Sri Lankan: Sri Lanka, a nation known for its rich cricketing history, has produced some exceptional fast bowlers who have made significant contributions to world cricket. From the early days of Sri Lankan cricket to the modern era, pacemen have often been the spearheads of the national team’s bowling attack. While spin bowlers like Muttiah Muralitharan and Rangana Herath have grabbed much of the limelight, Sri Lanka has also produced some truly fearsome fast bowlers who have left their mark on the international stage.
Sri Lankan: This article explores the best Sri Lankan pace bowlers of all time, analyzing their records, impact on the game, and legacy.
The Best Sri Lankan Pace Bowlers in History
1. Chaminda Vaas
- Career Span: 1994–2008
- Matches Played: 111 Tests, 322 ODIs
- Wickets Taken: 400 (Test), 400 (ODI)
- Best Bowling: 7/71 (Test), 5/14 (ODI)
- Bowling Average: 29.58 (Test), 27.53 (ODI)
Sri Lankan: Chaminda Vaas is undoubtedly one of Sri Lanka’s greatest fast bowlers. Vaas was known for his accuracy, swing, and ability to bowl well under pressure. He was a consistent performer in both Test and ODI formats and played a major role in Sri Lanka’s cricketing success during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Vaas was particularly effective in early breakthroughs, regularly claiming wickets in the opening overs. His match-winning spells were critical in many of Sri Lanka’s major victories, including their 1996 Cricket World Cup win. He was one of the best swing bowlers of his generation, making him a key figure in Sri Lankan cricket.
2. Lasith Malinga
- Career Span: 2004–2019
- Matches Played: 30 Tests, 226 ODIs, 84 T20Is
- Wickets Taken: 101 (Test), 338 (ODI), 107 (T20I)
- Best Bowling: 6/17 (ODI), 5/13 (T20I)
- Bowling Average: 33.15 (Test), 28.87 (ODI), 26.48 (T20I)
Sri Lankan: Lasith Malinga, with his unorthodox action and deadly yorkers, revolutionized fast bowling in limited-overs cricket. Often called the “Slinga” due to his distinctive round-arm delivery action, Malinga became one of the most feared bowlers in world cricket. His ability to bowl yorkers consistently, especially in the death overs, made him a lethal weapon for Sri Lanka, particularly in ODIs and T20Is. Malinga’s impact was pivotal in Sri Lanka’s 2014 ICC T20 World Cup win, where he was instrumental in the team’s success with the ball.
Sri Lankan: Malinga’s career was marked by his unmatched ability to execute his yorkers in high-pressure situations, and his wicket-taking ability in the death overs made him one of the best limited-overs bowlers of all time.
3. Dilhara Fernando
- Career Span: 2001–2010
- Matches Played: 25 Tests, 147 ODIs
- Wickets Taken: 94 (Test), 188 (ODI)
- Best Bowling: 6/14 (Test), 5/42 (ODI)
- Bowling Average: 35.31 (Test), 31.74 (ODI)
Dilhara Fernando was one of Sri Lanka’s more aggressive fast bowlers during the 2000s. Known for his pace and bounce, Fernando was a key component of Sri Lanka’s attack, especially in the longer format of the game. His ability to reverse the ball was particularly important on challenging pitches. Fernando’s spell of 6 wickets for 14 runs against Bangladesh in 2005 is one of the finest performances by a Sri Lankan paceman in Test cricket. Despite his career being relatively short-lived at the top level, Fernando was an important player in Sri Lanka’s bowling attack.
4. Nuwan Kulasekara
- Career Span: 2003–2015
- Matches Played: 21 Tests, 184 ODIs
- Wickets Taken: 75 (Test), 199 (ODI)
- Best Bowling: 5/48 (Test), 5/22 (ODI)
- Bowling Average: 35.44 (Test), 32.54 (ODI)
Nuwan Kulasekara was known for his superb control, swing, and consistency, making him a valuable asset in both Tests and ODIs. Kulasekara, who played as a right-arm medium-fast bowler, was particularly adept at moving the ball both ways, making him effective in a variety of conditions. His career-best performance came in an ODI against Pakistan in 2008 when he took 5 wickets for 22 runs. Kulasekara’s ability to bowl with both the new and old ball made him an important player for Sri Lanka for over a decade.
5. Angelo Mathews
- Career Span: 2008–Present
- Matches Played: 82 Tests, 211 ODIs, 78 T20Is
- Wickets Taken: 43 (Test), 147 (ODI), 27 (T20I)
- Best Bowling: 4/6 (ODI), 3/19 (Test)
- Bowling Average: 46.90 (Test), 35.56 (ODI)
Angelo Mathews, primarily known for his batting, has proven to be a capable bowler as well. As a medium-fast bowler, Mathews has been a reliable contributor, particularly with the ball in limited-overs cricket. His best performance came in an ODI against Zimbabwe, where he took 4 wickets for just 6 runs. While Mathews’ primary role has been as an all-rounder, his ability to offer valuable breakthroughs with the ball, especially in ODI cricket, has made him an important asset for Sri Lanka.
Table 1: Statistics of the Best Sri Lankan Pace Bowlers
| Player | Career Span | Matches Played | Wickets Taken | Best Bowling | Bowling Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaminda Vaas | 1994–2008 | 111 Tests, 322 ODIs | 400 (Test), 400 (ODI) | 7/71 (Test), 5/14 (ODI) | 29.58 (Test), 27.53 (ODI) |
| Lasith Malinga | 2004–2019 | 30 Tests, 226 ODIs, 84 T20Is | 101 (Test), 338 (ODI), 107 (T20I) | 6/17 (ODI), 5/13 (T20I) | 33.15 (Test), 28.87 (ODI), 26.48 (T20I) |
| Dilhara Fernando | 2001–2010 | 25 Tests, 147 ODIs | 94 (Test), 188 (ODI) | 6/14 (Test), 5/42 (ODI) | 35.31 (Test), 31.74 (ODI) |
| Nuwan Kulasekara | 2003–2015 | 21 Tests, 184 ODIs | 75 (Test), 199 (ODI) | 5/48 (Test), 5/22 (ODI) | 35.44 (Test), 32.54 (ODI) |
| Angelo Mathews | 2008–Present | 82 Tests, 211 ODIs, 78 T20Is | 43 (Test), 147 (ODI), 27 (T20I) | 4/6 (ODI), 3/19 (Test) | 46.90 (Test), 35.56 (ODI) |
Modern-Day Sri Lankan Pace Bowlers
6. Suranga Lakmal
- Career Span: 2009–Present
- Matches Played: 68 Tests, 87 ODIs
- Wickets Taken: 169 (Test), 116 (ODI)
- Best Bowling: 5/47 (Test), 4/13 (ODI)
- Bowling Average: 32.59 (Test), 34.32 (ODI)
Suranga Lakmal has been one of Sri Lanka’s premier fast bowlers in the modern era. Known for his accuracy and ability to swing the ball, Lakmal has been a key figure for Sri Lanka in both Tests and ODIs. His best bowling figures in a Test came against Bangladesh when he took 5 wickets for 47 runs. Lakmal’s ability to bowl long spells and maintain pressure has made him a reliable pacer for Sri Lanka.
7. Kasun Rajitha
- Career Span: 2015–Present
- Matches Played: 22 Tests, 26 ODIs
- Wickets Taken: 54 (Test), 45 (ODI)
- Best Bowling: 5/50 (Test), 4/36 (ODI)
- Bowling Average: 33.81 (Test), 31.86 (ODI)
Kasun Rajitha has emerged as one of the promising fast bowlers in Sri Lanka’s modern bowling lineup. Known for his pace and bounce, Rajitha’s career has shown flashes of brilliance, particularly in the Test format. His 5-wicket haul against South Africa in 2019 is a testament to his potential and skill.
Table 2: Modern Sri Lankan Pace Bowlers
| Player | Career Span | Matches Played | Wickets Taken | Best Bowling | Bowling Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suranga Lakmal | 2009–Present | 68 Tests, 87 ODIs | 169 (Test), 116 (ODI) | 5/47 (Test), 4/13 (ODI) | 32.59 (Test), 34.32 (ODI) |
| Kasun Rajitha | 2015–Present | 22 Tests, 26 ODIs | 54 (Test), 45 (ODI) | 5/50 (Test), 4/36 (ODI) | 33.81 (Test), 31.86 (ODI) |
Sri Lanka has produced some of the finest pace bowlers in cricket history. From Chaminda Vaas’s accuracy and swing to Lasith Malinga’s deadly yorkers, Sri Lanka’s pace bowlers have been a crucial part of the team’s success over the years. While Sri Lanka is renowned for its spin bowling, the contributions of these fast bowlers have played an integral role in their success on the global stage.
With the emergence of new talent like Suranga Lakmal and Kasun Rajitha, Sri Lanka’s legacy of producing world-class fast bowlers continues to inspire the next generation of cricketers.
