Prabath Jayasuriya owns these prestigious records in Test cricket
A fine spell from left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya powered Sri Lanka to a 63-run victory over New Zealand in the first Test in Galle. Jayasuriya's fifer meant NZ were out for 211, falling short of their target of 275. This was his eighth Test fifer, all coming in home matches. Here we look at the records he has scripted in Test cricket.
Best figures by a SL bowler on debut
Jayasuriya made his Test debut against Australia in 2022 and made an instant impact. He claimed six-fers across both innings as his match figures of 12/177 are the best for a Lankan bowler on debut, as per ESPNcricinfo. Overall, the bowler owns the fifth-best match figures on Test debut. India's Narendra Hirwani (16/136 vs WI, 1988) is the only spinner with better debut figures.
Fastest spinner to complete 50 Test wickets
Jayasuriya scripted history in April 2023 by becoming the fastest spinner to complete 50 Test wickets. He reached the milestone in just seven Tests. Overall, Jayasuriya is the joint second-quickest to 50 Test scalps as he shares the feat with England's Tom Richardson and South Africa's Vernon Philander. Australia's Charlie Turner holds the top spot, getting to the feat in six Tests.
Third-most Test fifers in Sri Lanka
As per ESPNcricinfo, Jayasuriya's tally of eight Test fifers is the third-most for any player on Sri Lankan soil. He is only behind legendary spinners Muttiah Muralitharan (45) and Rangana Herath (26) in this regard. Jayasuriya's best innings figures in home Tests read 7/52. So far, he has played only a couple of Tests in Sri Lanka without an innings five-wicket haul.
Most wickets by a spinner after 10 Tests
As per statistician Thurunu Jaysiri, Jayasuriya owns the most wickets by a spinner in their first 10 Test matches (67). Overall, he now owns the third-most wickets after the first 10 Test matches. He is behind the likes of England's Thomas Richardson, who claimed 71 wickets followed by Australia's Charles Turner who returned with 69 scalps.
