A combative allround cricketer Kalpage has been a handy performer in the shorter format of the game where his allround skill makes him a valuable utility player. In the Test arena his appearances have been far more infrequent as he has struggled to find a defining role in the team, not being strong enough to warrant a position as either a batsman or bowler. A left-hand batsman capable of playing some forceful knocks in the lower order, at domestic level he can be regarded as a genuine batsman. His canny offspin provides a useful option for the captain, with the ability to maintain a tidy line and length, though at international level his bowling lacks penetration. Kalpage compliments his tidy allround skills by being a solid performer in the field.

At Test level his bowling has not been an effective weapon failing to take more than two wickets in an innings in 11 matches. With the bat he played some belligerent innings but is considered a lower-order batsman. He remained on the fringes of the international arena, and his opportunities were limited by the emergence of Upal Chandana.

After quitting the game in 1999, he assisted Trevor Chappell as Sri Lanka's fielding coach the same year before taking over his role in 2001. He continued the task till 2005, but in 2004 he played a dual role when he was also appointed as the computer analyst of the team. He became the head coach of the Spinners Clinic in April 2006 and also coached the A team, and Under-19 and U-15 teams. In March 2008, he was appointed the high performance head coach of Bangladesh's National Cricket Academy.

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Ruwan Kalpage, 2003 © Cricinfo Ltd

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