Wisden overview
Few cricketers have hit the ball with more breathtaking arrogance than this 5ft 4½ins bundle of dynamite. He faced 158 balls on his Test debut and hit one in six of them for four; he only averaged 12 at the 1996 World Cup, but that did not stop him creating mayhem within a few balls (he was out third ball against England, for 8). That tournament saw Kalu's career belatedly take off in a similar way to that of Sanath Jayasuriya, his pinch-hitting partner; he had played only five Tests since his debut four years before. A tough competitor, he became a key member of the side, competent with gauntlets or bat, until a slump saw him lose his place in Tests and one-dayers. He was soon restored to the one-day side as wicketkeeper-batsman and justified the decision with violent hitting, the highlight being a boundary-laden hundred against England in Colombo. Simon Wilde

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