Family sources announced that one of the best leg-spinners to emerge from Sri Lanka, D. S. De Silva, passed away last night (15). At the time of his death, D. S. De Silva, who was eighty-three (83), was residing in London, England. He was said to have been ill for a short time.
He was a prominent figure in school and club cricket in this country and was a special player who had already won the right to represent England in county cricket in the late 70s. D. S. De Silva, who was named as one of the must-have players in the team when Sri Lanka played its first Test cricket match in 1982, was called up for that match while playing in England.
Born on 11 June 1942 in Galle, Dandeniyage Somachandra de Silva entered the cricket field from Mahinda College, Galle, where he studied. Due to his skills in school cricket, he was able to win the Sri Lankan national cricket team on 07 June 1975.
Representing Sri Lanka in 12 Test matches, D.S. de Silva scored 406 runs as a batsman and took thirty-seven Test wickets as a leg-spinner. In his Test batsman role, he managed to claim two half-centuries and the highest Test score in an innings was sixty-one. As a Test bowler, he took thirty-seven wickets in his short Test cricket career, with his best bowling figures being five wickets for 59 runs. D.S. represented Sri Lanka in forty-one One Day Internationals, taking 32 wickets. D.S. de Silva has captained the Sri Lankan team in two Tests.
After retiring from cricket, D.S. de Silva joined cricket administration as a coach and manager. He is a veteran cricket administrator who has served as the Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket, a member of the Selection Committee and the Chairman of the Selection Committee.
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