Published: Mar 11, 2017, 12:51 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 11, 2017, 12:51 PM (IST)
Sri Lanka‘s stand-in Test captain Rangana Herath claimed another record in his career. With the wicket of Litton Das in the ongoing first Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at Galle International Stadium, Galle, Herath became the highest wicket-taker among left-arm spinners and second among the left-arm bowlers. Prior to this Test, Herath needed 6 wickets to break the record, which was previously held by Daniel Vettori with 362 wickets at 34.36. Among the left-arm bowlers, the record is currently held by Wasim Akram with 414 wickets at 23.62.
Herath made his Test debut back in 1999 against Australia at the same stadium where the ongoing Test is being played. It took a long time for him to secure his place as regular Test spinner for Sri Lanka as Muttiah Muralitharan was already in the side. After the retirement of Muralitharan from Tests in 2010, there was a sudden rise in Herath’s career. Before 2011, Herath took 20 plus wickets only once in 2009 and after 2010, his rise was evident as he scalped 41 wickets in 2011.
So far, his best year has been 2012, in which he took 60 wickets at 23.61. Going by seasons, Herath took most in 2012-13. He took 46 wickets at 22.13. Taking another angle, his favourite opponent seems to be Australia as he has got most wickets against them. From his tally of 363 wickets, Herath has picked 66 against Australia from 11 Tests at 22.63.
When it comes to taking wickets of batsmen from the opposition camps, Herath seems to love Pakistan batters. Misbah-ul-Haq has been dismissed by him 9 times — the most by Herath against a batsman, followed by Younis Khan and Azhar Ali — 8 times each.
