Victorian prodigy Ashley Chandrasinghe compiles old-fashioned century on Sheffield Shield debut

Another cricket prodigy has burst into the spotlight, with Ashley Chandrasinghe scoring a classy century on Sheffield Shield debut.

Ashley Chandrasinghe of Victoria. Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images

The future of Australian cricket is in safe hands.

Another batting prodigy has burst into the spotlight, with Ashley Chandrasinghe compiling an old-fashioned century on Sheffield Shield debut over the weekend.

The talented left-hander scored an unbeaten 119 (333) against Tasmania at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval on Sunday, guiding Victoria to 7/351 declared in the first innings.

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After one-Test wonder Will Pucovski stepped away from cricket for personal reasons last week, a vacancy opened for Chandrasinghe in Victoria’s Sheffield Shield starting XI.

Former Australian Test opener Chris Rogers presented the rookie contracted 20-year-old with Victoria’s 870th cap on Saturday morning, and less than an hour later he was walking out for his maiden first-class innings.

Chandrasinghe expertly weathered the storm on day one, respecting the disciplined bowling of former Australian seamers Jackson Bird, Peter Siddle and Riley Meredith.

He combined with captain Peter Handscomb for a 157-run partnership for the third wicket before the Victorian skipper departed on Saturday afternoon for 95.

But Chandrasinghe carried on the following morning, reaching triple figures with a textbook straight drive down the ground.

Glorious. Another young gun replenishing Australia’s batting stocks.

Chandrasinghe + Wyllie are creating a bright future. 🏏 https://t.co/glZUkGVSJ9

— Oliver Peterson (@oliverpeterson) October 30, 2022

His 311-ball century was the slowest in the Sheffield Shield since Tasmanian captain Jordan Silk needed 341 deliveries to reach the milestone against Queensland in March 2013.

It was also the second-slowest Sheffield Shield century for a Victorian, narrowly behind Shawn Craig’s 316-ball ton against Tasmania in January 1999.

Chandrasinghe modelled his batting technique off modern greats Michael Hussey and Kumar Sangakkara, and he undeniably boasts their temperament and patience when at the crease, making just one run from his first 49 balls against Tasmania.

“It was good to get away first ball, put away a few nerves,” Chandrasinghe said at stumps.

“It was pretty tough going to get my next run. They bowled pretty well to me, I thought.”

After he was dumped from the Victorian state pathways in 2019, Chandrasinghe decided to ply his trade in the Northern Territory; an unusual choice considering the federal territory doesn’t have a Sheffield Shield side.

He turned heads during the recent winter season by plundering five consecutive centuries for Waratah in the Darwin Premier competition, breaking the all-time record.

“He’s just getting started,” Waratahs coach Udara Weerasinghe told NT News earlier this year.

“He’s one of those players who knows where their off stump is.

“Champions are made when nobody is watching, that’s my story for him.”

Ashley Chandrasinghe of Victoria. Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images

Last month, Chandrasinghe combined with Pucovski for a 270-run opening partnership during Victoria’s second XI pre-season fixture against New South Wales in Coffs Harbour, eventually removed by former Test seamer Trent Copeland for 110.

“I think he has all the attributes, the personal qualities as well as the talent to go to the highest level,” Waratahs club president Simon Matthias told the News Corp publication.

“He’s perfectly suited to four-day cricket, and that’s why I think he’s really got a strong future at first-class level.”

Tasmania was 2/187 at stumps on day two, still trailing the Victorians by 164 runs with opener Tim Ward unbeaten on 76.

Originally published as Victorian prodigy Ashley Chandrasinghe compiles old-fashioned century on Sheffield Shield debut