Sergeant Seekkuge Prasanna, Army’s Second Test Cricketer Makes His Debut

The Army’s one of the newest hopefuls in cricketing, Sergeant Seekkuge Prasanna of Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps joined his debut test in the ongoing test series with Australia at Pallekele on Thursday (8) to be the second Army player in test cricket after 2/Lieutenant Ajantha Mendis.

Lance Corporal Seekkuge Prasanna was promoted to the rank of Sergeant a few days ago by Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya in recognition of his cricketing talents after his participation in the recent London  ‘A’ team tour.

Seekkuge Prasanna worked his way up through the ranks by bowling leg-breaks and broke into the Sri Lanka Army team in 2006 as a 21-year-old cricketer. He made an immediate impact, taking 3 for 23 in 10 overs on his domestic one-day debut against Lankan Cricket Club. He built an outstanding List ‘A’ record over the next five years, picking up 73 wickets at 18.38 in 45 matches.

He was selected to the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team that toured England in 2011 and took a six-wicket haul while opening the bowling against England Lions. The Sri Lankan selectors immediately took note, asked him to fly back home for the final two ODIs against the touring Australians, and immediately gave him an international ongoing debut.    

Promising right-arm leg-spinner, Sergeant Seekkuge Prasanna who represented Sri Lanka national side in the 4th & 5th One Day Internationals matches, played against Australia on 20 & 22 Aug 2011 at the Keththarama Stadium, was selected to play 2nd Test at Pallekelle.

In his debut ODI, he captured 3 wickets in one over including the brilliant catch of former Australian captain Ricky Ponting. Furthermore, he showed his potential in final ODI by bowling match winning fine spell of 1 for 37 in 10 overs.

He joined the Sri Lanka team after very successful tour of Sri Lanka ‘A’ Cricket Team to England, held from July 17 to August 19.

Prasanna has already represented Sri Lanka ‘A’ for the tour of Australia last year and the Triangle series, featuring Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka, and also another one featuring Canada, Ireland and Sri Lanka.

He captained the Army cricket team in the Premier League ‘B’ Tournament and captured 67 wickets in the eight matches helping the Army emerge runners-up in the tournament, conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket.

He is a decent batsman in the top-order scoring many runs and joins another prominent product of Sri Lanka Army, 2/Lt. Ajantha Mendis who also captured three wickets in the final ODI. Thus this has been the first time two players represented Sri Lanka Army in an ODI.

Army Cricket Committee appreciates the support given by Commander of the Army to develop infrastructure of Army Cricket, adding two new turfs and improving players’ facilities at Army Cricket Stadium Panagoda. Prasanna was an Old boy of Revatha College, Balapitiya and hails from Balapitiya.

He is the Second player to play a test from Sri Lanka Army after Ajantha Mendis.