Dilhara Fernando: raring to go

Sri Lanka's fastest bowler, Dilhara Fernando, has fully recovered from a serious back injury and is raring to have a go at the Englishmen. He could play in Kandy if conditions favour an extra pace bowler.

Fernando went six months without international cricket after suffering a stress fracture of his spine. He last played for Sri Lanka at Sharjah in April, before the pain became so unbearable that he had to undergo treatment.

Sri Lanka Cricket fast bowling coach, Champaka Ramanayke, reveals that Fernando first complained about his back during the 2003 World Cup. The injury apparently contributed to him bowling so many no balls.

Ramanayake, with whom Fernando has been working with for the past five months, helped identify a technical fault in his action, which is coined `counter rotation' by bio-mechanic analysts.

"He was twisting his spine and putting too much pressure on it. The end result was a fracture. We have identified the fault and changed his alignment so that he's bowling more upright now," said Ramanayake.

During Dilhara's absence the likes of Prabath Nissanka (now recuperating after knee surgery), Dinush Fernando and Nuwan Kulasekera have all pushed their claims for a regular berth. Nuwan Zoysa is also fighting his way back into contention, bowling with greater zip and purpose.

But despite the growing competition for places, Dilhara is confident that he will soon regain his berth and unafraid of competition.

"When I first joined SSC, there were about five Sri Lankan bowlers in the side. Quite a number of people advised me to change club, arguing that I would not get a chance. But I stuck it out. There presence gave me an incentive to bowl better and improve my performances. I finally managed to convince SSC to pick me," said Fernando.

"I am facing a similar situation today in making a comeback into the national team and I am confident I can do it. As they [the other pace bowlers] keep on improving their performances it offers me a challenge to perform better to regain my place," said Fernando.

The 24-year-old said he obtains the majority of his wickets with the slow ball and the bouncer. "In the one-day game I bowl the yorker at tailenders. But I know I need to pitch the ball up further for success at the Test level."

Fernando has been timed at 91.9 mph against South Africa at Durban where he returned his best figures of five for 42 in 2000. He has natural pace but has paid for and inconsistent line and often for bowling too short.

Fernando said the best ball he bowled was to England opener Michael Vaughan in the Manchester Test in 2002.

"I did not play a single practice match and came straight into the Test match. I bowled a slow ball to Vaughan, which he failed to read and put up an easy catch. That has been the best ball I've bowled at international level," said Fernando, who has 33 wickets from 13 Tests and 73 wickets from 55 one-day internationals.

There was a time Fernando was plagued with no balls, but since changing his action the problem as eased. "I bowled no balls whenever I tried to bowl fast and when I had problems with my run up," said Fernando. "There has been a considerable improvement in the number of no-balls I bowl after I changed my run up. It has been very evident during the current season."

Fernando said that he had not modelled his bowling action on anyone in particular, but has been a keen follower of South African fast bowler Allan Donald. Sri Lanka hope he will have and equally distinguished career, no one doubts that he has the raw ingredients.