Kusal Perera

Perera is an aggressive, powerful and fearless left-hander who, after starting his career as a middle order batsman, has played his best cricket as part of Sri Lanka’s top three

The Cricketer | 04/05/2019 at 14:04

Born: August 17, 1990

Role: Left-hand bat, wicketkeeper

With a batting style similar to his idol Sanath Jayasuriya, Kusal Perera is an aggressive, powerful and fearless left-hander who, after starting his career as a middle order batsman, has played his best cricket as part of Sri Lanka’s top three.

After a brief run in the side to replace the injured Kumar Sangakkara in 2012, a double hundred followed by a score of 336 off 275 balls for his domestic side Colts Cricket Club secured him his first central contract and prolonged stint in the senior team.

One of many wicketkeeper-batsmen possessed by Sri Lanka, Perera’s move up the order in white ball cricket saw him produce his best innings’ for his country. A maiden ODI hundred against Bangladesh in 2014 was followed by the second fastest ODI fifty ever off just 17 balls against Pakistan – a feat that has only been bested by AB de Villiers.

His ODI form earned him his first Test call-up the next year where he became only the second Sri Lankan in history to score two fifties on debut but, in December 2015, Perera failed a doping Test and was suspended by the ICC.

Although he maintained his innocence and was eventually cleared, Perera had missed nearly five months of cricket and has continued to blow hot and cold since his return.

SRI LANKA PLAYER PROFILES

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