Sri Lanka is known for producing some of the finest spinners in cricket and has never been short of them. The pitches in Sri Lanka are spinner-friendly, and hence there have been plenty of quality and skillful spinners who have played for Sri Lanka. Today, in this article, we shortlist some of the most impressive spinners to play for the island nation in international cricket and their respective records.

1. Muttiah Muralidharan

Muttiah Muralidharan is known as the master of spin bowling and is the greatest spinner to have played the game. Muralidharan was decisive, skillful, and consistent, amassing over 1300 international wickets. He is the highest wicket-taker in Test and ODI cricket with 800 and 534 wickets, respectively, and also has the highest number of five-wicket hauls (67) in Test cricket.

2. Rangana Herath

Rangana Herath played for Sri Lanka from 1999 to 2018 and was a left-arm orthodox bowler known for his accuracy and consistency. Herath took 443 wickets, the second highest for a Sri Lankan bowler, in 93 Test matches at an impressive average of 28.07. He also has 74 and 18 wickets, respectively, in ODIs and T20Is.

3. Sanath Jayasuriya

Sanath Jayasuriya was one of Sri Lanka’s most prolific opening batters, but he was as good with the ball as well. Jayasuriya was part of the Sri Lankan team from 1989 to 2011 wherein he took 323 wickets, the fourth highest for a Sri Lankan bowler, in 445 ODIs at an average of 36.75. He also has 98 and 19 wickets, respectively, in Tests and T20Is.

4. Ajanta Mendis

Next, we have Sri Lanka’s mystery bowler and the creator of the ‘carrom ball’, Ajanta Mendis. Mendis’s mystery and accuracy enabled him to bowl in any phase of the game. He has 66 wickets to his name in 39 T20I matches at an impressive average of 14.42 and an economy of 6.45. Ajanta Mendis also holds the record for taking two six-wicket hauls in T20Is. He also has 70 wickets in Test matches and 152 wickets in ODIs.

5. Dilruwan Perera

Next on the list is Dilruwan Perera, a right-arm off-break bowler and a handy right-handed lower-order batter. He made his Test debut in 2014 against Pakistan in Sharjah and retired in 2021 after playing his last match against England in Galle. In 43 Test matches, Dilruwan took 161 wickets at an average of 35.90.

6. Upul Chandana

Upul Chandana is a former right-arm leg break bowler born in Galle. He made his ODI debut in 1994 against Australia and played his last match in 2007 against Bangladesh. Chandana took a total of 151 wickets in 147 ODIs at an average of 31.90. He also took 37 wickets in 16 Test matches.

7. Kumar Dharmasena

Kumar Dharmasena, an elite level ICC umpire at present, is the next to feature on the list. Dharmasena was a right-arm off-break bowler from Colombo. He played for Sri Lanka from 1993 to 2004 and took 138 wickets in 141 ODIs at an average of 36.21. He also played 31 Test matches and took 69 wickets.

8. Tillakaratne Dilshan

Tillakaratne Dilshan, one of the most entertaining opening batters of all time, is next to show up on the list. Dilshan was known for his unorthodox playing style and stroke play, but he was also a handy bowler. He took 106 wickets in 330 ODIs and was a bowler with a golden arm due to his knack of picking up crucial wickets.

9. Wanindu Hasaranga

Sri Lanka’s current spin sensation, Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva, comes next on the list. Hasaranga is a right-arm leg break bowler and a strong lower middle-order batter. In 38 T20Is so far, he has scalped 62 wickets at an astounding average of 14.14 and also has 34 wickets in ODIs. He was the number one T20I bowler in 2021.

10. Akila Dhananjaya

Akila Dhananjaya is another mystery bowler from Sri Lanka. Akila made his ODI debut in 2012 against New Zealand and has 56 wickets in 39 ODIs and 33 wickets in six Test matches so far. He also has 28 wickets in 31 T20Is at an average of 32.46 and a hat trick to his name.