Praveen Jayawickrama picked up 11 wickets in the second Test against Bangladesh in Pallekele and he became the first Sri Lanka bowler to take 10 wickets on debut.
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During the second Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at Pallekele, a 22-year-old left-arm spinner from Moratuwa was creating history. He had given Sri Lanka the edge with a six-wicket haul in the first innings. He followed it up with a fifer in the second innings to end with 11 wickets in his debut match. Praveen Jayawickrama was one of the stars in Sri Lanka’s win in the ICC World Test Championship clash. In the process, he created a new record.
Jayawickrama became the first Sri Lankan player to take a 10-wicket haul on Test debut. However, he matched the prowess of former India legpsinner Narendra Hirwani for one more record. Hirwani was the last bowler who had taken five-wicket hauls in both innings on debut. He achieved the feat against the West Indies in Chennai in 1988. 33 years later, Jayawickrama has matched the feat.
Apart from Jayawickrama and Hirwani, there are seven other bowlers who have taken five wickets in both innings of a Test match on debut. Bob Massie and Clarrie Grimmett of Australia, Kenneth Farnes, Charles Marriott and Thomas Richardson of England, Hophie Johnson of West Indies and Sydney Burke of South Africa are the others.
Jayawickrama made his first-class debut for Colts Cricket Club in the 2018/19 Premier League Tournament on 11 January 2019. Jayawaickrama was named in Sri Lanka’s squad for the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. The 22-year-old made his List A debut on 15 December 2019 for Moors Sports Club in the 2019/20 Invitation Limited Over Tournament. He made his Twenty20 debut in the SLC Twenty20 Tournament.
The left-arm spinner’s performances give Sri Lanka hope as they look to fill the massive void left by Rangana Herath’s retirement. Sri Lanka do not play many Tests in the coming months and one hopes Jayawickrama can sustain the consistency.
After the end of the two Tests, Sri Lanka will take on Bangladesh in three ODIs. The series was postponed twice due to the coronavirus.
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