Prabath Jayasuriya climbing this top 9 list at a rapid rate – the Sri Lankan spinner will be in the top 5 soon enough
Some of the greatest bowlers in the world have come from Sri Lanka, a nation that produces high-class operators and prolific spinners.
The spin-friendly, sub-continental conditions of Sri Lanka have made it the perfect breeding ground for top-class spinners who have been successful in Test cricket around the world.
Several seam bowlers have flown the nation’s flag in favourable conditions abroad.
But who are the nine players with the most Test cricket wickets for Sri Lanka?
9. Dilhara Fernando – 100 Test wickets for Sri Lanka
Fernando played 40 Tests between 2000 and 2012, collecting his century of wickets at an average of 37.84 with best figures of 5/42.
He brought express pace and energy and was capable of bowling at speeds of over 90mph. Fernando was coached by Australia‘s Dennis Lillee early on and was a key part of Sri Lanka’s fast bowling unit.
8. Lasith Malinga – 101 Test wickets for Sri Lanka
Despite being renowned for his white-ball heroics, Malinga was a capable and ruthless Test bowler in his younger years, picking up 101 wickets in just 30 Tests in the 2000s.
His numbers were impressive, an average of 33.15, three five-wicket hauls and a best bowling performance of 5/50. His rapid slinging action and accurate yorkers made him dangerous both home and away.
7. Lahiru Kumara – 104 Test wickets for Sri Lanka
Since 2016, Kumara has taken 104 wickets in 34 matches, averaged 36.04 and starred with figures of 6/122.
He flew onto the scene, dismissing Joe Root on his debut and bowls a style of delivery with aggression and speed that is well suited to seam-friendly conditions abroad.
6. Prabath Jayasuriya – 116 Test wickets for Sri Lanka
Since his debut in 2022, Jayasuriya has picked up 116 wickets rapidly, taking just 21 matches at an average of 30.82.
He was the fastest Sri Lankan bowler to reach 50 Test wickets and has already racked up 11 five-fers, including best figures of 7/52- impressive stuff.
5. Dilruwan Perera – 161 Test wickets for Sri Lanka
Perera was a dependable off-spinner abroad and prolific at home; many considered him Rangana Herath’s apprentice.
His 161 wickets came in 43 Tests at 35.90 with a highlight performance taking figures of 6/32. The star’s Test career spanned from 2014 to 2021, including two 10-fers.
4. Suranga Lakmal – 171 Test wickets for Sri Lanka
Lakmal led Sri Lanka’s pace attack for 12 years from 2010, picking up his wickets in 70 matches at an average of 36.44.
Many seam bowlers came and went, but Lakmal was a consistent operator for Sri Lanka, especially overseas, where his discipline and bounce earned him plaudits worldwide.
3. Chaminda Vaas – 355 Test wickets for Sri Lanka
In a time when Murali was taking all the plaudits, Vaas was undoubtedly Sri Lanka’s greatest fast bowler, picking up 355 wickets in 111 Tests at an impressive average of 29.58.
He’s the only seamer from the island nation to have over 200 wickets and took career best figures of 7/71 with his deceptive swing and persistent line and length.
2. Rangana Herath – 433 Test wickets for Sri Lanka
Herath is undoubtedly the greatest left-arm spinner in Test cricket history, dominating between 1999 and 2018 with an average of 28.07 over his 93 Test matches.
He was incredibly dominant in Sri Lanka’s Galle fortress, where he once took 13 wickets in a match against South Africa. Herath also took 34 five-wicket hauls, including best innings figures of 9/127 in his storied Test cricket career.
1. Muttiah Muralitharan – 795 Test wickets for Sri Lanka
From 1992 to 2010, Murali took a quite incredible 795 wickets in 132 Test matches at a devastating average of 22.72, with 9/51 his standout innings.
His numbers are almost unbelievable, with his 67 five-fers and 22 ten-fers making him the most prolific bowler in the history of the sport. Muralitharan leads the way for Sri Lanka and also holds the record for the most wickets in the history of Test cricket.
Including ICC wickets, his 800th and final Test wicket came with his last ball in international cricket.