Every team has De Silva lining – 5 (of the many) international cricketers named De Silva

Jonhenry Wilson 10 Dec 2024

The name is Da Silva, Joshua Da Silva.

As South Africa’s batsmen went about building a massive lead against Sri Lanka in the first Test in Durban, the commentators turned their discussion to surnames and which have featured the most in international cricket.

Sri Lanka has produced numerous players with the surnames Perera, Mendis, and Kumara. Among Pakistan, India, and England, many Khans have graced the game.

However, according to commentator Shaun Pollock, the most commonly featured surname in international cricket is De Silva, with 24 players appearing at the highest level. Here’s our list of five notable De Silvas:

Aravinda de Silva (Sri Lanka)

Aravinda de Silva is arguably the most famous De Silva in cricket history. The stylish batsman and part-time spinner played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s 1996 ICC Cricket World Cup victory, scoring a match-winning century in the final against Australia.

Known for his attacking flair, Aravinda remains one of the greatest Sri Lankan cricketers of all time. Vice-captain to Arjuna Ranatunga he was a key figure in the side that also included Sanath Jayasuriya, Romesh Kaluwitharana and Chaminda Vaas.

Joshua Da Silva (West Indies)

Spelled with an ‘a’ and not an ‘e’ but very much the same otherwise, this is a Da Silva from the Caribbean. The young wicketkeeper-batsman from the West Indies has been a promising addition to international cricket.

Known for his composed batting style and tidy glove work, he has already delivered match-saving innings and is seen as a key player in West Indies’ rebuilding efforts. Da Silva has yet to play a T20I for the Windies, but he has 32 Test caps and 2 ODIs to his credit.

Dhananjaya de Silva (Sri Lanka)

Dhananjaya is a modern all-rounder for Sri Lanka, currently skippering his side in South Africa. With a Test batting average of over 40 and 40 Test wickets to his credit he has proven his worth with both bat and ball.

A dependable middle-order batsman and an effective off-spinner, he has been instrumental in many Sri Lankan victories. His versatility makes him a valuable asset in all formats of the game.

Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka)

Yes, you do recognize his name from somewhere in recent times – Asoka de Silva is best undoubtedly best remembered as an international umpire, but for those with long memories he also played Test cricket for Sri Lanka in the early 1980s.

While his playing career was brief, his contributions as an umpire were significant, officiating in numerous high-profile matches, including World Cups.

Ashley de Silva (Sri Lanka)

Ashley de Silva was a wicketkeeper-batsman who represented Sri Lanka during the early 1990s.

Although his international career was short-lived, he continued to contribute to the game off the field, later serving in administrative roles within Sri Lanka Cricket.