Angelo Mathews ahead of Aravinda de Silva – and no Sanath Jayasuriya – in Sri Lanka’s best Test XI since 1985
Compared to teams like England and Australia, Sri Lanka are relative newcomers to Test cricket – they played their first Test in 1982.
Since then, they have been represented by a host of incredible cricketers. Many big names have donned the whites for the island nation, with legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan going on to become the world’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker.
Our team, which is selected based on batting averages in specific positions and includes the players’ statistics for these positions, sees a number of excellent players narrowly missing out.
There is no place for stars from the early nineties like Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva, or Sanath Jayasuriya – although they all came close.
Here’s our pick for Sri Lanka’s best Test XI from the last 40 years.
1. Marvan Atapattu – 5,317 runs from 79 Tests at an average of 43.22
Marvan Atapattu was one of Sri Lanka’s most technically correct and mentally strong openers. His career began with a nightmarish start (he scored five ducks in his first six innings), but he rebounded to become one of the finest batters of his generation.
With six double centuries to his name, Atapattu was a master at building long innings, an essential quality for a Test opener.
2. Tillakaratne Dilshan – 2,170 runs from 29 Tests at an average of 42.54
Tillakaratne Dilshan was best known for his aggressive stroke play, and while he truly flourished in white-ball cricket, he was an excellent Test player as well.
His attacking instincts complemented Atapattu’s solidity, making him a dangerous opening partner. Dilshan was also a handy off-spinner, adding an extra dimension to his team’s bowling attack. Sanath Jayasuriya comes close to taking this place but with an average of 41.48 he just misses out.
3. Kumar Sangakkara – 11,679 runs from 125 Tests at an average of 60.82
Arguably Sri Lanka’s greatest-ever batsman, Kumar Sangakkara was an elegant stroke maker with an insatiable hunger for runs. His numbers speak for themselves – over 11,000 Test runs at a remarkable average of 60.82.
Whether playing gritty knocks or fluent centuries, Sangakkara was the backbone of Sri Lanka’s batting lineup for over a decade.
4. Mahela Jayawardene (captain) – 9,509 runs from 124 Tests at an average of 52.24
The perfect partner for Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene was a master tactician and one of Sri Lanka’s most prolific run-scorers.
His 374 against South Africa remains one of the highest Test scores ever, and his ability to play long, patient innings made him a mainstay of the middle order. Jayawardene was also an astute captain who led Sri Lanka to multiple famous victories – we have picked him to lead our side.
5. Dinesh Chandimal – 2,213 runs from 37 Tests at an average of 50.29
Dinesh Chandimal emerged as a reliable middle-order batsman with a penchant for playing match-defining knocks.
While his Test career saw ups and downs, his ability to anchor the innings or accelerate when needed made him a crucial part of Sri Lanka’s batting order. There was a lot of competition for this spot with Aravinda de Silva (48.45) and Thilan Samaraweera (47.59) both close to selection.
6. Angelo Mathews – 2,161 runs from 38 Tests at an average of 48.02
A rock in Sri Lanka’s middle order, Angelo Mathews provided stability with his ability to bat in different situations.
Whether digging in to save a match or counter attacking under pressure, Mathews was a key performer for Sri Lanka. He also contributed with the ball, offering crucial medium pace bowling options. Matthews had good numbers at five and seven as well, but we slot him into our XI at six.
7. Hashan Tillakaratne (wicketkeeper) – 701 runs from 19 Tests at an average of 50.07
One of Sri Lanka’s most underrated cricketers, Hashan Tillakaratne was known for his resilience and ability to play crucial innings under pressure.
A solid wicketkeeper-batsman, he had a technique suited to grinding out runs when the team needed them the most. While Kumar Sangakkara was a very useful wicketkeeper, it is Tillakaratne who wears the gloves in our side.
8. Chaminda Vaas – 1,913 runs from 74 Tests at an average of 25.17 | 355 wickets at 29.58
Sri Lanka’s greatest fast bowler, Chaminda Vaas was a master of swing and seam bowling.
While Sri Lanka is traditionally known for its spinners, Vaas provided a different challenge for opponents with his ability to move the ball in all conditions. His knack for picking up early wickets made him an invaluable asset.
9. Lasith Malinga – 101 wickets from 30 Tests at an average of 33.15
Known for his unique slinging action and ability to bowl deadly yorkers, Lasith Malinga made a significant impact in Tests before focusing primarily on white-ball cricket.
While his Test numbers aren’t as legendary as his ODI and T20 stats, Malinga was a serious wicket-taking threat whenever he played. With 171 wickets at an average of 36.44 Suranga Lakmal also got a look in here, but Malinga had a better average and a bigger reputation.
10. Rangana Herath – 433 wickets from 93 Tests at an average of 28.07
Following Muralitharan’s retirement, Rangana Herath became Sri Lanka’s go-to spinner and carried the team’s bowling attack for years. A master of deception and flight, Herath consistently troubled batsmen and was a match-winner on numerous occasions.
His 433 Test wickets solidify his place as one of Sri Lanka’s all-time great bowlers.
11. Muttiah Muralitharan – 800 wickets from 133 Tests at an average of 22.72
The greatest off-spinner the game has ever seen, Muttiah Muralitharan was Sri Lanka’s ultimate match-winner. With 800 Test match cricket wickets, he holds the record for the most wickets in Test history.
His ability to extract turn on any surface and bamboozle batsmen made him a nightmare for opposition teams.
12. Aravinda de Silva – 6,361 runs from 93 Tests at an average of 42.97 | 29 wickets at 41.65
Aravinda de Silva was Sri Lanka’s first real batting superstar, capable of taking on the best bowlers in the world. While his ODI exploits are legendary, he was also a key Test cricket player, capable of playing match-winning innings.
He could also chip in with his part-time off-spin, making him a valuable all-rounder.
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