Eighteen-year-old Aravinda de Silva made his Test debut for Sri Lanka at Lord's in August 1984 in a one-off Test that, despite Sri Lanka's defensive draw, signalled the arrival of a generational talent.
Sri Lanka had been touring intermittently and had drawn their previous Tests in 1983-84 against the same English side.
De Silva, 18, had played four Tests previously and was widely tipped as the country's future batting star.
Sri Lanka had been granted a one-off Test at Lord's against England as part of their gradual integration into the Test calendar. De Silva, then 18, was the youngest member of the squad. He scored 16 and 3 in his two innings — modest figures — but his stroke-play in the nets and on the boundary impressed every England player. Sri Lanka, batting first, made 491 for 7 declared, with Sidath Wettimuny scoring 190 and Mendis 111. England replied with 370. Sri Lanka batted again — De Silva failing — and the match meandered to a draw. The result was historically significant: Sri Lanka's first Test in England, with a first-innings declaration at 491, was a major statement that the new Test nation could match the old ones over a five-day game. De Silva would go on to a 22-year career, score over 6,000 Test runs, and play the central role in Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup win.
Sri Lanka 491/7 declared (Wettimuny 190, Mendis 111)
De Silva 16 in 1st innings
England 370 in reply
De Silva 3 in 2nd innings
Match drawn
Day 1-2
Wettimuny 190; Mendis 111; SL 491/7d
Day 3
De Silva 16 in 1st innings
Day 5
De Silva 3 in 2nd innings; match drawn
“He was eighteen and the most exciting talent I had seen at Lord's that year.”
“Lord's was Lord's. I was just trying not to disgrace myself.”
A modest debut but the first appearance at Lord's of one of the great subcontinental batsmen of the next two decades.
De Silva went on to win the 1996 World Cup as Sri Lanka's senior batsman; the Lord's debut is the historical starting point.
Yorkshire v Essex
1932-06-16
On 15-16 June 1932 Herbert Sutcliffe (313) and Percy Holmes (224*) put on 555 for the first wicket against Essex at Leyton, breaking the world first-class record for any wicket and adding a layer of folklore — including a scoreboard that read 554 for several minutes and a hastily reversed declaration — that has clung to the partnership ever since.
Australia v England
1933-02-14
With the fate of the Bodyline series in the balance and England 216 for 6 chasing 340, Eddie Paynter checked himself out of a Brisbane hospital where he was being treated for acute tonsillitis, taxied to the Gabba in pyjamas and a dressing gown, and batted for nearly four hours to score 83. England drew level on first innings, won the Test by six wickets and the series 4-1.
Australia
1934-09-25
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