Sri Lanka used to be one of the dominant nations in the world of cricket. The team is a test playing nation since 1982. The country has produced many greats of the game in the form of Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Lasith Malinga and the list just goes on and on. The Sri Lankan skippers have played major part in the success of the team and have led by example. In this article, we will tell our readers about the top 10 run scorers for Sri Lanka as captains in the longest format of the game.
1. Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene was a former right-handed top-order batsman. He was the skipper in the ICC 2011 World Cup and even scored a ton in the final against India. Born in Colombo, he was very technically strong as a batter. He made his test debut against India in 1997 at home. In 2006, he was appointed as the test captain. During his stint as the captain, he scored 3665 runs at an astonishing average of 59.11. He ended his tenure as captain in 2013 with 38 matches under his belt.
2. Arjuna Ranatunga
Arjuna Ranatunga might seem one of the most unfit cricketers to ever play the sport. He was born in Colombo in 1963. As a skipper, he was aggressive and innovative on the field. He was well known for his stroke play on the off side. Having captained the test side in 56 matches is itself an achievement. In his ten years of captaincy, he scored 3118 runs at an average of 36.26. He offered his services as captain from 1989 to 1999.
3. Angelo Mathews
Angelo Mathews is one of those medium-pacer all-rounders. A good all-rounder in this category has always been a rarity. The right-handed batting all-rounder was born in Colombo in 1987. He made his test debut against Pakistan in 2009. He captained the team in the Under-19 World Cup in 2006 when he was just 16 years old. His all-around skills and abilities to adapt to the situation earned him the honour of a captain. He has scored 2802 runs as captain at an average of 50.95. He was the captain of his test side in 34 matches from 2013 to 2017.
4. Dimuth Karunaratne
A left-handed top-order batsman who oozes class when in full flow. Dimuth Karunaratne is the current captain of the test team. Born in Colombo in 1988, the southpaw made his debut against New Zealand in 2012. His maiden century came against the same team in 2014 away from home. In 30 matches as captain, he has scored 2643 runs at an average of 49.87. He was appointed as the skipper in 2019 and continues to be a strong pillar for his team.
5. Sanath Jayasuriya
Sanath Jayasuriya is a southpaw whose destructive and aggressive batting display is next to none. The former opening batter used to make his intent clear from ball one, the intent to attack. Sri Lanka was lucky enough to produce a batsman who hits the ball hard and times it to perfection while dominating the bowlers from the word go. He made his test debut in 2012 vs New Zealand. His captaincy record includes 2177 runs at an average of 36.90. From 1999 to 2002, he represented hi nation as the skipper in the test format.
6. Kumar Sangakkara
One of the high-definition stroke players of the game, Kumar Sangakkara was born in 1977 in Malale. A wicket-keeper batter who was not just a handy batter, but a proper top-order batsman who could time the ball to perfection and pile up the runs quickly. His glovework too, was second to none. After making his test debut against South Africa in 2000, the batter went on to score 38 centuries in the longest format. As a captain, he scored 1601 runs at an unbelievable average of 69.61. He has 15 matches under his belt as test captain from 2009 to 2011.
7. Dinesh Chandimal
Dinesh Chandimal, a wicket-keeper batter from Balapitiya idolises Romesh Kaluwitharna for his dominant batting. Born in 1989, the right-handed batter made his test debut against South Africa in 2011. Since then, he has scored fourteen test 100s and 5295 runs. His consistent performances for the team kept him as a regular inclusion in the test format. As a skipper, he has scored 1337 runs at an average of 39.32. He led his team fir four years from 2017 to 2021 in 19 matches.
8. Marvan Atapattu
Born in Kalutara in 1970, Marvan Atapattu was a former right-handed batsman and a right-arm leg-break bowler. He has scored six double tons in test cricket, two of which came against the dangerous Pakistan and England in 1988. He made his debut against India in 1990 and smashed sixteen centuries in his test career. As a captain, he scored 1250 runs at an impressive average of 41.67. He was appointed with the duty of leading the team in 2002 and ended his stint as captain in 2005. He retired with 5502 runs to his name in his whole test career.
9. Duleep Mendis
Duleep Mendis was born in 1952. He was a former right-handed batter and a captain for Sri Lanka. Under his captaincy, the nation won its first test series and drew the series for the first time. Both these achievements came against India. Mendis made his test debut against England in 1982 and has scored four 100s and 1329 test runs. As captain, he scored 898 runs at an average of 28.06 and retired with 19 matches under his belt as the captain.
10. Tillakaratne Dilshan
The “Dil scoop” was named after the batter after scoop became one of his most evident shots. Born in 1976, the right-handed opening batsman from Kalutara is one of the best batters produced by Sri Lanka. As a test skipper, he made 672 runs at an average of 33.60. He captained for eleven matches from 2011-2012. He ended his test career with 5492 runs and sixteen centuries overall.
