Bandula Warnapura's name is synonymous with him being the first Test captain of Sri Lanka. He was a stodgy opening batsman and also bowled brisk medium pace. Warnapura didn't have a good time with the bat in hand in the four Tests he played. However, it is believed that he did a commendable job to guide Sri Lanka's cricket during their early years.

If we look back at his career, Warnapura got a chance to play top-flight cricket in the 1975 World Cup. It didn't exactly start on a good note as he could score only eight runs off 54 balls against the Windies at Old Trafford. However, he is reminisced by fans for his quick-fire cameo against Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson at The Oval. That spirited show by Sri Lanka's batsmen gave the mighty Australian team jitters, before they just about held their nerve to win the game.

Warnapura gave a good account of himself when Sri Lanka played some games in Bangladesh in the late 1970s. However, the finest moment of his chequered career came in the 1979 World Cup when he led Sri Lanka in the place of the injured Anura Tennekoon, and took them to a famous win against India at Old Trafford. Warnapura made his contribution by bowling parsimoniously and took 1 for 47 in 12 overs.

When England arrived on the shores of the Island in 1981-82, Sri Lanka put up a spirited show in the ODI series and it was drawn at 1-1. When the focus shifted to Tests, Sri Lanka yet again played with fizz and sparkle, before losing their first ever Test in Colombo. Warnapura in that game also had the distinction of playing the first ever delivery by a Sri Lankan player in Tests, when he faced up to Bob Willis.

Warnapura captained Sri Lanka on their tours of India and Pakistan. However, he soon led a Sr Lankan side on a rebel tour to South Africa and was given a 25-year ban.

By Bharath Ramaraj