Rangana Herath — Pakistan’s tormentor-in-chief

Left-arm spinner is at the cusp of reaching unchartered territory in Test cricket against Pakistan

KARACHI: After the retirement of Muttiah Muralitharan, Pakistan batsmen breathed a collective sigh of relief. But unfortunately their joy was short-lived as from the shadows of the magician from Kandy emerged a left-arm wizard from the city of Kurunegala — a major city in the north of Sri Lanka.      

Herath who started his career just around the time Murali was reaching his peak remained the understudy to the world record holder all the way up to the champion spinner’s retirement in 2010.

A year before Murali hung his bowling boots, Herath played a leading role in Sri Lanka’s maiden home Test series win over Pakistan in the 2009 series, snaring 15 wickets in a 2-0 win — Muralitharan was ruled out of all three games.

Herath celebrates a wicket against Pakistan in his comeback Test in 2009. PHOTO: AFP

Going in to the Galle Test from Wednesday, Herath is at the cusp of reaching unchartered territory in Test cricket against Pakistan.

No bowler has yet taken 100 Test wickets against the Asian team; the list is headed by India’s Kapil Dev who has 99 wickets in 29 games.

Herath’s tweakers have yielded him 88 wickets in 17 Tests only. His mentor Murali in comparison collected 80 in 16 Tests against Sri Lanka’s most frequent rivals.

The seventeen Tests spanning a period of 2000-2014 have brought tremendous success to the Islanders with Herath playing a prominent role in almost all of the seven wins.

His exploits in Sri Lankan conditions are even more lethal. In nine Tests, Herath has accounted for 53 wickets; the hosts have won five out of those games, losing only one — the 2000 Galle Tests, where Herath was wicket-less.

Herath celebrates the scalp of Azhar Ali. PHOTO: FILE/AFP

The veteran was truly in his elements in the hastily arranged two match series last August. In the Galle Test, Herath set-up a surprising last day triumph when the match was heading for a sure shot draw.

Herath’s probing line and length triggered a sensational Pakistan collapse, opening the bowling, he took six wickets in 40 relentless overs — consistently troubling the batsmen with his fizzing turners and skidding arm-balls.

The nine wickets tally in the game ensured a man-of-the-match award. In the second Test at Colombo, Herath took nine wickets in the first innings alone!

Even in the second innings Pakistan batsmen kept prodding and pushing haplessly as Herath collected another five-wicket haul to help seal a rather comfortable 105-run win.

The figures at the end of the series summed up his domination, 123.4 Overs, 348 Runs, 23 Wickets, Average 15.13.

Simply put if Pakistan are harbouring hopes of turning the tables on the Islanders this year, they must find a way past Herath.