Romesh Kaluwitharana

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Romesh Kaluwitharana Sri Lanka (SL)
Batting style	Right-hand bat
Bowling type	-
	Tests	ODIs
Matches	49	189
Runs scored	1933	3711
Batting average	26.12	22.22
100s/50s	3/9	2/23
Top score	132*	102*
Balls bowled	-	-
Wickets	-	-
Bowling average	-	-
5 wickets in innings	-	-
10 wickets in match	-	N/A
Best bowling	-	-
Catches/stumpings	93/26	132/75
As of 9 February 2006 Source: Cricinfo.com

Romesh Shantha Kaluwitharana (born November 24, 1969, Colombo) is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played in 49 Tests and 189 ODIs from 1990 to 2004.

His early career made him look like a good Sri Lankan prospect. However, he failed to deliver the goods in a constantly deteriorating Sri Lankan team (previous to the revival of Sri Lankan cricket in the 1996 World Cup). Once in the national side, he often uselessly threw his wicket away and was suspect to the swinging delivery. For a wicket-keeper, he surprisingly did not like pace and hated the ball coming onto his bat. His greatest contribution to ODIs came after he was promoted to the top of the batting order to partner opener Sanath Jayasuriya during the 1995-96 tour of Australia, helping to give birth to an aggressive batting approach in the first fifteen overs of fielding restrictions.

His wicket-keeping abilities are commendable, often chirping in the field and encouraging a lack-lustre side which does not consistently show what it is really made of. On a charitable side, Romesh has been contributing to charity work in the impoverished Northern part of Sri-Lanka along with his long time cricket companion Muttiah "the Lord of the Spin" Muralitharan. Forever will be missed of the little figure who would try very hard to exorcise the true qualities of the Sri Lankan team. He is nicknamed 'Kalu' and announced his retirement in 2004, paving the way for Kumar Sangakkara who has filled the shoes of this arduous role.