Roy Dias had an inauspicious debut for Sri Lanka at Test level, batting at No. 3; he was dismissed by Bob Willis without scoring. However, in the second innings Dias displayed his batting talents for all to see stroking an elegant 77. Dias was a joy to watch at the crease, blessed with a wonderful sense of timing, combined with a classical style. Already an experienced first-class cricketer when Sri Lanka gained Test status, Dias formed the backbone of the batting along with Duleep Mendis in the period following the Sri Lanka's inception. In the proceeding Test tour to Pakistan, Dias highlighted his class. Scoring 295 runs at 49.16, including 98 at Faisalabad and then following up with 109 at Lahore, holding firm as the top order crumbled around him in a the face of a withering barrage of pace bowling from Imran Khan. In Sri Lanka's maiden Test victory, and series victory, over India at home in 1985-86, Dias' contribution was decisive. Twin fifties in the second Test had helped set up a win, then with Sri Lanka on the brink of oblivion in the final Test, Dias rescued Sri Lanka with a superlative 106, ensuring a draw was achieved. Following retirement, Dias maintained his profile in the game coaching Sri Lanka for a period.
Johann P Jayasekera