Rangana Herath

In a way, Rangana Herath has been Sri Lanka's Stuart MacGill - he has been a consistent performer over the years, but has been unlucky to be playing at the same time as Muttiah Muralitharan, getting few opportunities with little room for error.

Herath made his debut in 1999 against Australia, but was back in the wilderness after three Tests, following a wicket-less Test against Pakistan in 2000 when they scored in excess of 600. Despite some strong performances at the First-Class level, the selectors refused to consider him for the next two years. He was then picked for the 'A' side for the tour of South Africa and Kenya in 2002. Some good performances on the tour followed by a couple of impressive domestic seasons earned him a recall for the home series against Australia in 2004.

Herath only played one Test in that series and played the occasional Test match in 2005 before being ignored for the next three years. He was recalled again in 2008, playing a Test apiece against West Indies and Bangladesh, in which he failed to make a significant contribution.

Herath was playing in the Staffordshire League in England to maintain his bowling form since the 'A' tours were few and far in between when the call-up for the Pakistan series came -- a turning point in his career. He had been outstanding in the domestic circuit as well, averaging 50 wickets a season for Moors CC.

Herath revived his Test career as he picked up 15 wickets at 26.93 from three Tests, including two five-fors in the series. He continued his good form, picking up eight wickets in the next Test he played against New Zealand.

Herath attributed this remarkable turnaround to a change in attitude. As a youngster, he always played under pressure, trying to cement his place in the team, but of late, he has taken a more relaxed and confident approach, and that has helped him succeed.

After being understudy to Muralitharan for close to a decade, Herath assumed the mantle of Sri Lanka's strike bowler post the talismanic spinner's retirement. Herath may lack Murali's aura, but he has held his own with subtle variations and dipping turn. In fact, Herath was the initial purveyor of the carrom ball which was later perfected by the likes of Ajantha Mendis, Sachitra Senanayake and Ravichandran Ashwin.

Herath truly blossomed in 2011 when he conjured up nine wickets in Durban to spin Sri Lanka to a famous victory - their first Test win on South African shores.

The left-arm spinner continued his fantastic form into the home series against England. He collected 20 wickets at an unbelievable average of 13.90 to terrorise the English batsmen. He, then, waged a lone war in Australia to save some face for Sri Lanka, who were blanked 3-0.

Herath's purple-patch was in 2012, wherein he finished with 60 Test scalps, saw him pip his more illustrious compatriot and former skipper, Kumar Sangakkara, to be conferred with the Cricketer of the year honour in SLC awards 2013.

A year later in 2014, Herath single-handedly spun Sri Lanka to the semi-final of the T20 Cup in Bangladesh with a mesmerising bowling spell, reading 3.3-2-3-5. With some classic flight and guile, he just toyed with the Kiwi batsmen.

When Pakistan toured Sri Lanka in August 2014, Herath took nine wickets for 127 runs in the first innings of the second Test, the best figures for a left-arm bowler in Test cricket. He was the Man of the Match in both Tests and also won the Man of the Series. He did well in the England series, but was ruled out of the fifth ODI due to a hamstring strain. He missed the first Test against New Zealand as well. He returned back for the second Test and participated in the ODI series.

After regular captain Angelo Mathews pulled out of Zimbabwe tour in 2016 due to an injury and Dinesh Chandimal too made himself unavailable, Herath was handed over the captaincy of the Test side, making him the oldest ever Sri Lanka captain. Herath continued to lead the Test side in the absence of Mathews when he led the side against Bangladesh in the home series as well. In the same series against Bangladesh, he completed the feat of 1000 first class wickets.

By Cricbuzz staff