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It would be difficult to term the Sri Lankan cricket team as one of the top sides in international cricket. They have not been consistent enough for a period to be placed in that category. At the same time, they remain a highly dangerous side across all three formats.
Sri Lanka were in action recently at home when they took on India in a white-ball series. They lost the T20I series 3-0, coming up with some rather lackluster performances. However, their spin trio of Jeffrey Vandersay, Dunith Wellalage, and Charith Asalanka came to the fore as the island nation hit back to clinch the ODI series 2-0.
Like in the T20I series, bowlers have been a big part of Sri Lanka's success in international cricket. On that note, let's take a look at five bowlers from the Asian side who have claimed the most wickets in international cricket.
#5 Sanath Jayasuriya
Former all-rounder and current coach Sanath Jayasuriya is fifth on the list of Sri Lankan cricketers with the most wickets in international cricket. The left-arm spinner played 586 matches (532 innings) and claimed 440 wickets at an average of 35.66, with six five-fers.
Jayasuriya picked up 98 wickets in 110 Tests at an average of 34.34, with two five-fers. In ODIs, the 55-year-old took 323 wickets in 445 matches at an average of 36.75, with four five-fers. His best of 6-29 came against England in Moratuwa in March 1993. Jayasuriya also claimed 19 scalps in 31 T20Is, with a best of 3-21.
#4 Rangana Herath
Former left-arm spinner Rangana Herath is fourth on the list of Sri Lankan bowlers with the most wickets in international cricket. He played 181 matches (254 innings) and claimed 525 wickets at an average of 28.36, with 35 five-fers and nine 10-wicket match hauls.
Herath played 93 Test matches in which he picked up 433 wickets at an average of 28.07, with 34 five-fers and nine 10-wicket match hauls. His innings best of 9-127 was registered against Pakistan in Colombo in August 2014. The 46-year-old also picked up 74 wickets in 71 ODIs, with a best of 4-20.
Herath played only 17 T20Is, claiming 18 wickets at an average of 20.72 and an economy rate of 6.13. He registered sensational figures of 5-3 against New Zealand in Chattogram during the 2014 T20 World Cup.
#3 Lasith Malinga
Former speedster Lasith Malinga is third on the list of Sri Lankan bowlers with the most wickets in international cricket. He played 340 matches (362 innings) and claimed 546 wickets at an average of 28.08, with 13 five-fers to his credit.
In a career hampered by injuries, Malinga played only 30 Tests, picking up 101 wickets at an average of 33.15, with three five-wicket hauls. The 40-year-old had a much more fruitful one-day career, with 338 scalps in 226 matches at an average of 28.87, with as many as eight five-fers. His best of 6-38 came against Kenya in Colombo in the 2011 World Cup.
Malinga played 84 T20Is and picked up 107 wickets at an average of 20.79 and an economy rate of 7.42, with two five-wicket hauls. His best of 5-6 came against New Zealand in Pallekele in September 2019. He picked up four wickets off consecutive deliveries in that game.
#2 Chaminda Vaas
Pace bowling legend Chaminda Vaas is in the top two among Sri Lankan bowlers with the most wickets in international cricket. The former left-arm pacer featured in 439 matches (520 innings) and claimed 761 wickets at an average of 28.44, with 16 five-fers and two 10-wicket match hauls.
Vaas played 111 Tests and claimed 355 wickets at an average of 29.58, with 12 five-fers and two 10-wicket match hauls. His best innings bowling in Tests (7-71) was registered against West Indies in Colombo in November 2011. The 50-year-old had claimed 7-120 in the first innings of the same Test as Sri Lanka won the game by 10 wickets despite Brian Lara's 221 and 130.
Vaas claimed exactly 400 scalps in 322 ODIs, averaging 27.53, with four five-fers. His figures of 8-19 registered against Zimbabwe in Colombo in December 2001 remains a record for the best bowling figures in one-day cricket. The former pacer also played six T20Is, claiming six scalps with a best of 2-14.
#1 Muttiah Muralitharan
Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan is the all-time leading wicket-taker in international cricket. The former off-spinner played 495 matches (583 innings) and claimed 1347 wickets at an average of 22.86, with 77 five-fers and 22 10-wicket match hauls.
Muralitharan claimed exactly 800 wickets in 133 Tests, averaging 22.72, with 67 five-fers and 22 10-wicket match hauls. The 52-year-old's best innings figures of 9-51 came against Zimbabwe in Kandy in January 2002. Murali also picked up a famous 9-56 against England at The Oval in August 1998. He claimed 7-155 in the first innings of the same Test.
The spin wizard from Sri Lanka claimed 534 wickets in 350 ODI matches at an average of 23.08, with 10 five-fers. His best of 7-30 came against India in Sharjah in October 2000 during the Coca-Cola Champions Trophy. It was a then-record for the best bowling figures in ODIs.
