Ranjan Madugalle: For Cricket. In Cricket

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Played 21 Tests and 63 ODI games for Sri Lanka. Became an ICC Match Referee in December 1993. Officiated the ICC CWC final in 1999 and 2003. He was one of the five match-referees at ICC CWC 2011.

 

Deshabandu Ranjan Senerath Madugalle (Sinhala: රන්ජන් මඩුගල්ල; born 22 April 1959) is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who currently serves as the Chief of the panel of ICC match referees. He was educated at Trinity College, Kandy, and Royal College, Colombo.

He represented Sri Lanka in international cricket between 1979 and 1988, making his debut in the 1979 ICC Trophy final against Canada. He had the honor of being in the first Sri Lankan Test team in 1982, and top-scored in the first innings with 65 – making a 99-run partnership with Arjuna Ranatunga. Madugalle represented Sri Lanka in 21 test matches and 63 One Day Internationals and also captained Sri Lanka national cricket team in two test matches and 13 ODIs.^[2]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He retired from international cricket in 1988 at the age of 29. Subsequently, he has become a match referee for the International Cricket Council in 1993 and currently serves as the chief of the panel of ICC match referees.^[3] He was promoted to the position of chief match referee of the ICC in 2001 in which he has achieved record longevity, but courted controversy at times by exhibiting bias against the India and Pakistan teams early in his career.^[4][5]

ODI career

Madugalle continued as a vital part of the Sri Lankan Test and ODI team, only missing one international game between 1979 and 1984. However, his ODI performances worried the Sri Lankan selectors, with only one fifty from 25 innings. He was shuffled around the order in an attempt to gain some form, but after scoring a duck in the second and last ODI against New Zealand in 1984, he was dropped for the first three matches of the 1984–85 World Series Cup in Australia. A couple of seasons followed where he was in and out of the team, but a major reorganisation of the squad following the tour of India in 1986–87 gave him the chance again, and he seized it with a Test 60 against New Zealand.

Performance outside Sri Lanka

Madugalle was never a good tourist, only averaging 21.50 with the bat abroad, while he averaged 42.76 on traditionally tricky Sri Lankan pitches. Indeed, his only century came in a home match – the first match of the 3-Test series against India in 1985. Madugalle took nearly seven hours to forge his 103, but it ensured in a drawn match. In the next match, he only batted once, making 54 from number three to build a solid platform for the next batsmen, which eventually led to a comfortable 149-run victory. They drew the third Test – despite scores of 5 and 10 from Madugalle, and Sri Lanka had won their first Test series.

Performance as captain

In 1988 he was appointed captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team, but his team troubled neither Australia, nor England under Madugalle’s leadership. Madugalle himself recorded four sub-20 scores as captain, and the two Tests he captained became his last. He also captained the ODI team in his last 13 matches, winning two and losing eleven, but again he failed to back up his captaincy with runs – only passing 25 twice. However, Sri Lanka did win in his very last match, with a five-wicket win over Pakistan in the 1988 Asia Cup – in which Madugalle did not bat.

He also played league cricket in England – particularly in 1979 for Flowery Field Cricket Club, who were then in the Saddleworth League.

Retirement and match referee

Madugalle only made two international fifties after the ’85 India series, both in Tests, and eventually he retired to become a marketing executive in a multinational corporation. He became involved as a match referee in 1993. He progressed through the International Cricket Council ranks, refereeing over 750 international matches in 30 years. Thus, he officiated in many more international matches than he played. In 2001, he was appointed as the chief match referee by the ICC. In addition to being seen as an establishment man, his record in being impartial has been questioned by Asian fans – he was seen as harsh on the Indian and in particular Pakistani teams while being relatively light on Australian teams.^[6]

 

Madugalle set the record for becoming the most experienced match referee in ODIs, refereeing the 2019 World Cup Final, and in 2024 will referee his 400th, holding the record of 397 in January 2024. He holds the record for being a match referee in most ODIs.(304)^[7]

He also has the record for becoming the first match referee to officially take part in 100+ Tests. In fact, he’s the only match referee in test history to take part in 100 as well as 150 and 200 test matches. He still holds the record for being a match referee in most Test matches (214).^[8]

He also holds the record for being a match referee in most T20I matches at 142.^[9]

Madugalle has officially been a match referee in the most international cricket matches, with over 750 international matches.^[10]

In 2019, Ranjan Madugalle officiated as the match referee of the 2019 Cricket World Cup final.

Ranjan Madugalle, on 7 August 2024, became the first match referee to officiate in 400 men’s ODIs, reaching this landmark in the third and final ODI between Sri Lanka and India of the Indian cricket team in Sri Lanka in 2024 series.^[11]

Controversies

During his early tenure as a referee, Ranjan Madugalle courted controversy at times by exhibiting bias against Asian teams, the most notable incidents of which occurred during the Indian tour of Australia in 1999–2000.^{[12][13][14][15][16]}

See also

• Elite Panel of ICC Referees

References

1. ^“National Honours – 2017”. The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 21 March 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
2. ^ESPN Cricinfo Player Profile: Ranjan Madugalle
3. ^Ranjan Madugalle: A fine cricketing ambassador
4. ^“The unforgetful Lankan”.
5. ^“Rediff on the NeT: Sauce for the goose”.
6. ^“The unforgetful Lankan”.
7. ^“Records | One-Day Internationals | Individual records (captains, players, umpires) | Most matches as a match referee | ESPN Cricinfo”. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
8. ^“Records | Test matches | Individual records (captains, players, umpires) | Most matches as a match referee | ESPN Cricinfo”. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
9. ^“Records | Twenty20 Internationals | Individual records (captains, players, umpires) | Most matches as a match referee | ESPN Cricinfo”. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 March 2017.

• ^“Records | Combined Test, ODI and T20I records | Individual records (captains, players, umpires) | Most matches as a match referee | ESPN Cricinfo”. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
• ^“ICC congratulates Madugalle on 400th ODI as Match Referee”. ICC. 7 August 2024. Archivedfrom the original on 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
• ^“Flashpoints in contests with Australia”.
• ^“The unforgetful Lankan”.
• ^“Rediff on the NeT: Sauce for the goose”.
• ^“Latest Volume24-Issue48 News, Photos, Latest News Headlines about Volume24-Issue48”.
• ^“Madugalle faces flak for letting off Johnson”. Mid-day.com. 5 March 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2022.

External links

• Cricinfo – meet the match referee (retrieved 17 August 2005)
• Abusive Pointing in 1999–2000 scot free by Umpires and Referee From Rediff.com
• Ranjan Madugalle : The unforgetful Lankan From Cricinfo.com, September 2006
• Sauce for the goose From Rediff.com
• Madugalle faces flak for letting off Johnson From Mid-Day.com

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Ranjan Madugalle Batting Stats

Batting	Matches	Innings	Nos	Runs	High Score	Ave	BF	SR	100s	50s	4s	6s	Ct	St
Tests	21	39	4	1029	103	29.4	–	–	1	7	–	2	9	0
T20Is	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
ODIs	63	56	5	950	73	18.62	1574	60.35	0	3	–	–	18	0
FC	81	118	15	3301	142*	32.04	–	–	2	20	–	–	42	0
List A	82	74	7	1334	73	19.91	–	–	0	4	–	–	27	0
T20s	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–

Ranjan Madugalle Bowling Stats

Bowling	Matches	Innings	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Ave	Econ	SR	4w	5w	10w
Tests	21	5	84	38	0	–	–	–	2.71	–	0	0	0
T20Is	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
ODIs	63	1	4	1	0	–	–	–	1.5	–	0	0	0
FC	81	–	342	159	2	1/18	–	79.5	2.78	171	–	0	0
List A	82	–	22	15	0	–	–	–	4.09	–	0	0	0
T20s	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–

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Ranjan Senerath Madugalle, a prominent figure in Sri Lankan cricket, has left an indelible mark on the sport through his multifaceted career. Born on January 22, 1959, in Colombo, Madugalle emerged as a stylish right-hand batsman, whose talent surpassed the numbers reflected in his career statistics.

Making his debut in Sri Lanka’s inaugural Test match against England in the 1981-82 season, Madugalle demonstrated his prowess right from the beginning. With the top order faltering, he exhibited composure and skill, leading the team with a composed knock of 65. This performance laid the foundation for Madugalle’s international career, marking the start of a journey that would span over a decade.

Throughout his career, Madugalle proved to be a solid performer, consistently displaying his batting abilities. While large scores often eluded him at the Test level, his contributions were vital in shaping Sri Lankan cricket. His sole Test century was achieved during the 1985-86 season against India at the SSC grounds. Comfortable on home soil, his average in Sri Lanka was an impressive 42.76. However, his performances abroad suffered, with a disappointing average of 21.50.

Although victory was scarce during his Test career, Madugalle’s impact extended beyond the field. In addition to being a skilled batsman, he also took on leadership roles for Sri Lanka. While leading the national team in two Tests, he faced challenging circumstances, losing to both Australia and England. Furthermore, a lean spell with the bat added pressure to his captaincy.

Following his retirement from international cricket, Madugalle transitioned into a new role within the sport. In 1993, he became an International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee and, in 2001, was appointed as the first chief referee. This marked a significant achievement for Madugalle, allowing him to contribute to the game’s development on a global scale.

Beyond his professional feats as a cricketer and referee, Madugalle possesses an easy-going demeanor and a charming personality. However, beneath this exterior, there lies a strict disciplinarian, reinforcing his credibility as a match referee.

Ranjan Senerath Madugalle’s contribution to Sri Lankan cricket is immeasurable. As a resilient batsman, he provided stability to the team’s batting lineup, defying challenging oppositions. His captaincy, though challenging, added to his leadership repertoire. Furthermore, his subsequent career as an ICC match referee emphasized his deep commitment to the integrity and fairness of the game.

The impact of Madugalle’s talent and dedication continue to influence Sri Lankan cricket today. His journey, though not always measured by statistical success, has undeniably shaped the sport’s growth in his homeland. In retrospect, Madugalle shall forever be remembered as a distinguished figure in the ever-evolving history of Sri Lankan cricket.

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A SPECIAL NOTE from Michael Roberts, 13 October 2024

Apart from the heritage which Ranjan Madugalle derived from his education at Trinity College in Kandy and Royal College in Colombo, he had the benefits of his parental upbringing. His father was Lionel Madugalle — a personable man of Kandyan Sinhala aristocratic background who carried no airs. Lionel was a civil servant who became the Registrar at Peradeniya University when Sir Nicholas Attygalle was its Vice Chancellor. I was a student then in the late 1950s and became an Assistant Lecturer from 1960-62. I got to know Lionel Madugalle on the tennis courts — a genial man with no airs  and a friend for life.