“Prabath Jayasuriya Will Do Well For Sri Lanka Going Forward”- Mahela Jayawardena Praises The Left-Arm Spinner
Published - 12 Aug 2022, 06:33 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:11 AM
Prabath Jayasuriya, the left-arm spinner has come in for some rich praises from former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardena. Jayasuriya has broken many records with an amazing first few Test matches for the Islanders despite a late start to his international cricketing career.
Jayasuriya made an impressive start to his Test career, taking three or more wickets in each innings of his Test career so far, and walked away with the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for July 2022.
He made his debut against Australia in Galle this year and picked 12/177, the best bowling figures by a Sri Lankan bowler on his Test debut. This made him the first spinner after Muttiah Muralitharan and Rangana Herath to take 12 or more wickets in a Test.
He continued his rich vein of form against Pakistan, taking 17 wickets in two Tests and helping Sri Lanka draw the series 1-1.
Selectors Have Put A Lot Of Faith In Him And He Has Delivered: Mahela Jayawardena On Prabath Jayasuriya
During a chat in the ICC review, Mahela Jayawardena was all praises for the experienced spinner, who has 29 wickets in three Tests so far, despite a late start to his Sri Lanka career.
“He has been around for a while. He’s been playing a lot of first-class cricket, had a lot of experience under his belt. He just hasn’t had the opportunity. Obviously, Rangana Herath has been dominating for a decade or so. And after that, Sri Lanka did go in different routes, with a couple of young guys. So, he had to wait for his opportunity. Last few years, he has been really consistent, Prabath, and the selectors have put a lot of faith in him and he has delivered,” Jayawardena said.
Jayawardena believes that Sri Lanka will benefit from having him around for the next few years, even while playing outside Sri Lanka.
“He can get better because he is a natural bowler, he has played a lot of cricket, understands the game. Having seen him closely at SSC, where he plays his domestic cricket, he’s got a very good action, good rotation and he is very accurate, so even away from home, if he can control that length and line, with his height as well he will get bounce. So I’m pretty sure that he will do well for Sri Lanka going forward,” he added.
