Thread by @CricVestigate

Hidden by the sheer class and consistency of @MahelaJay and @KumarSanga2, @CricVestigate spotlights the achievements of @TilanSam, in one of the most unusual, tenacious and under-appreciated careers.

Facing a host of different challenges, Samaraweera quietly excelled.

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Samara was a prolific bat as a schoolboy, but at FC level didn't get to bat in the top 6. Off-spin became his main suit; so much so that his ODI debut in 1998 was as a bowler listed at No.10! He played 6 ODIs in the next 3 months & even won MoM vs Eng @scg with 3 wkts.

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With Murali around, Samara’s chances to play as a pure bowler (he had even batted at No.11!) were limited.

In 2001, he managed to get into the Test team as a bowling all-rounder v India. Coming in at 321-5 on debut, he hit a ton and his Test career was up and running.

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In his 1st 40 Tests, Samara avgd 40 and could grind attacks down in SL, but mostly struggled away.

It didn’t help that opportunities to play outside the subcontinent were minimal. In this period, his best knock was probably 100 vs Pak at Faisalabad in 2004, from 9-3.

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After 2 disastrous Tests in Eng in 2006, Samara was dropped for nearly 2 years (except for 1 Test in b/w when Sanga was injured). These 40 Tests could still be seen as a success in that he had transformed from ODI tailender, to a No.7 and then into a No.5 Test batsman.

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In those 2 years, Samara worked assiduously with his coach @CHathurusinghe to develop his game. He already possessed good discipline and concentration; but had a habit of getting unnecessarily bogged down. Together, they changed his mindset to look to score more often.

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On the technical front, Samara adopted a higher backlift and also narrowed his stance, thus making it easier to switch between front and backfoot. He scored very heavily for Sri Lanka A and deservedly earned a recall into the Test team for the 2008 tour to West Indies.

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In the next 41 Tests, from his comeback to his final Test, Samara made an impressive aggregate of 3340 runs at 56 avg; largely due to much improved performances overseas. In this period, his mental strength shone through in response to 2 major setbacks that took place.

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While touring Pakistan in 2009, he hit double tons in consecutive Tests, but was shot in the leg in the Lahore attacks.

Despite physical and mental trauma, Samara amazingly continued to score heavily, making 159 & 143 vs NZ; and finishing top Test run scorer of 2009.

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His rich vein of form continued in 2010.

In 2011, Samara battled bravely and skillfully in England against a high quality bowling attack that would decimate India a month later.

He managed to score 200+ runs at 50+ avg, including a match-saving 87* in the 3rd Test.

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After only a couple of lean Tests against Australia at home (86 runs in 4 inns), the selectors disgracefully decided to drop him.

His heavy run scoring since his comeback, including his improvement overseas and an overall career average of over 52, had been ignored.

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Aged 35, Samara's Test career seemed over, but as SL had an unsuccessful tour of the UAE, he was recalled at the last minute as injury cover for the SA tour.

He had not been in the original squad, so this was effectively a last chance to keep his Test career alive.

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All the odds were against him; a challenging attack (Steyn, Philander, Morkel), difficult conditions and a country he never played a Test in.

He had no match practice for months, except for a warm-up match before the 1st Test, which was washed out leaving him on 4*.

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In the nets, batting coach Atapattu suggested changing his initial trigger movement from across the stumps to back, giving more time to counter late movement.

He made this adjustment and batted gamely in the 1st Test, scoring 36 & 32, out of team totals of 180 & 150.

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In the 2nd Test in Durban, Samara made 102 in the 1st innings to enable SL to post a competitive 338, and followed it up with a useful 43 in the 2nd innings.

This put SL in a position to register their 1st ever Test win in SA, and @HerathRSL’s 5-for sealed the Test.

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Samara was yet again best SL batsman in the 3rd Test, hitting a fighting 115* in a losing cause.

SL lost the series 2-1, but Samara had emerged the batting hero with 339 runs at 67.8 avg. No player from the subcontinent had ever made more runs in a Test series in SA.

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Samara's Test career ended a year after SA tour.

He must be remembered as a fine Test batsman, who did not seek or get adequate praise for his contribution to @OfficialSLC.

Who in your opinion is the most underappreciated Test cricketer to debut in the 21st century?

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