Dhammika Prasad

A well-built fast bowler, Dammika Prasad, was first picked to play for Sri Lanka against Bangladesh in 2005-06. He made his ODI debut against Bangladesh and created ripples by taking two wickets in successive balls. But a career-threatening back injury after that tour forced him out of cricket for a period of six months. Prasad continued to perform well on the domestic scene and was rewarded with a Test cap when India toured Sri Lanka in August 2008.

Prasad started his cricket at De Mazenod College, Kandana. He initially used to be a batsman, but was forced to take up the pace bowling duties as his school did not have anyone, who could bowl with the new ball.

Prasad then, made his debut against India in Colombo (PSS) in 2008. On his Test debut, he bowled with a fair amount of hostility, picking up five wickets in the match - including Virender Sehwag twice, to help Sri Lanka to a series victory. Prasad bowled with fire on a flat wicket to blast out Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar as the Lankans bowled India out for 249. This came after he had leaked 25 runs in his first three overs and also left the field after trying to stop a Sehwag straight-drive.

Prasad is also a handy batsman as well, with a best of 103 not in a First-Class game. He can use the long handle to good effect and does clout the ball hard. Not known to stick around at the crease, Prasad's batting mantra is simple - if it is there to be hit, just smash it.

He is a bowler who likes to hit the deck hard, generating bounce and pace. He consistently bowls at 140 kmph and has modelled his approach on Glenn McGrath. Like McGrath, Prasad, can bowl a nagging line and length, probing away at the batsman once he settles into a groove. On the hard and lifeless sub-continental wickets, Prasad is the ideal man to have in your side as he can bowl long spells under the unrelenting sun. He often performs the role of the workhorse in the Lankan side.

Prasad was brilliant in the Tests in England in June 2014. In the second Test he picked up a five-wicket haul, setting up a famous series win for his country, their first in England. However, he was not able to replicate the same success in the Tests that followed against Pakistan. Prasad was a part of the Sri Lankan side during the New Zealand tour of 2014-15 and was named in the 15-man squad for the World Cup. Unfortunately for the medium pacer, he was ruled out of the mega-event as he fractured his left hand at practice.

by Cricbuzz staff