Cricket more than a game for ‘Arthur’
Sport has taken new recruit around the world and into HK
Prabodha “Arthur” Arthavidu has made an immediate mark on Horowhenua-Kā piti cricket — less than 24 hours after arriving from the other side of the world.
The 30-year-old touched down in New Zealand after spending 45 hours on flights from Dubai, donning his whites the very next day for his new province in a Furlong Cup match against Taranaki.
Not only did he shrug off the effects of jetlag, he anchored the innings against a strong Taranaki bowling attack to top score for the home team with 67 off 91 balls at Donnelly Park.
There was no question of taking a few days off to find his feet. He lives for the game that has given him so much.
Arthavidu was born and raised in Sri Lanka. He lost his father, Thilakawansha, suddenly, when he was 14.
He was playing cricket at the time and returned to the pavilion to learn that his father, who had been watching, had died while he was batting.
It was a huge shock for the youngster, his mother and younger sister, but in the midst of the personal turmoil, it was cricket that turned into a guiding light.
Not long after his father died he gained selection for the Sri Lankan under-15 team and earned a cricket scholarship, and so started a journey with the sport that has enabled him to travel the world, earning a living along the way.
“It’s been more than a game for me my whole life,” he said.
“Cricket has given me so much. . . everything I have now is all through cricket and because of cricket, so you always want to give back to the game.
“I have a true belief in that and coaching is a way you can give back that passion and enjoyment. It’s quite important.
“You can’t forget your roots and where you come from, and you never take things for granted,” he said, shaking his right leg to show off his adidas shoes.
“Like these shoes.
“When times are tough on the field you put it in perspective. . .no matter how hard things get, you have to believe that if you work hard, you will get there.
“I had a mindset about what I wanted to become and put my head down and worked hard to achieve that.”
The top-order batsman and spin bowler had worked in community cricket roles and played domestic cricket in New Zealand before, initially in South Canterbury and then Marlborough, and also played firstclass cricket in Sri Lanka.
Incidentally, he has scored a century against HK, one of four centuries he scored when playing for Marlborough.
More recently he was coach of the Bahrain women’s national team, their U19 men’s team, and also assisted with fielding and batting coaching with the national side.
He said it was a great experience, but when the opportunity knocked to come back to New Zealand, he couldn’t turn it down.
Arthavidu had got to know HK coach Chad Law when playing for Marlborough against HK, and they had built up a rapport.
He was looking to join HK prior to the outbreak of Covid-19, but then kept in touch with Law and was happy the door was still open when border restrictions were lifted.
Law said Arthavidu would be a huge asset to the region.
“He’s down to earth and a really good guy and will hopefully add some depth to the team and some good guidance on and off the field,” he said.
As well as playing, his experience will be put to use working alongside Law running junior development programmes, and running programmes in schools.
Arthavidu will play his club cricket for Weraroa.