Herath Mudiyanselage Rangana Keerthi Bandara Herath, commonly known as Rangana Herath born 19 March 1978, is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer, and a former Test captain for Sri Lanka. Considered as one of the greatest spin bowlers in the history of the game, Herath is a specialist left-arm bowler for Sri Lanka and holds the record of best bowling figures in Test matches by a left-arm spinner. On 11 March 2017, Herath surpassed 362 wickets by Daniel Vettori to become the greatest left-arm spinner wicket-taker in Test cricket history.
On 29 May 2016, Herath became the third Sri Lankan bowler to take 300 wickets in Test cricket history after Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas.[1] On 8 November 2016, Herath became only the third bowler in history to take five-wicket hauls against all Test-playing nations. He is the oldest player to reach 350 Test wickets.
On 23 October 2016, Herath was announced as captain for Sri Lanka tour to Zimbabwe. Angelo Mathews, the regular captain, was injured. With this he became the oldest Sri Lankan player to lead a Test team for the first time and from any country since Tom Graveney in 1968.
Early life and career
Born on 19 March 1978, in the small village of Waduwawa, Kurunegala, on the southeastern tip of the Northwestern Province as the second of the family. His elder brother is Deepthi Herath. He was also promoted to the opening batting in school times, and acted as a pacer, until his coach told him to start spin bowling due to height problem. Before starting professional career, Hearth was working at Sampath Bank as a clerk, when he met brother of Chandika Hathurusingha.
Herath started his cricket career at his first school Mayurapada Central College, Narammala. Later he moved to Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala. Having made his first class debut for Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club in 1996–97 cricket season, Rangana Herath currently represents Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club in Sri Lankan first class cricket. He represented Moors Sports Club from 1998/99 to 2009/10 in local first class cricket and also played for Surrey during the latter part of the 2009 English cricket season. In April 2010, Herath joined Hampshire, where he played in the first half of the 2010 County Championship.
Personal life
Herath is married to his longtime partner Senani Herath, and they have two sons.
Early career
Herath made his Test debut at Galle International Stadium, Sri Lanka against Australia in 1999. His One Day Internationaldebut came five years later in 2004, against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club. During the 2016 England series, Herath was ranked as 13th Test match bowler in the world, having hit the heights of second in the list in 2012.
Although Herath made his Test debut back in 1999, he never came to the prominence as a leading spinner until the retirement of Muralitharan. Herath made a successful comeback to Test cricket in 2009 against Pakistan and took over the mantle of Sri Lanka’s main spin bowler from Muralitharan. Former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene rated Herath as Sri Lanka’s number one bowler after the retirement of Muralitharan.
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