Bowlers play an important role in winning a Test match, and the Sri Lankan team has had some great bowlers over the years. From producing some of the greaTest spinners of the game to having some great fast bowlers as well, the Sri Lankan team has a history of producing some great Test bowlers. Today we shall name the Sri Lankan bowlers with the most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket.
1. Muttiah Muralitharan
Muttiah Muralitharan was a right-arm off break bowler for Sri Lanka from Kandy who represented them in Test cricket from 1992 to 2010 in a total of 133 matches. In 230 innings, he took 800 wickets at an average of 22.72, including 67 five-wicket hauls, the most for any bowler in Test cricket.
2. Rangana Herath
Rangana Herath was a former Sri Lankan Test captain and a slow left-arm orthodox bowler from Kurunegala. Herath played his first Test match in 1999 against Australia at Galle. Before retiring in 2018, he played in 93 Test matches and took 433 wickets at an average of 28.07. In 170 innings, he took 34 five-wicket hauls.
3. Chaminda Vaas
Chaminda Vaas was a left-arm fast medium bowler from Mattumagala. Vaas began his Test career in 1994 and played Test cricket until 2009. He is Sri Lanka’s most successful fast bowler in Test cricket, picking up 355 wickets at an average of 29.58. In 194 innings, he took 12 five-wicket hauls.
4. Dilruwan Perera
Dilruwan Perera was a right-arm off break bowler and a right-handed lower-order batter from Panadura. Perera played his first Test match in 2014 against Pakistan at Sharjah. He picked up a total of 161 wickets in 43 matches, including eight five-wicket hauls. He played his last Test match in 2021 against England at Galle.
5. Lasith Embuldeniya
Lasith Embuldeniya is a slow left-arm orthodox bowler from Colombo who began his Test career in 2019 against South Africa at Durban. Until 2022, he has featured in 17 Test matches, picking up 71 wickets at an average of 36.77 and an economy rate of 3.23. In 28 innings, he has picked up five five-wicket hauls and a ten-wicket haul as well.
6. Rumesh Ratnayake
Rumesh Ratnayake was a right-arm fast medium bowler from Colombo who played for Sri Lanka in Test cricket from 1983 to 1992. Rumesh played in 23 Test matches and picked up 73 wickets in 35 innings at an average of 35.10. He picked up five five-wicket hauls during his Test career.
7. Prabath Jayasuriya
Prabath Jayasuriya is a slow left-arm orthodox bowler from Matale who began his Test career in 2022 against Australia at Galle. Jayasuriya has played in only three Test matches so far and has already picked up 29 wickets at an average of 20.37. He has picked up four five-wicket hauls until now, with a best bowling figure of 6 for 59 in an innings.
8. Akila Dananjaya
Akila Dananjaya is a right-arm mystery bowler for Sri Lanka from Panadura. Akila was first seen playing for Sri Lanka in Test cricket in 2018 against Bangladesh at Mirpur. Until 2019, he featured in six Test matches and picked up 33 wickets at an average of 24.81 and an economy rate of 3.54. He has picked up four five-wicket hauls with a best bowling figure of 6 for 115 in an innings.
9. Ravindra Pushpakumara
Ravindra Pushpakumara was a former right-arm fast medium bowler for Sri Lanka, hailing from Panadura. Ravindra played his first Test match in 1994 against Pakistan at Kandy. In 23 matches, he picked up 58 wickets at an average of 38.65. He has four five-wicket hauls to his name in 38 innings, with a best bowling figure of 7 for 116 runs.
10. Ravi Ratnayake
Ravi Ratnayake was a right-arm fast medium bowler from Colombo who first played for Sri Lanka in Test cricket in 1982 against Pakistan at Karachi. Ravi played in a total of 22 Test matches for Sri Lanka and picked up 56 wickets at an average of 35.21 and an economy rate of 3.08. He picked up four five-wicket hauls in 31 innings, with a best bowling figure of 8 for 83 in an innings.