Akila Dananjaya: News

Sri Lanka has a history of producing unconventional spinners, and Akila Dananjaya is the latest installment on that list. Dananjaya has had a peculiar career when compared to others. During his stint as a net bowler for the Sri Lankan team, he impressed Mahela Jayawardene with his impressive control. At Jayawardene's request, he was fast-tracked to the national team without playing a single first-class match. However, after Jayawardene stepped out of the captaincy, Dananjaya found it hard to stay on the right side of the selectors. After a long absence from international cricket, Dananjaya was back in the national team fold in 2017. In 2018, six years after his T20I and ODI debuts, he made his Test debut. In his first Test match, he grabbed eight wickets and became only the second Sri Lankan to do so. His bowling figure of 8/44 is the best on debut by a Sri Lankan. In 2018, he was suspended by ICC for suspected illegal bowling action. He was later cleared by ICC in 2019. He was suspended the same year again for 12 months and was finally cleared to bowl in international games in 2021.

Best match figures by Sri Lankan bowlers on Test debut

Debutant off-spinner Nishan Peiris was instrumental to Sri Lanka's innings win over New Zealand in the final Test in Galle.

05 Aug 2024

India vs Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan spinners with 6-fers or more versus India (ODIs) 

Sri Lankan leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay put up a stellar show against India in the 2nd ODI in Colombo.

SL's Nuwan Thushara joins elite list with hat-trick versus Bangladesh

Sri Lanka's fast-bowling sensation Nuwan Thushara scripted history with a majestic hat-trick in the third and final T20I against Bangladesh in Sylhet.

SL beat WI in 2nd T20I, level series: Records broken

The all-round heroics of Wanindu Hasaranga helped Sri Lanka win the 2nd T20I against West Indies.

1st T20I; WI beat SL despite Dananjaya's hat-trick: Records broken

West Indies defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets in the first T20I at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua.

In-form Lankan spinner Dananjaya to get his action assessed

Sri Lankan spinner Akila Dananjaya, who picked a flurry of wickets in the second Test against England, is set to miss the third and final match of the series.