Wisden overview
Roy Dias was a slim, elegant and exceptionally gifted right-hand batsman with a marvellous sense of timing, and a style a little reminiscent of Rohan Kanhai. He was an automatic selection in Sri Lankan sides of the second half of the 1970s, and in the team which played their first official Tests. He was also a fine cover-point fielder. He widened his experience with three seasons of English league cricket from 1977. His finest hour came in Sri Lanka's maiden series victory -- against India in 1985-86 -- when his double of 94 and 60 not out set up the win in the second Test, then his 106 in a record fifth-wicket partnership of 216 saved the match in the third. Christopher Martin-Jenkins Adapted by Wisden from World Cricketers: A Biographical Dictionary (Oxford, 1996).

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd