Mishen Silva played school cricket as an all-rounder (right arm fast bowler and top order batsman) for his Alma mater St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa.
He captained the team in 2017 at the inter-school tournament and went on to represent the Sri Lanka under-19 team with Charith Asalanka as captain and Avishka Fernando also in the ranks. At present he is playing for Bloomfield CC in the Premier tournament.
Although having a toy bat for company in his childhood, serious cricket was not on his mind with badminton and swimming taking centre stage in his life.
But his ambitions took a different turn the day he decided that his real calling was in cricket that made him what he is today. His ultimate target is to end up as one of the best all-rounders and will not shy away from becoming the next Angelo Mathews.
“I want to be the best all-rounder ever produced in Sri Lanka after Angelo Mathews. That’s my dream and I am working towards it,” said Mishen Silva in an interview with the Sunday Observer.
Excerpts of the interview:
Q: What made you enter the world of sports?
My first sport was badminton and swimming. Then I shifted to cricket and a little bit of athletics as well which actually made me enter the world of sport
Q: Who has supported you the most?
My parents, relatives, school teachers and all the rectors, coaches (especially Imal Boteju and Rashan Peiris) have supported me the most
Q: What made you choose cricket?
When I was a child my favourite toy was the bat and I used to watch cricket with my father and mother and that’s the reason why I chose cricket
Q: Is it easy to be a cricketer?
Being a cricketer is never easy. It was a really hard journey. Being a good cricketer is not easy at all. It’s all about commitment. For a cricketer I believe training is the most important thing
Q: What do you do when you have free time?
Whenever I have free time I spend time with my parents and friends
Q: What would say are the priorities in your life?
I would say my top priorities are my family. I have a beautiful family. Actually first of all I should thank God for giving me such a wonderful family. If I am anywhere today, then that’s surely because of them and they are always part of it too
Q: What was your most unforgettable incident?
I have so many beautiful memories in my cricket career and there were so many ups and downs in my life but they all changed my life.
The best match I have ever played is the under 19 all island tournament semi-finals against Ananda College in 2016 at the R. Premadasa stadium. My captain was current super star Avishka Fernando. I will never forget it.
We came to the semi-finals as an undefeated team. We all unexpectedly won the match and in the final we defeated the undefeated Trinity team to win the overall title.
The day I was selected to the Sri Lanka Under-19 team is also one of the beautiful memories in my life. Thus far those are my most unforgettable incidents in life and to date I really cherish those moments
Q: In life how do you like to describe yourself?
In life I like to describe myself as a person with attitude and discipline.
Actually my childhood dream was to play county cricket in England and I said that many times when I was a kid
Q: Who is your favourite cricketer?
My favourite cricketer is Angelo Mathews
Q: Who do you sometimes compare yourself to?
I compare myself to West Indies captain Kieran Pollard.
My mother and my friends told me the same every time because my body structure looks like him
Q: Are you happy with all your achievements?
Yes, I am happy with all of my achievements and I have to achieve a few more things like playing for the Sri Lanka senior team and I will be achieving that one day for sure
Q: What kind of legacy would you would like to be remembered for?
I want to be the best all-rounder ever produced in Sri Lanka after Angelo Mathews.
That’s my dream and I am working towards it.
That’s the kind of legacy I would like to be remembered for