have to worry about anything. We are giving you the licence that you can do whatever you want — just be yourself'."

Arjuna Ranatunga and Duleep Mendis had discussed it with coach Dav Whatmore and vice-captain Aravinda da Silva. All of them knew that little Kalu liked to play his shots. But they could not have foreseen what a momentous decision they were making.

Kaluwitharana smashed 77 runs off only 75 deliveries to set up victory with 15 balls to spare. Earlier, he had taken two catches, and was named man of the match. Fifty from 54 balls against the West Indies in Perth and 74 from 68 in the final match against the Aussies at the MCG had him named man of the series.

His opening partner, Sanath Jayasuriya, was then in a form slump, but the pair would gel for the World Cup a month later. Their pinch-hitting opening partnerships were the foundation for Sri Lanka's eventual triumph and they changed forever the way one-day cricket would be played.

Kaluwitharana played the last of his 49 Tests and 189 one-day internationals in 2004, but returned to his favourite ground recently to enhance the next phase of his career. He was one of 29 people doing a level-two coaching course run by Cricket Victoria.

Kalu last season took over as non-playing coach of his club, Colts, in Sri Lanka's first-class competition.

Asian Cricket Council development officer Rumesh Ratnayeke recommended Kaluwitharana for level two and the Sri Lankan approached it with an open mind. "Cricketing knowledge or playing background (alone) will not be a qualification to be a good coach."

Along with the various skills of cricket, the course comprises everything from communication, leadership and nutrition, to biomechanics and even a coach's legal responsibilities.

The Sri Lankan was not disappointed. "I started to think out of the box," he said. And, in particular: "I thought it was the game plan and how to conduct a practice session and how to put it across to players."

Australia has been pivotal in Kalu's career. In August 1992, he made his Test debut in Colombo, facing his first delivery from eventual man of the match Greg Matthews.

"When I went to bat straight after lunch, I had to safeguard a hat-trick. After that ball, I thought now it's another match: I've got an opportunity, just be myself. I'm not going to lose anything. And I thought it was the best innings I played in my career."

The 23-year-old cut and pulled his way to 132 not out in only 158 balls to become only the second Sri Lankan to make a century in his first Test.

And he was behind the stumps in the Boxing Day Test when Muthiah Muralidaran, who made his debut one match after Kaluwitharana, was called seven times for throwing by Darrell Hair.