23 Facts About Arul Suppiah

Arul Vivasvan Suppiah was born on 30 August 1983 and is a former Malaysian cricketer.

Arul Suppiah is the youngest ever player to play for Malaysia, and has played for England at Under-14, Under-15, Under-16 and Under-18 level.

Arul Suppiah then trained at Lord's under Clive Radley before being awarded a cricket scholarship from Millfield School.

Arul Suppiah moved to England to attend Millfield School and further his cricket career.

Arul Suppiah played for the school's cricket team between 1998 and 2001.

Arul Suppiah made his debut for Malaysia in August 1999 at the age of 15, becoming the youngest player to play for Malaysia.

Arul Suppiah next played for Malaysia in the 2000 ACC Trophy and in the 2001 Saudara Cup match, but commitments in England began to reduce his availability for Malaysia.

Arul Suppiah had made his debut for Somerset Second XI in 2000, and played for the first team for the first time in 2002, when he played against West Indies A, making his first-class debut.

Arul Suppiah played a County Championship match against Lancashire later in the year.

Arul Suppiah was not yet a regular member of the Somerset first team and was regularly playing for their Second XI in addition to playing Minor Counties cricket for Devon.

Arul Suppiah scored his first first-class century against Derbyshire that year.

Arul Suppiah played eight totesport League matches for Somerset in 2005, and represented them in that year's Twenty20 Cup, which was won by Somerset.

Arul Suppiah played just one Pro40 match against Durham and two Twenty20 matches against Warwickshire and Northamptonshire.

Arul Suppiah continued to play for the Somerset Second XI and for Devon and his lack of matches for Somerset have allowed him to return to international duty for Malaysia, and he played in the ACC Twenty20 Cup in Kuwait in October 2007.

Arul Suppiah returned to the Somerset team during the 2009 season, when he opened the batting alongside Marcus Trescothick in the County Championship, as well as appearing in the majority of Somerset's Friends Provident Trophy and Twenty20 Cup matches under captaincy of Justin Langer.

Arul Suppiah scored 1,000 first-class runs in a season for the first time in 2009 and was awarded his county cap during the final game of the 2009 County Championship season against Worcestershire.

On 5 July 2011, Arul Suppiah set a new world record for best Twenty20 bowling figures, recording 6 for 5 from 3.4 overs for Somerset against Glamorgan at Cardiff.

Arul Suppiah followed this up with a career best first-class innings of 156 against India, in the touring side's warm-up match before the Test series against England.

On 4 July 2013, Arul Suppiah retired from professional cricket with immediate effect at the age of 29 due to serious injuries in both of his knees.

Arul Suppiah was Awarded a Benefit Year in 2013 for his 13-year loyal service and contributions to Somerset County Cricket Club.

Arul Suppiah went onto become a teacher of business studies and work as the Director of Cricket at Queen's College Taunton.

In 2018, in advance of the London Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Arul Suppiah was invited to a reception at Buckingham Palace by Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II to recognise the contribution of those in the Commonwealth diaspora from across the UK who have made a notable contribution, either of their own, or the wider community.

Arul Suppiah is an athlete involved with the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust offering long term mentoring support to young people.