Fitness test for cricketers is very important but it has to be done very systematically according to Mario Villavarayen the assistant coach who performs a dual role as trainer and fast bowling coach of the Jaffna Kings in the LPL cricket tournament.
Villavarayen the former Sri Lanka A cricketer at onetime functioned as the qualified trainer of both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and pointed out the value of the players’ fitness levels.
“For a player to live up to his talents he has to build up his fitness levels. All players want to play the game for long periods and this can be possible with the right physical and mental fitness,” said Villavarayen the former St Peter’s College opening bowler.
“I did a decent job with the Sri Lanka team as a trainer. Players like Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Muttiah Muralidaran, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara worked hard with me,” added Villavarayen.
Due to family commitments Villavarayen has now confined his services to franchise teams that include teams in the Indian IPL and BPL in Bangladesh.
Villavarayen said his role is to monitor the fitness levels of players and minimize their injuries and the challenges players face is more than what it was in the past with so much of Test, ODI and T20 cricket being played continuously.
“When a player gets injured it is important that he gets proper treatment and make a full recovery. The rehabilitation period is more vital and physiotherapy under medical advice has to be done systemically. That is where the trainer and physiotherapist have to look after the players well,” said Villavarayen.
He is presently taking care of the 21-year old fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka who was injured before the T20 World Cup.
The 49-year old former right arm fast medium paceman Villavarayen had a career that spanned 12 years of First Class cricket taking 378 wickets with a career-best 9 for 15 for Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club against Police SC in the 1996/97 season.
He also played for CCC and Tamil Union.