Graeme Labrooy

Graeme Fredrick Labrooy (; born 7 June 1964) is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played in nine Test matches and 44 One Day International from 1986 to 1992. He was the chairman of selectors for the national team and currently serves as an international match referee. His younger brother Wendell Labrooy is also a first-class cricketer and match referee. Labrooy holds the unique distinction of never playing any of his nine test matches at home. He had modelled his text book bowling action on Richard Hadlee and he was regarded as a huge fan of Hadlee. Playing career He pursued his education at Maris Stella College in Negombo. He played school cricket for Maris Stella College and captained the Maris Stella College cricket team. In 1981, he was part of the Sri Lankan school cricket team which toured England. In 1983, he was voted as the Best Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year and was also voted as best school all-rounder and best school bowler in the same year. He initially pursued his career as a spinner when he was in his mid 13s to 15s but later decided to become a seamer in his school cricket days. A right-hand bat and right-arm fast medium bowler, Labrooy took 124 first class wickets at 33.56, but struggled in the international arena with averages in the mid-40s. He made his ODI debut on 27 November 1986 along with Hashan Tillakaratne against India during the 1986–87 Champions Trophy. A month later, he made his test debut against India on 17 December 1986 and batted as a tailender on debut while also recorded expensive bowling figures of 1/164. Together with his moderate batting ability, he enjoyed occasional all round success. During an ODI against Australia at the 1989 Benson & Hedges World Series, he became the first player ever to be dismissed on the very second ball faced by a batsman in an ODI innings after hitting a six off the first ball. In the same match against Australia, Max Walker who was the commentator for Channel Nine made a stir regarding his name by comparing his name with fellow Sri Lankan cricketers names which were relatively longer than Labrooy. He also became the first player to be dismissed with a batting strike rate of 300 in an ODI match.