Batting in Test cricket is one of the most difficult aspects of the game, but there have been some who have made it look relatively easy. Sri Lanka is one of the cricketing nations that has produced a number of outstanding Test batters. Today we look at some of the best and biggest knocks by Sri Lankan batters in the game's longest format.
1. Mahela Jayawardene (374)
Mahela Jayawardene is a former right-handed top-order batter and captain of Sri Lanka. He is Sri Lanka’s second highest run scorer in Test cricket. In 2006, he scored 374 runs, the highest individual score for a Sri Lankan batter in Test cricket, against South Africa at Colombo.
2. Sanath Jayasuriya (340)
Sanath Jayasuriya is hands down one of Sri Lanka’s best opening batters. He had the gracious gift of timing the ball pretty sweetly and was a sheer stroke-maker. He scored his highest Test score of 340 off 578 balls against India at Colombo in 1997, where he spent more than thirteen hours on the field.
3. Kumar Sangakkara (319)
Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka’s and one of the world’s most elegant and classy left-handed batters of all time, is next to feature on the list. He is Sri Lanka’s highest run scorer in Test matches. On February 4, 2014, he scored his only triple century (319) in Test cricket off 551 balls against Bangladesh at Chattogram.
4. Kumar Sangakkara (287)
Kumar Sangakkara was known for his big daddy hundreds and was one of Sri Lanka’s premier Test match batters. His solid technique, patience, and longevity gave him incredible success in the most challenging format of the game. In 2006, he scored 287 runs off 675 balls against South Africa at Colombo.
5. Mahela Jayawardene (275)
Mahela Jayawardene’s hunger for runs, patience, and elegance were his greaTest qualities. Jayawardene had a great sense of the game, in general, and always used to play according to the situation, which eventually brought him much success. On November 16, 2009, he scored 275 runs off 435 balls against India at Ahmedabad.
6. Kumar Sangakkara (270)
Sangakkara has an astonishing ten double hundreds, second only to Sir Don Bradman, and a triple hundred to his name in Test cricket. Clearly, Sangakkara loved to play big marathon innings and did so in 2004 against Zimbabwe, where he scored 270 runs off 365 balls and spent around nine hours on the field.
7. Aravinda de Silva (267)
Aravinda de Silva is best remembered for his 1996 ODI World Cup heroics. However, he also has a great record in Test matches. Silva loved to score runs and scored more than 6300 Test runs. In 1991, he smashed his highest Test score of 267 off 380 balls against New Zealand at Wellington.
8. Sanath Jayasuriya (253)
Sanath Jayasuriya was an attacking opening batter who always looked for runs and was pretty successful in doing so, scoring quite a few big knocks in his Test career. He could clear any cricket ground with his fierce and attacking batting style. Once, he scored 253 runs off 348 balls against Pakistan at Faisalabad in 2004, with 33 fours and four sixes to his name.
9. Marvan Atappatu (249)
Marvan Atappatu is one of Sri Lanka’s most underrated players. He was a right-handed top-order batter with very solid technique and skill. On May 14, 2004, he scored his highest Test score of 249 off 314 against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo. His innings lasted for an astonishing 516 minutes, during which he hit 36 fours and one six.
10. Dimuth Karunaratne (244)
Sri Lanka’s current Test captain and their best Test batter at present, Dimuth Karunaratne, is next to show up on the list. He is a classic Test-match batter with a solid defense, technique, and patience. On April 21, 2021, he scored his highest Test score of 244 against Bangladesh at Pallakele and spent almost eleven and a half hours on the field.
