Premier Cricket: Ruwantha Kellepotha called up to Vic seconds
Casey South Melbourne newcomer Ruwantha Kellepotha is a shock selection for the Victorian Second XI team to play at the MCG next Monday.
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Ruwantha Kellepotha says he is “shocked’’ at his selection in the Victorian Second XI team to play at the MCG next week.
The Casey South Melbourne leg-spinner has played only one match in Premier Cricket, last Saturday when he made his debut for the Swans against Prahran.
The 30-year-old former Sri Lankan first-class player will line up against ACT/NSW Country in a four-day affair starting next Monday.
Victorian chairman of selectors Andrew Lynch phoned Kellepotha on Monday night asking if he was available to play in the game.
“I was in great shock, a big surprise,’’ the part-time commercial cleaner said this morning.
“I said yes, definitely.
“It is a big opportunity for my cricket.’’
Kellepotha said he couldn’t have imagined being called up so quickly.
He said he entered the season determined to bowl well and help Casey South Melbourne win matches.
“Big surprise for this to happen,’’ Kellepotha said.
“I cannot control what happens with this (selection) but they picked me and I will do my best.’’
Kellepotha joined the Swans ahead of this season from Dandenong District club Berwick, where he won the medal as the best player in the competition in 2020-21.
He said this morning that his wife, Anjalie, had encouraged him to start playing “proper’’ cricket and join Premier ranks.
“She told me it (local cricket) was not enough for me,’’ he said. “So I told my personal coach (former Sri Lankan first-class player Bart Perera) and he said, ‘Why don’t you go to Casey if you want to play Premier Cricket?’
“After that I spoke with Will Carr (Swans coach) and I am here now.’’
Kellepotha made his debut last Saturday and collected 3-24 off his 10 overs, dismissing classy Prahran trio Damon Egan, Jake Hancock and James Billington.
State selector Mark Ridgway attended the match and was impressed.
On Sunday Carr raved about his leggie, saying he could hardly have made a more impressive debut in Premier Cricket.
“I’ve seen a lot of him and he did what I expected him to do,’’ he said.
“He’d like to bowl on that surface every week but at the same time he landed the ball exactly where he wanted to and that’s not going to change whether the wicket is good, bad or indifferent.
“He’s still going to land it, he’s still going to turn it and he’s still going to go both ways and going to be very hard to pick. He proved a handful for Prahran’s top-order and probably got their best three out.’’
When Kellepotha joined the club Carr said: “He’s at the peak of his powers and the time is right for him to go to Premier level …
“He bowls really good leg-break, lots of variety, goes both ways, with unbelievable control … he’s got all the attributes to be a dangerous proposition at Premier level.
“With his batting, technically he’s very good, with the ability to find the boundary, which is probably something we as a batting group probably lack.’’
He had 20 first-class matches in Sri Lanka between 2011-13, averaging 38.56 with the bat and 29.41 with the ball.
Two years ago Premier club Frankston Peninsula called him up to its Victorian Super Slam T20 squad.
Kellepotha has lived in Melbourne full-time for four years and played eight seasons in the Dandenong District association.
He had joined Turf 1 club Springvale South as an overseas player in 2013-14 and had two productive seasons, taking 20 and then 39 wickets, as well as hitting two centuries.
Then it was on to Keysborough for two seasons in Turf 2 and two at St Mary’s back in Turf 1. He had individual success with St Mary’s but few wins.
He said that was the spur for him to join Berwick.
Kellepotha said this morning that he was thankful for Carr’s guidance.
“He’s one of the main parts of my new journey,’’ he said.
“I am new to this structure so he gave me all the advices and everything.’’
Fast-rising Casey South Melbourne opening batsman Ashley Chandrasinghe was also named in the state seconds.
Vic Second XI
Ashley Chandrasinghe
Patrick Rowe
Blake Thomson
Henry Thornton
Xavier Crone
Ruwantha Kellepotha
Campbell Kellaway
Cameron McClure
Todd Murphy
Fergus O’Neill
Tom Rogers
Jack Rudd
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