Test cricket is the oldest and best format because it has many opportunities to score many runs and pick up many wickets. Many bowlers have taken this opportunity very seriously and took a lot of wickets in their careers. Test cricket is where many bowlers started to be recognized as a legend. Sri Lanka has produced many impressive bowlers who have made their name in world cricket by performing fantastic in test cricket. In this article, we will look at the top Sri Lankan bowlers with the most wickets in test cricket.
1. Dhammika Prasad – 75
Dhammika Prasad is a former Sri Lankan fast bowler who played between 2006 and 2015. Prasad started his career as a batsman but was later forced to do bowling because his school could not find a bowler to bowl with a new ball. Prasad played 25 test games in which he took 75 wickets. Prasad has taken five wicket haul once in his career.
2. Pramodya Wickramasinghe – 85
Pramodya Wickramasinghe was a reliable medium-fast bowler who gave valuable experience to the Sri Lankan bowling attack in the 1990s. Pramodya played 40 games for Sri Lanka and took 85 wickets in them. His best bowling figures in an innings were when he took six wickets and gave 60 runs.
3. Sanath Jayasuriya – 98
Sanatha Jayasuriya was an fantastic batsman, as well as a bowler who gave a breakthrough whenever needed. Sanath is a Sri Lankan legendary all-rounder, and he is respected by the entire cricket world. Sanath has played 110 test games and took 98 wickets in them. Sanath has taken five wicket hauls two times in his career.
4. Dilhara Fernando – 100
Dilhara Fernando debuted young and raw in international cricket and soon started to make his name. Dilhara has a nice pace and seam movement. Dilhara played 40 test games for Sri Lanka and took 100 wickets. Dilhara has had a low economy of 3.67. Dilhara’s best bowling performance in an innings was 5/42.
5. Lasith Malinga – 101
Lasith Malinga is one the best bowlers for Sri Lanka. Lasith was quickly popular because of his unusual actions and perfect Yorkers. Lasith was also a fantastic user of pace, and it was the reason he was unplayable by many batters. Lasith played in 30 Test matches, and he took 101 wickets in them.
6. Dilruwan Perera – 161
Dilruwan Perera was a classy off-spinner with a fluent and easy hand action, yet he could deceive many batters into thinking that they could play him. Perera’s main strength was his accuracy and patience. Perera played in 43 matches for Sri Lanka and took 161 wickets. Perera also took ten wickets haul two times in his career.
7. Suranga Lakmal – 171
Suranga Lakmal’s medium medium-fast bowling and his ability to give extra bounce to the ball made him one of the best fast bowlers for Sri Lanka. Lakmal took eight wickets across three tests in Sri Lanka against Australia in 2011, the starting years of his career. Lakmal played 70 games in which he took 171 wickets and had an economy of just 3.
8. Chaminda Vaas – 355
Chaminda Vaas is easily the best fast bowler that Sri Lanka has ever had. Vaas could swing the ball with his skill, and his trademark delivery was late in-dipper. Vaas played 111 games for Sri Lanka in the test format, and he took 355 wickets in them. Vaas' best bowling figure in an innings was 7/71. Vaas took twelve five wicket hauls in his career.
9. Rangana Herath – 433
Rangana Herath was an orthodox left-arm spinner who is only behind one person on this list. Herath strength was mainly his accuracy and his stamina to bowl long spells. Herath played 93 matches for Sri Lanka in tests, and took 433 wickets. Herath economy throughout his career was just 2.80. Herath also took 34 5 wicket hauls in his career.
10. Muthiah Muralidaran – 800
Muthiah Muralidaran is the best bowler that has ever played for Sri Lanka. Muralidaran is the only bowler from Sri Lanka who took more than 500 wickets in the test format. Muralidaran has played 133 test games, and has taken 800 wickets in them. Muralidaran best bowling figures in an innings was 9/51. Muralidaran also had a shallow economy in his whole test career, at just 2.47.
