All Time Sri Lankan Test XI
Written by: Damith Samarakoon
(5 votes, average: 4.4 out of 5)
Loading ...February 17th-21st in 1982 marked Sri Lankas first ever test. A game we sadly lost the Englishmen, after fighting with them, neck and tooth, for the first few days. All in all it was a good start to our test career as a country.
And so, its been 25 years of test cricket for the Island nation. There have been many ups and downs in our short history in the game and currently Sri Lankan cricket is at its strongest. 106 players have pulled on our national colours and they have done a great service to our cricket in their own way.
I found this an opportune time to put my self in the shoes of the “Joker” and try some “Muppet Mastering” my self. My quest was to come up with the All time Sri Lankan Test XI. NO easy task but luckily I did have my trusty handbook, provided by SLC, to make my decisions easier.
SO without further adieu here is the team.
All Time Sri Lankan Test XI
1.Marvan Attapattu
2.Sanath Jayasuriya
3.Kumar Sanagakarra (+)
4.Aravinda de Silva
5.Mahela Jayawardane (C)
6.Roshan Mahanama
7.Chaminda Vass
8.Ravi Ratnayake
9.Nuwan Zoysa
10.Lasith Malinga
11.Murali
Opening
Marvi and Sana-
The third most successful opening pair in the HISTORY of the game, this was the easiest decision to make.One a dasher, the other,one of the most technically correct batsmen to come out of Sri Lanka. Also note the left and right hand combination.
Top Order
Kumar Sangakkara-
The pretender to the throne of “The best batsmen Sri Lanka has produced”, Sangakkara has been in blistering form of late and currently has the highest batting avg for any batsmen from the country. A shoe-in to the all time team.
Aravinda de Silva-
Who better to follow the pretender to the throne than the uncontested king of Sri Lankan batting, MR De Silva himself. He is a match winner on his own. 20 test centuries of the highest order. Its not hard being a “Joker” after all !
Mahela Jayawardena-
There were a couple of other contenders for the No 5 spot. Arjuna, Gurusingha being the main candidates. Mahela got my vote as he has shown he is arguably the best captain Sri Lanka has produced and is a terrific test batsmen. With a triple century to his name as well, MJ will bat at 5 and captain the team.
Roshan Mahanama-
The current Sri Lankan team could well be wishing this man dint retire. He is a captains dream to bat at 6. Highly aggressive with lots of class Roshan is the ideal No6 batsmen for the All Time SL XI.
All Rounders
Chaminda Vass-
Vass is the most successful fast bowler the country has produced, so another shoe-in. With a test century to his name and with over 2000 test runs under his belt he is a genuine all-rounder.
Ravi Ratnayake-
Heres one from the vault. A genuine all-rounder in his own right,Ravi developed his game on the international stage that he even opened the batting for SL at a point. His BBI of 8-83 remained the best bowling figures by a Sri Lankan till a certain man from Kandy over took him. Avg 25 with the bat ant 35 with the ball he will be my first Change bowler.
Bowlers
Nuwan Soyza-
This might be a surprise inclusion to a few but I strongly believe that he was one of the best quicks SL has had. Sadly his career has been marred by a lot of injuries, but was something else when in full flow. He could even be a replacement for Vass when he retires in a years time as he has not even reached 30. Swing/Pace/Bounce- Soyza has it all.
Lasith Malinga-
He has been a sensation ever since he joined the team. With his unorthodox action he has fooled many a batsmen. Malinga has genuine pace and swing when in full flow and is arguably the fastest bowler the country has produced. MJ will do well to use in him short spells to make maximum use of “Slinga”
Murali-
I dont think his name needs any justification. The greatest bowler in the history of the game. Enough said.
This side is well balanced with 6 top class batsmen backed up by 2 very good all rounders. Although even Soyza can chip in with the odd run or two. Murali has a test 50 as well!
The bowling is safe in the hands of Vass, Ravi, Soyza, Malinga and Murali. Possibly the best bowling attack ever assembled from Sri Lanka.
It has a great blend of experience backed up by youth. Captained by Mahela this team would easily give a hiding to any team that confronts them
So that as they say is it. This is IMO the best ALL time Sri Lankan Test XI.
Do you agree? Let me know your views on the team in the comments section.
Comments
9 Responses to “All Time Sri Lankan Test XI”
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Quite a good list Damith. And very nicely written.
I have only one point to make. How can Arjuna not be in the team?
There are two positions which he can be considered. One in place of Mahanama. He’s one of the best, yet Arjuna is also of the same caliber. Also I feel four quicks may be a bit of too much. In place of Zoysa also Arjuna could have been included. With Sana and Aravinda to bowl spin, we have enough bowling resources even without Zoysa. Imo, Zoysa can be left out.
And I must also mention that I want Arjuna not just because he was a good captain. MJ can captain, but Arjuna deserves his place merely for his batting. I have never seen anyone from SL who could easily pick up a single almost at will, as Arjuna did. He never gets stuck, so an ideal man to have at no. 6 or 7…
Mahela better than Arjuna as captain? You can’t be serious! Anyone who saw Arjuna captain in his heyday surely has to acknowledge his superior tactical abilities. Remember that he had a far less talented team than the one Mahela, Marvan or Sanath possessed. In fact, the successes of those subsequent captains can be attributed to the team spirit and the team itself that Arjuna built up. And that goes beyond just captaincy and into the realm of actual leadership. If he hadn’t nurtured, for example, Sanath Jayasuriya during his early days–which he did, even giving Sanath free lodging at his house!–or stuck up for Murali in 1995 and 1999, Sri Lanka would be nowhere as a cricketing nation. Any all time Sri Lankan team that lacks Arjuna is incomprehensible.
well written article damtith. The left-right hand combo openers, two unique top order batsmen, controlling middle order, all round firepower, top class pace bowling and the king of spin will make a superb xi. an amazing dream team indeed!
I don’t agree with the list. My points of contention include the number six in the batting order going to Roshan instead of Arjuna or even Hashan Tillakeratne. Say what you will about the latter, but he did a lot of good work when we were a bits and pieces team. I’d bring Arjuna into the team and make him captain.
About Nuwan Zoysa - I think he was a better bowler than people give him credit for. On his day, he is certainly better than Dilhara. But if you are going to play Nuwan as part of a four-pronged pace attack then his lack of consistency is not going to help him. I’d rather replace him with another spinner - say Kumara Dharmasena or Upul Chandana. Murali will require some help in carrying the bowling load as well and I’d rather have Dharmasena bowling honest, though hardly spectacular, offspin to keep things quiet on one end. Plus the man can bat.
Otherwise, you are pretty much spot on.
Ado Malli! What no Arjuna Ranatunga?
I don’t think Ravi Rathnayake should be in the team the expense of Ranatunga.
You already have other pace bowlers plus Muralidharan. The fact Nuwan Zoysa is making the team really highlights the lack of quality pace bowlers over the years, which is why its good to see that 3 of them are still playing.
A fine team. Plus much food for thought.
I’d have Ranatunga in at number 6 and as captain. I am unsure about Sanga keeping so perhaps Amal Silva at number 7. Bowling would be Ravi Ratnayeke, Rumesh Ratnayake, Vaas and Murali. I don’t think Malinga has proved himself consistently at test level, and Zoysa was also not quite good enough.
If Sanga is going to keep then we could have another batsman or an all rounder at number 7. Tillekeratne or Mahanama would be the logical choices as batsmen, and sadly we don’t really have any bowling all rounders. Chandana hardly played test cricket.
Anyway, thanks for the post. Nice way to start Wednesday morning.
I would have Hashan Tiilakartne ahead of Roshan Mahanama, i think he was under rated averaged 42,And rumesh over ravi ratnake, and Vass at number 8.
Jayasuriya
Attapatu
Sangakara
De Silva
Jawardene
Ranatunga (captain)
Tillakaratne
Vass
Rumesh Ratnake
Malinga
Murali
4 bowlers, 7 batsman. Arjuna may not have a legendary record but i always got the feeling he lifted the side, he was a man with an attitude and deserves to be in this side
Damith, good article mostly but I’d have to disagree with your exclusion of Arjuna. IMO the team should be:
1.Sanath
2.Marvan
3.Sangakkara(+)
4.Aravinda
5.Jayawardene(vc)
6.Ranatunga(c)
7.Mahanama
8.Vaas
9.Ratnayake
10.Malinga
11.Murali
In my opinion there is no need for an extra fast bowler so 3 fasts in my team. It also has 3 off spinners of good quality-murali, aravinda and jayasuriya. Captain is Ranatunga with jayawardene his vice. Sanga the wk obviously will be tired when he bats but when you got a solid top order like ours then it’s ite.
This is my team.
1.Marvan
2.Sidath Wettamuni
3.Roy Dias
4.Aravinda
5.Mahela
6.Arjuna
7.Sangakkara
8.Vass
9.Murali
10.Asantha De Mel
11.Malinga