In 92 Tests so far, Rangana Herath has captured 430 wickets at an average of 27.95 with 34 five-wicket hauls and nine 10-wicket hauls
Colombo: Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath, who made his Test debut in the late 1990s, has decided to bring curtains down on his illustrious career in the 90s.
Herath, the most successful left-arm bowler in Test history, will retire after his 93rd Test in Galle next month. With his exit, the last of the active Test players who debuted in the 1990s will have hung their shoes.
The 40-year-old announced that he will call it a day after the first Test of the three-match series against England.
Herath will bow out of international cricket at the same ground where he made his Test debut, in 1999, against Australia — the Galle International Stadium.
In 92 Tests so far, Herath has captured 430 wickets at an average of 27.95 with 34 five-wicket hauls and nine 10-wicket hauls.
He had limited success in the shorter formats, playing 71 ODIs and 17 T20Is. He took 74 ODI wickets and 18 T20I scalps.
After making his Test debut at the age of 21, for most part of his career, he did not have many opportunities. He achieved major success after turning 35, and claimed 230 Test victims after crossing that age.
Following Muttiah Muralitharan's retirement in 2010 with a world record 800 Test wickets, and Sri Lanka's young spin bowlers failing to cement their places, it was up to Herath to lead the spin attack.
Herath excelled in home conditions and struggled overseas. In 44 away Tests, he managed 155 wickets at an average of 36.01 and had a strike rate of 75.6 (eight five-wicket hauls, two 10-wicket hauls). In India, he played five Tests and took 12 wickets.
At home, Herath took 275 wickets from 48 Tests at an average of 23.41 and a strike rate of 50.8. He had 26 five-wicket hauls and seven 10-wicket hauls in Sri Lanka.
Having made his Test debut under Sanath Jayasuriya, Herath went on to play under eight more captains — Hashan Tillakaratne, Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal. Herath himself led in five Tests.
Herath's career was plagued by knee injuries and back in 2013 there was a rumour on social media which shocked Sri Lanka fans. There were reports that the spinner had been killed in a car crash in Australia.
“Everybody who knew me, and some who didn’t, kept calling me,” he said, recalling that incident.
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