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Sri Lanka in Test cricket: 17 interesting records, trivia and facts

Updated on: 17 February,2018 03:00 PM IST  | 
mid-day online correspondent |

On this day in 1982, Sri Lanka finally entered the world of cricket when they officially became a Test playing nation. Today, we give you some trivia, records and accomplishments by Sri Lanka in the longest format of the game

Sri Lanka in Test cricket: 17 interesting records, trivia and facts

Sangakkara, Muralitharan

Muttiah Muralitharan
Muttiah Muralitharan. Pic/ AFP


On this day in 1982, Sri Lanka finally entered the world of cricket when they officially became a Test playing nation. Today, we give you some trivia, records and accomplishments by Sri Lanka in the longest format of the game.


  • Sri Lanka have the record of the highest score in Tests with 952/6 (decl) against India. The record is still unbeaten after almost 19 years.

  • Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama posted the highest partnership in Test with 576 on board. It was later broken 9 years later, by their own teammates Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene when they scored 624 runs.

  • Sidath Wettimuny became the first Sri Lankan cricketer in history to score a Test century when he scored 157 during their match against Pakistan in 1981-82. Sidath scored 71 runs in the first innings. 

  • Sri Lanka won their first ever Test match in 1985 by defeating India by 149 runs in Colombo. 

  • Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene are the most successful captains with both winning 18 of the 38 Tests captained.
     
  • Muttiah Muralitharan is the overall highest wicket taker with 800 wickets.

  • Muralitharan also has the best bowling figures in an innings by a Lankan with 9/51 vs Zimbabwe.

  • Muralitharan has also take the most fifers in an innings by a Sri Lankan with 67.

  • Kumar Sangakkara is the SL's leading run scorer and fifth overall run scorer with 12, 400 runs.


Kumar Sangakkara Kumar Sangakkara. Pic/ AFP

  • Kumar Sangakkara is also the fastest Sri Lankan and third overall to 10,000 runs.

  • Sangakkara has hit the most Test hundreds by an SL cricketer and fourth overall with 38 tons.

  • Sangakkara also has the highest average by an SL batsman with 57.40.

  • The highest individual score by a Sri Lankan is by Mahela Jayawardene who scored 374 vs South Africa.

  • Muralitharan is the fastest Sri Lankan to claim 100 wickets.

  • Roy Dias is the fastest Sri Lankan to reach 1,000 runs.

  • Bandula Warnapura was the appointed the first ever Sri Lankan Test captain.


Bandula
Bandula Warnapura. pic/ Midday archives 

  • Jayawardene has taken the most dismissals by a Sri Lankan with 156.

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