Roy Silva has represented the national cricket team of the United States of America (USA) and performed well. The Youth Observer caught up with him to discuss his cricket career.
Q; You have represented the United State cricket team. Are you retired now?
A: No, I have not retired. But my age is building barriers to my playing cricket for the USA national team.
Q: So what is the latest news regarding your cricketing activities?
A: Cricket is a part of my life. These days I am trying to play in the USA minor league cricket tournament. I hope to perform well and move on to League tournaments.
Q: How did the doors open for you to play cricket for the USA national team?
A: My wife is the main reason. She gave me that opportunity. After I saw that path I followed it well. I am glad I followed that path and thank her for it.
Q: How did you get the chance to play cricket overseas?
A: In 2004, I was planning to travel to England to play league cricket and for Economic studies as well. However, I got a chance to play league cricket in Australia.
Q: When did you begin to play cricket in England?
A: In 2008, Ruwin Peris helped to travel to England and play in the Lancashire league. I played for Accrington Cricket Club, a 178 year old club. I was the first cricketer from Sri Lanka to play for that club. I was with them for three seasons, until 2010.
Q: You then moved to Ireland to play cricket?
A: Yes, I had a chance to play in Ireland from 2011 to 2014. In 2011, I scored a double century in a one-day match.
Q: A double century in a one-day match is a milestone in any cricketer's life. Could you give some details regarding your feat?
A: Yes it was a milestone indeed. I scored it in 72 balls and remained not out. I stamped my name in Irish first class cricket history.
I scored 295 runs in 91 balls. I had 34 sixers and 11 fours. I also hit six sixes in one over.
Q: How did you shift to the USA?
A: My wife Wathsala Ediriweera is the reason. Wathsala was living in the USA and I met her in England in 2010 and we married in 2012. We then moved to the USA.
At first I thought I would not be able to play cricket in the USA. However, later I got to know that I could. I got my cricketing gear from Sri Lanka and joined a cricket club. This paved the path for me to play for the national team.
Q: How did you perform in USA cricket?
A: I did my best not only as a player but also as a coach. I played well in inter-club matches. That is how I was selected for the national team in 2017. I received the Best Player award in my first international match.
I also contributed to the USA cricket team winning a Cup against Canada for the first time.
Q: Now let us talk about your beginning in cricket. Where did you first start playing cricket?
A: I started playing cricket at Kalutara Vidyalaya in 1991. I played for the under-13 cricket team. Two years later I was selected for the under-15 team and scored a century against Ananda College. It gave me a chance to enter Nalanda College.
Q: Who invited you to join Nalanda College?
A: It was Leslie Narangoda who helped me to join Nalanda in 1994. However, I was not given a chance to play in the under-15 team. In 1996 I got the chance to play in the under-17 team.
However, the GCE Ordinary Level examination put a temporary stop to my cricketing activities. At that time the Sri Lanka Air Force invited me to join them.
I scored a century against Baduraliya Cricket Club while still a schoolboy and it helped me find a place in the Nalanda 1st XI team. That was the turning point of my sports career.
Q: What made the Air Force invite you to join their cricket team?
A: My father was an officer in the Air Force and the cricket club in the Air Force knew me as a sportsman. Maybe that was the reason for inviting me to join their under-23 cricket team.
Q: After you began to play for the Air Force team you got a chance to join the Nalanda College 1st XI team. Did anyone help you to get that chance?
A: Wing Commander Migara Perera spoke to Jayantha Senevirathna Sir about me. Then I got a chance to play in the 1st eleven team.
Q: What happened to your cricketing career after you left school?
A: I played in the under-23 team of the Air Force Cricket Club and performed well as a batsman scoring several centuries. I got my maiden representation in Premier League cricket in 2000. At that time, I performed as an allrounder. Although I scored several centuries I was never selected to the national cricket pool. Then I joined Moors Sports Club under Champaka Ramanayake Sir. I also played for several teams and clubs such as the Rogers Group, John Keels, Ceylon Cold Stores etc.
The main reason why I went overseas was to find success there.
Q: Are you happy about the path of your cricket career?
A: I am very happy about my success overseas in cricket. I would have loved to play cricket for my motherland, however, I did not get that chance.
Maybe if I was selected to play for Sri Lanka my life would have been different. But I do not worry about it. I have a nice family and lead a contented life now.
