By Martin Gough BBC Sport Online

Not for the first time, it appears that Aravinda de Silva's Test career is over.

This time last year, he had been out of favour with the selectors for 14 months and seemed to have made the last of his glorious knocks for Sri Lanka.

But, determined to gain another shot on the big stage, the 36-year-old put behind him an aversion to fitness training and got back into shape, shedding 12kg (almost two stone).

What followed was a four-Test Indian summer, including two records.

De Silva 'retires from Tests'

In May he became the first Sri Lankan to reach 6,000 Test runs when he scored a superb 88 against England at Lord's.

And at the end of July he scored his 20th Test century, adding another hundred for good measure in an innings of 206 against Bangladesh.

In the process, Sri Lanka set a record for the most runs scored by one team in a day's play, adding 509 for the loss of nine wickets.

Growing together

Things had come a long way since De Silva's Test debut at Lord's, when as a 19-year-old he made 16 as Sri Lanka drew their first Test in England.

As Sri Lanka developed as an international force, so did their mercurial batsman.

De Silva hit a century in the 1996 World Cup final

In his third Test De Silva hit 75 as Sri Lanka clinched their first ever Test victory, over India at Colombo's Saravanamuttu Stadium.

And his maiden century came a month later, against Pakistan in Faisalabad.

That knock was dwarfed by a treble-ton from Sanath Jayasuriya, and Roshan Mahanama's 225 as Sri Lanka hit a Test record 952 against India in 1997/98.

But he was at the crease while 309 runs were added, following the dismissal of that pair.

As one-day cricket grew in popularity, De Silva was at the cutting edge for his side.

In 1996, he became only the third batsman, after Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards, to score a century in a World Cup final as Sri Lankan cricket was finally placed on the map.

But as they looked to defend their title in 1999, a complacent Sri Lankan side failed even to reach the second round.

Whatmore eventually handed De Silva a one-day recall

Alongside captain Arjuna Ranatunga, De Silva was one of the veteran players who took the blame when coach Dav Whatmore returned to affect a bloodless coup after the tournament.

But the selectors have never felt totally secure in over-looking De Silva, who has retained the tendency to come out with a gem of an innings in an important situation.

And, even though there was a policy of fielding a young one-day side, his form was such that he gained a recall.

It is ironic that Whatmore asked his veteran star to reconsider when he announced recently that he would quit the one-day game after the next World Cup.

De Silva's record for comebacks is such that a return to the Test arena cannot be ruled out with certainty.

But he has already achieved more than he would have expected in a distinguished and long career, during which Sri Lankan cricket has come to the fore.