How Herath Made His Dart Into the Test Record Books
The Cricket Paper|March 17,2017

Derek Pringle pays tribute to a left-arm spinner who has belied his looks to become the best ever in his discipline.

Derek Pringle
How Herath Made His Dart Into the Test Record Books

Cricket might lend itself more to producing world-beaters of unusual mien than other sports but Rangana Herath stretches even that particular envelope.

Short, distinctly tubby, with grey tints now frosting his hair, Sri Lanka’s record beaking spinner looks like he was modelled on nothing more predatory than a cuddly teddy bear.

Looks can deceive in cricket, as in life, and Herath has, at the age of 39, just become the greatest wicket-taker among left-arm spinners in Test cricket with 366 victims.

Given that he has recently assumed the captaincy and with an action that is streamlined even in its economy, he could go on to set a figure for the slow left-armer that will not be broken in his lifetime – not bad for a man who spent the first 11 years of his career listing in the shadow cast by Muttiah Muralitharan’s all-consuming brilliance.

Herath broke the record in style, too, taking 6-59 to defeat Bangladesh at Galle, the most fecund of the spinner’s many hunting grounds throughout his 18-year career.

The left-arm spinner usurped was Daniel Vettori, another unprepossessing cricket great, at least to look at.

Vettori, a dead ringer for Harry Potter’s geekier elder brother, is the same age as Herath but has worse knees, hence his retirement from international cricket for New Zealand.

Yet, fabulous left-arm spinner that he was, Vettori took 113 Tests to take his 362 wickets, a tally Herath has overtaken in just 79 matches.

There are reasons for this and not just the very different ways the pair go about their bowling, though that is worth discussing.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 17,2017 من The Cricket Paper.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 17,2017 من The Cricket Paper.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من THE CRICKET PAPER مشاهدة الكل
Kohli leads RCB to much-needed win
The Cricket Paper

Kohli leads RCB to much-needed win

VIRAT KOHLI returned to top form with 72 not out to lead RCB to an eight-wicket victory over the Royals in Abu Dhabi.

time-read
3 mins  |
October 04, 2020
TEWATIA HAS SPARKED MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE IPL
The Cricket Paper

TEWATIA HAS SPARKED MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE IPL

James Wallace admits he has been surprisingly taken in by the IPL so far – and, in particular, the performance of a new Royal renegade

time-read
4 mins  |
October 04, 2020
Whitewash victory is just the T20 tonic for Keightley
The Cricket Paper

Whitewash victory is just the T20 tonic for Keightley

A SERIES that few thought would come to fruition ended in triumph for England who completed a 5-0 whitewash of the West Indies in Derby.

time-read
4 mins  |
October 04, 2020
TEN OUT OF TEN! RYAN IS BASKING IN MORE GLORY
The Cricket Paper

TEN OUT OF TEN! RYAN IS BASKING IN MORE GLORY

Chris Stocks catches up with Ryan ten Doeschate, who has plotted Essex’s recent county domination every step of the way

time-read
5 mins  |
October 04, 2020
Surrey have the Will to end hoodoo
The Cricket Paper

Surrey have the Will to end hoodoo

WILL Jacks may be a hot batting prospect but he’s relished the added responsibility with the ball in Surrey’s charge to T20 Finals Day.

time-read
3 mins  |
October 04, 2020
NOW IT'S OUR TIME TO HELP OTHERS
The Cricket Paper

NOW IT'S OUR TIME TO HELP OTHERS

Chris Stocks catches up with England’s director of cricket and discusses the need for the ECB to help boards around the world

time-read
4 mins  |
October 04, 2020
IT'S OFTEN DOWN TO A THROW OF THE DICE
The Cricket Paper

IT'S OFTEN DOWN TO A THROW OF THE DICE

Garfield Robinson explains just how big a part luck plays in determining success or failure in sport

time-read
6 mins  |
October 04, 2020
FINDING TALENTS LIKE TOM IS A GAIN IN ITSELF
The Cricket Paper

FINDING TALENTS LIKE TOM IS A GAIN IN ITSELF

One of the unexpected highlights to emerge from English cricket’s Covid-attenuated season was the chance given to young players to strut their stuff. With many overseas players and Kolpaks affected by travel restrictions many counties looked instead to the young talent on their staffs with gratifying results.

time-read
5 mins  |
October 04, 2020
Future looks bright for the Ohio Slinger
The Cricket Paper

Future looks bright for the Ohio Slinger

ALI Khan is earning his stars and stripes in the Indian Premier League, with the first American to play in the tournament breaking down barriers in every sense.

time-read
3 mins  |
October 04, 2020
Spin trio put squeeze on after Glenn shows off skill with the bat
The Cricket Paper

Spin trio put squeeze on after Glenn shows off skill with the bat

SARAH GLENN helped England spin it to win it after proving she can make an all-round contribution.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 27, 2020