The upcoming three-match Test series between England and Sri Lanka, starting on August 21 in Manchester, adds to their rivalry. England leads with 17 wins in 36 matches, while Sri Lanka has 8, with 11 draws.
Sri Lanka aims to improve their record, and England seeks to maintain dominance. As the ENG vs SL 2024 series nears, let’s look at the top five bowling performances in their Test history.
5. James Anderson (England) – 6/40, 2021
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James Anderson
During the 2021 Galle Test on England’s tour of Sri Lanka, England secured a six-wicket win over the hosts thanks to standout performances from James Anderson and Joe Root.
Anderson was exceptional with the ball, taking 6 wickets for just 40 runs in Sri Lanka’s first innings. His brilliant seam bowling kept Sri Lanka’s total to 381, even though they had started strongly.
England, chasing a tough target, managed to score 344, thanks mainly to Joe Root’s impressive 186. Sri Lanka then collapsed in their second innings, making only 126 and setting England a target of 164. Dom Sibley’s unbeaten 56 and Jos Buttler’s quick 46 guided England to a comfortable win.
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4. Ragana Herath (Sri Lanka) – 6/74, 2012
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Rangana Herath
In the 2012 Test match held in Galle, Rangana Herath played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s 75-run victory over England. Sri Lanka began strong with a first-innings total of 318, largely thanks to captain Mahela Jayawardene’s outstanding 180.
England, in response, managed only 193 runs, with Herath’s impressive performance of 6 wickets for 74 runs being a key factor.
In their second innings, Sri Lanka scored 214, setting England a challenging target of 340 runs. Herath’s dominance continued as he claimed another 6 wickets for 97 runs, leaving England with a final total of 264.
3. Phil DeFreitas (England) 7/70, 1991
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Phil DeFreitas
In the 1991 Test at Lord’s between England and Sri Lanka, Phil DeFreitas played a pivotal role with his exceptional bowling performance, which greatly contributed to England’s win.
England posted a solid first innings total of 282, led by Alec Stewart’s unbeaten 113. Sri Lanka replied with 224, with Chandika Hathurusinghe making 66, while Phil DeFreitas excelled with the ball, claiming 7 wickets.
In their second innings, England declared at 364/3, with Graham Gooch scoring an impressive 174. Sri Lanka, in pursuit of 423, was dismissed for 285 despite Sanath Jayasuriya’s determined 66, as Phil Tufnell took 5 wickets, ensuring a 137-run victory for England.
2. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) – 8/70, 2006
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Muttiah Muralitharan
In the 3rd Test at Nottingham in 2006, Sri Lanka secured a notable 134-run victory over England. In their first innings, Sri Lanka scored 231, with crucial runs coming from the lower order.
England’s reply fell short at 229, despite a strong bowling effort spearheaded by Muttiah Muralitharan. Sri Lanka’s batsmen improved in their second innings, amassing 322 runs, thanks to significant contributions from Kumar Sangakkara and Chamara Kapugedera.
England’s chase of 325 runs ended at 190, primarily due to Muralitharan’s exceptional performance, as he took eight wickets in the innings, ensuring Sri Lanka’s win by 134 runs.
1. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) – 9/65, 1998
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Muttiah Muralitharan
In the 1998 Test match at The Oval, Sri Lanka outclassed England, winning by 10 wickets. England set a target of 445 runs, thanks to strong innings from Graeme Hick and John Crawley, despite Muttiah Muralitharan taking seven wickets.
Sri Lanka responded with a formidable 591 runs, featuring centuries from Sanath Jayasuriya and Aravinda de Silva. England’s second innings fell apart for just 181 runs, with Muralitharan claiming nine wickets.
With a small target of 36 runs to chase, Sri Lanka reached the goal without losing a wicket. Muralitharan’s exceptional performance, taking 16 wickets in total, was key to the victory and earned him the Player of the Match award.
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