Continuing to defy the laws of nature, Sri Lanka veteran Rangana Herath keeps getting better and better with age. Long having lived in the shadows of the Muttiah Muralitharan, Herath has been writing his own piece of history ever since the legendary off-spinner retired from international cricket in 2010.
Now, at 40 years of age, Herath is ready to bid farewell to the world of international cricket himself after his latest exploits in Sri Lanka’s 2-0 Test clean-sweep over South Africa.
The left-arm spinner put in a bowling masterclass at Colombo on Monday to lead Sri Lanka’s march towards a 199-run win in the second Test. His 6-98 in the second innings extinguished any little hopes the Proteas had of staging a dramatic turnaround.
Following his 34th five-wicket haul in the format, Herath has reiterated his desire to hang up his boots following the conclusion of Sri Lanka’s three-Test home series against England which takes place in November this year.
“Very pleased. (Especially) winning the game and winning the series against the number two side. Wherever you go and take wickets, you like the ground. I like Galle and SSC (Sinhalese Sports Club) as hunting grounds. The harder ball gives a bit of assistance for the spinners. There was not much spin as the ball got softer, but we bowled well throughout the series,” the veteran said about his match-winning performance on Monday.
Herath has been an excellent servant to Sri Lankan cricket.
Reaffirming his desire to bow out at the top, Herath said: Everybody has a time to go and that’s why I have decided to stop playing cricket. There is one more series to go (against England). Hope to do well.”
The orthodox spinner has now picked up 430 wickets in 92 Test matches at an average of 27.95 and a strike-rate of 59.7. His 6-98 at Colombo is the 12th time that Herath has picked up five wickets or more in the fourth innings of a Test. His tally of 34 five-wicket hauls places him fifth in the all-time list behind Anil Kumble (35) and Sir Richard Hadlee (36).
The Sri Lankan’s 430 Test scalps is ninth best in the all-time wicket-takers list and five more dismissals in the England series could see the spinner climb to seventh ahead of Kapil Dev and Hadlee.
