Cricket’s rich history is dotted with legends who have left a lasting legacy on the sport. Through their performances with the bat, ball or both in several cases, these players have risen head and shoulders above their contemporaries to achieve greatness.
For some like Sir Don Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar, the talent was undeniable from the moment they stepped on to the cricket field as a rookie. Meanwhile, others such as James Anderson, Virat Kohli and Younis Khan have honed their skills over the years to ultimately transform into extraordinary players.
Many youngsters, meanwhile, have promised plenty in their fledgling stages before fading into obscurity or mediocrity. As such, it is never easy to predict the career trajectory of young players entering the game, no matter how talented they might be.
While there is no telling where their careers will ultimately lead, there is nothing more exciting than watching fresh talents announcing their arrival in cricket.
In this series, we take a look at some of the most exciting cricketers around the world who are aged 23 or below.
Island nation Sri Lanka are no strangers to honing the talents of their young starlets and have a proven track record of turning them into world beaters. Here, we take a look at three of the most exciting youngsters at their disposal currently.
LAHIRU KUMARA
Age: 23
Role: Right-armed fast bowler
Strengths: Pace, intensity and in-swing
Similar to: Waqar Younis
When it comes to talking about the top fast bowlers in the world, Lahiru Kumara’s name is often overlooked. Still only 23, the right-armed bowler is already a veteran of 21 Tests, 13 ODIs and seven T20Is for his country.
Such has been the promise in Kumara’s abilities that he was handed a Test debut just days after making his maiden first-class foray. With a bustling run-up and smooth bowling action, the Kandy-born man can generate some express pace with the ball.
An ability to swing the ball both ways at pace, along with a mean bouncer, make Kumara a rarity in the Sri Lankan cricket system. He was just 17 when he picked up 6-122 against South Africa in Newland, making him the second youngest Sri Lanka bowler to claim a Test five-wicket haul.
A tireless bowler who can bowl long spells with intensity, Kumara is yet to hit full stride at the international level so far. However, Sri Lanka will reap the dividends of blooding him in early, and he is bound to become a more polished bowler with experience.
He could turn out to be a monster in his peak years.
RAVINDU RASANTHA
The #U19CWC team of the tournament has been announced!
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 10, 2020
Which of these players do you most want to see on the senior international stage? pic.twitter.com/0suxTkobKu
Age: 18
Role: Right-handed batsman
Strengths: Cut shots, strong off the pads
Similar to: Mahele Jayawardane
Sri Lanka did not have the best of campaigns in this year’s U19 World Cup held in South Africa, though young Ravindu Rasantha came away with his reputation significantly enhanced.
With 286 runs in the tournament at an average of 71.50, the top-order batsman finished only behind India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal in the run-scoring charts. His noticeable displays included an unbeaten ton against Nigeria, a fine 49 against India and an excellent 66 against England in the Plate quarter-final clash.
With a classical batting style very similar to that of Sri Lanka legend Mahela Jayawardane, Rasantha has all the orthodox shots in the book to develop into a fine batsman. Born in Sri Lanka’s coastal city of Balapitiya, the right-hander has looked calm and composed every time he came out to bat in the U19 World Cup.
He now has the chance to push on in Sri Lanka’s domestic circuit and will me looking to make his maiden foray in first-class cricket soon.
WANINDU HASARANGA
Age: 22
Role: Right-armed leg-spinner
Strengths: Googly and ability to score quick runs
Similar to: Shahid Afridi
A fighting lower-order batsman and a tricky leg-spinner to negotiate, Wanindu Hasaranga looks tailor-made to excel in limited-overs cricket.
It is for this reason that he has already made 28 international appearances for Sri Lanka, with all of them coming in the limited-overs formats. He announced his arrival in international cricket in some style, by claiming a hat-trick against Zimbabwe in his first ODI appearance for the country.
That feat, attained in 2017 on his home ground in Galle, made Hasaranga only the third player in history to claim a hat-trick on ODI debut. He is not a prodigious turner of the ball, but the right-armer has all the variations in his armoury to make him a mighty effective leg-spinner.
A cleverly disguised googly is his main weapon to unsettle batsman and keep them guessing. The fact that he can also score some handy runs lower down the order and has done so on several occasions already, makes him a very useful player to have in any team.
He averages a healthy 44.47 in first-class cricket and has even registered three tons in the format. With age on his side, Hasaranga could yet blossom into one of the best all-rounders in world cricket.
