Sri Lanka's next Test match won't be until August 1999 when Australia are due here for a three-Test series. Thus, it is the appropriate moment to take stock of the country's performance at the highest level of the game.
Nineteen ninety-eight will always go down as Muthiah Muralitharan's year. It was his skillful bowling however unorthodox it may be, that brought his country so many wins in one year. The master spinner captured the international headlines while Australia's Shane Warne was recuperating from surgery to his bowling arm.
Muralitharan 16 wickets which included nine in one innings against England in the one-off Test at the Oval, saw Sri Lanka record a ten-wicket victory culminating a highly successful season of Test cricket for them.
Never in their history as a Test nation has Sri Lanka enjoyed so much success in one calendar year. The most number of Test wins they had prior to 1998, was three out of seven matches in 1995 (see table on Sri Lanka's performances in Test cricket).
Their success percentage of 62.50 for 1998 is only bettered marginally by their performance in 1996 when they won two out of three Tests for a percentage of 66.67.
Sri Lanka's victories in 1998 were over Zimbabwe (2) and New Zealand (2), both at home and England (1) away. They suffered defeats against South Africa (2) away and New Zealand (1) at home.
Ten of Sri Lanka's overall total of 14 wins, have come in the last four years. But their percentage success has been spoiled by their inability to win a single Test in 1997, when they played the most number of Tests for a year - 11.
It was in this year, that two of Sri Lanka's leading lights in batting Sanath Jayasuriya and Aravinda de Silva flourished with each of them scoring well over 1,000 runs. But unlike in the abbreviated game, where batting wins most of the matches, their performances failed to produce a single winning result with eight matches ending in draws (Sri Lanka's highest for a calendar year) and three losses.
Sri Lanka suffered their worst number of defeats in 1994, when they lost five out of eight Tests and drew the other three.
That Sri Lanka have been able to record five victories in 1998, is largely due to the exploits of their champion off-spinner Muralitharan, whose 68 wickets (avg. 18.50) from eight Tests makes him currently the leading wicket-taker for the year. How much Sri Lanka rely on him for success can be guaged by glancing at the contributions the rest of the bowlers have made during the year. Twelve other bowlers have taken a total of 76 wickets amongst them, the highest of which is Muralitharan's club-mate Niroshan Bandaratilake, whose 16 wickets came in the three Tests against New Zealand at home.
Muralitharan's figures are likely to be overtaken by South African's Allan Donald (66 wickets) and Shaun Pollock (47) each of whom have three Tests against West Indies before the year end, and England's Angus Fraser (56), who has three further Tests against Australia.
Nevertheless, the old idiom that bowlers win matches has no doubt been proved by Muralitharan's extraordinary performance for the year. He has been Sri Lanka's leading wicket-taker for each calendar year since 1993 (see table on Sri Lanka's leading bowlers by the calendar year). The only exception was in 1995, when fast bowler Chaminda Vaas took the most wickets with 32.
Vice-captain Aravinda de Silva continued to be the most consistent batsman produced by Sri Lankan when he finished as the leading run-getter for a calendar year for the fifth time (see table on Sri Lanka's leading batsmen by the calendar year). De Silva aggregated 682 runs from eight Tests for 1998, which followed his 1220 runs the previous year when he equalled West Indian Vivian Richards' world record for the most number of Test centuries in one calendar year with seven. Left-handed opener Sanath Jayasuriya edged De Silva out as the leading run-getter that year with 1271 runs which included a monumental knock of 340 against India at the R. Premadasa Stadium the highest by a Sri Lankan in Test cricket.
One-Day Internationals
In the abbreviated game, the fall in batting form of Jayasuriya and De Silva had an adverse effect on the results obtained by Sri Lanka. Each having crossed the 1,000-run mark last year, they had moderate performances by their high standards scoring just 600-plus runs for very low averages and strike rates.
Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga and Marvan Atapattu are the leading run-getters for 1998, each going over the 700-run mark and averaging plus.
Although Muralitharan has taken the most wickets - 32, he has been upstaged in the bowling averages by his leg-spinning club colleague Upul Chandana, whose 21 wickets cost only 22.14 runs apiece.
The most encouraging aspect of the bowling is the return of Nuwan Zoysa and Chaminda Vaas from injuries, and the return to form of the experienced Pramodya Wickremasinghe. Newcomer Suresh Perera, although finishing with an average of 28.87, was expensive in his economy rate which is over five runs an over.
Left-armer Jayasuriya, who is Sri Lanka's leading wicket-taker in one-day cricket, and Kumara Dharmasena both had moderate seasons. Sri Lanka also suffered by the loss of form of another left-arm bowler Sajeeva de Silva, whom we understand is making a strong bid to comeback ironing out his falts under the watchful eyes of former Sri Lanka fast bowler Rumesh Ratnayake.
Sri Lanka Individual Performances In Tests - 1998
Batting & Fielding
T I NO HS Runs Avg 100s 50s Ct St Ducks
P A de Silva 8 14 2 152 682 56.83 2 3 5 0 0
D P M Jayewardene 4 6 0 167 309 51.50 1 2 7 0 0
A Ranatunga 8 13 1 87* 515 42.91 0 5 2 0 1
M S Atapattu 8 15 2 223 555 42.69 1 2 4 0 2
S T Jayasuriya 8 15 1 213 511 36.50 1 3 12 0 2
R S Kaluwitharana 8 13 0 88 406 31.23 0 3 16 8 1
H P Tillekeratne 7 11 0 55 234 21.27 0 1 10 0 3
W P U J C Vaas 3 3 0 30 56 18.66 0 0 0 0 1
M Muralitharan 8 12 4 30 147 18.37 0 0 5 0 1
G P Wickremasinghe 6 10 1 51 156 17.33 0 1 1 0 3
R S Mahanama 3 6 0 50 85 14.16 0 1 6 0 3
H D P K Dharmasena 3 4 0 13 47 11.75 0 0 0 0 0
R S Kalpage 1 2 0 16 22 11.00 0 0 3 0 0
M R C N Bandaratilake 3 5 0 20 52 10.40 0 0 0 0 0
K R Pushpakumara 4 6 4 9* 16 8.00 0 0 2 0 0
D N T Zoysa 1 2 0 14 14 7.00 0 0 0 0 1
S A Perera 1 1 1 43* 43 -- -- 0 0 0 0 0
S D Anurasiri 1 1 1 3* 3 -- -- 0 0 1 0 0
C M Bandara 1 2 1 0* 0 -- -- 0 0 1 0 1
K J Silva 1 (did not bat - no catches)
*Signifies Not Out
Bowling
O M R W Best Avg 5wI 10wM St/Rt
M Muralitharan 550.2 162 1258 68 9/65 18 50 7 2 48.55
K J Silva 30.4 11 62 3 3/27 20 66 0 0 61.33
M R C N Bandaratilake 160 44 338 16 5/36 21 12 1 0 60.00
H D P K Dharmasena 95.4 26 204 8 6/72 25 50 1 0 71.75
S D Anurasiri 46 14 106 4 3/65 26 50 0 0 69.00
W P U J C Vaas 85 13 252 8 2/35 31 50 0 0 63.75
G P Wickremasinghe 134.1 23 353 10 3/75 35 30 0 0 80.50
P A de Silva 104.2 25 258 7 3/30 36 85 0 0 89.42
S T Jayasuriya 167 41 395 10 2/10 39 50 0 0 100.20
D N T Zoysa 14 2 40 1 1/29 40 00 0 0 84.00
R S Kalpage 31 6 100 2 2/49 50 00 0 0 93.00
K R Pushpakumara 113.2 18 382 6 2/43 63 66 0 0 113.33
S A Perera 51 12 126 1 1/104 126 00 0 0 306.00
M S Atapattu 2 0 8 0 - -- -- 0 0 -- --
C M Bandara 21 3 79 0 - -- -- 0 0 -- --
D P M Jayewardene 5 0 15 0 - -- -- 0 0 -- --
Results Of Test Matches For 1998
1 Beat Zimbabwe by 8 wickets (Kandy)
2 Beat Zimbabwe by 5 wickets (SSC)
3 Lost to South Africa by 70 runs (Cape Town)
4 Lost to South Africa by 6 wickets (Centurion)
5 Lost to New Zealand by 167 runs (Premadasa Stadium)
6 Beat New Zealand by inns & 16 runs (Galle)
7 Beat New Zealand by 164 runs (SSC)
8 Beat England by 10 wickets (Oval)
Sri Lanka's Performances In Test Cricket By The Calendar Year
Season P W L D %Success
1982 5 0 3 2 20.00%
1983 3 0 3 0 00.00%
1984 4 0 2 2 25.00%
1985 6 1 2 3 41.66%
1986 5 1 2 2 40.00%
1987 2 0 1 1 25.00%
1988 2 0 2 0 00.00%
1989 2 0 1 1 25.00%
1990 1 0 1 0 00.00%
1991 6 0 1 5 41.66%
1992 6 1 2 3 41.66%
1993 8 1 2 5 43.75%
1994 8 0 5 3 18.75%
1995 7 3 3 1 50.00%
1996 3 2 1 0 66.67%
1997 11 0 3 8 36.36%
1998 8 5 3 0 62.50%
Total 87 14 37 36 36.78%
Leading Batsmen For Sri Lanka By The Calendar Year 1982-1998
Season Batsmen T I NO HS Runs Avg 100s 50s
1982 R L Dias 5 10 0 109 529 52.90 1 5
1983 S Wettimuny 3 6 1 96 183 36.60 0 2
1984 S Wetimuny 4 8 0 190 305 38.12 1 1
1985 P A de Silva 6 11 1 122 418 41.80 2 1
1986 A Ranatunga 5 8 1 135* 432 61.71 1 4
1987 D S B P Kuruppu 1 1 1 201* 201 -- -- 1 0
1988 A Ranatunga 2 4 0 78 183 45.75 0 2
1989 P A de Silva 2 3 0 167 314 104.66 1 2
1990 H P Tillekeratne 1 2 0 55 55 27.50 0 1
1991 P A de Silva 6 9 0 267 603 67.00 2 1
1992 R S Mahanama 6 10 0 153 607 60.70 2 4
1993 P A de Silva 8 14 1 148 656 50.46 1 5
1994 H P Tillekeratne 8 14 2 116 446 37.16 1 2
1995 H P Tillekeratne 7 14 1 119 685 52.69 3 2
1996 S T Jayasuriya 3 5 1 112 219 54.75 1 0
1997 S T Jayasuriya 11 19 0 340 1271 66.89 3 7
P A de Silva 11 19 3 168 1220 76.25 7 2
1998 P A de Silva 8 14 2 152 682 56.83 2 3
Leading Bowlers For Sri Lanka By The Calendar Year 1982-1998
Season Bowlers T O M R W Best Avg 5wI 10wM St/Rt
1982 D S de Silva 5 252.5 41 775 23 5/59 33.69 1 0 65.95
A L F de Mel 5 192.3 22 792 23 5/68 34.43 1 0 50.21
1983 V B John 2 45.2 13 143 8 5/60 17.87 1 0 34.00
1984 V B John 4 168.1 40 471 20 5/86 23.55 1 0 50.45
1985 R J Ratnayake 6 237.5 43 734 26 6/85 28.33 2 0 54.88
1986 J R Ratnayeke 5 139.5 20 429 15 5/37 28.60 1 0 55.93
1987 J R Ratnayeke 2 64.3 9 196 7 5/85 28.00 1 0 55.28
1988 J R Ratnayeke 2 79 10 221 6 4/98 36.83 0 0 79.00
G F Labrooy 2 85 12 251 6 4/119 41.83 0 0 85.00
1989 R J Ratnayake 1 54.4 7 189 8 6/66 23.62 1 0 41.00
1990 R J Ratnayake 1 21.5 3 60 3 3/60 20.00 0 0 43.66
A W R Madurasinghe 1 26 6 60 3 3/60 20.00 0 0 52.00
K P J Warnaweera 1 46 17 90 3 3/90 30.00 0 0 92.00
1991 R J Ratnayake 6 257 42 719 20 5/69 35.95 2 0 77.10
1992 H C P Ramanayake4 185.4 36 518 20 5/82 25.90 1 0 55.70
1993 M Muralitharan 7 298.1 78 712 29 5/101 24.55 2 0 61.68
1994 M Muralitharan 6 277.2 55 753 16 5/162 47.06 1 0 104.00
1995 W P U J C Vaas 7 256.2 56 652 32 6/87 20.37 4 1 48.06
1996 M Muralitharan 2 105.3 27 195 14 5/33 13.92 1 0 45.21
1997 M Muralitharan 9 502 138 1266 40 6/98 31.65 3 0 75.30
1998 M Muralitharan 8 550.2 162 1258 68 9/65 18.50 7 2 48.55
Sri Lanka Individual Performances In One-Day Internationals 1998
Batting
M I NO HS Runs Avg 100s 50s St/Rt Ducks
A Ranatunga 22 22 4 102 794 44.11 1 6 75.18 2
M S Atapattu 20 20 3 132* 744 43.76 1 5 72.37 1
R S Kalpage 1 1 0 37 37 37.00 0 0 74.00 0
P A de Silva 22 22 0 105 694 31.54 1 5 74.78 3
S T Jayasuriya 23 23 0 102 661 28.73 1 4 83.67 3
R S Mahanama 18 16 2 52 329 23.50 0 2 69.70 2
H D P K Dharmasena 23 16 7 39 211 23.44 0 0 51.46 0
U U Chandana 15 12 4 27* 186 23.25 0 0 87.73 0
R S Kaluwitharana 23 23 1 68 479 21.77 0 3 84.18 2
D P M Jayewardene 7 7 2 74 98 19.60 0 1 73.68 1
S A Perera 6 2 1 17 17 17.00 0 0 62.96 0
D A Gunawardana 5 5 0 52 65 13.00 0 0 83.33 2
T T Samaraweera 4 3 0 20 36 12.00 0 0 41.37 1
U C Hathurusingha 2 2 0 14 21 10.50 0 0 56 75 0
M Muralitharan 18 8 4 18 40 10.00 0 0 78 43 2
W P U C J Vaas 12 8 1 19 69 9.85 0 0 84 14 0
D N T Zoysa 4 2 1 4 6 6.00 0 0 42 85 0
G P Wickremasinghe 13 9 1 18 43 5.37 0 0 53 75 3
M N Nawaz 1 1 0 5 5 5.00 0 0 20 83 0
R P Arnold 2 1 0 3 3 3.00 0 0 14 28 0
H P Tillekeratne 2 2 2 72* 82 -- -- 0 1 92 13 0
C N Bandaratilake 3 1 0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 -- -- 1
K S C de Silva 2 1 1 0* 0 -- -- 0 0 -- -- 0
K R Pushpakumara 5 1 0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 -- -- 1
* Signifies Not Out
Bowling
O M R W Best Avg 5wI Ec/Rt
U U Chandana 93.5 2 465 21 4/31 22.14 0 4.95
M Muralitharan 169.5 5 729 32 5/23 22.78 2 4.29
D N T Zoysa 30 0 136 5 2/34 27.20 0 4.53
S A Perera 45.3 0 231 8 2/25 28.87 0 5.07
G P Wickremasinghe 85.5 5 382 13 3/20 29.38 0 4.45
W P U C J Vaas 94.5 3 410 13 3/33 31.53 0 4.32
R S Kalpage 10 1 34 1 1/34 34.00 0 3.40
P A de Silva 46 0 245 7 4/45 35.00 0 5.32
S T Jayasuriya 161.4 0 806 22 4/18 36.63 0 4.98
H D P K Dharmasena 202.4 3 914 24 3/31 38.08 0 4.51
K R Pushpakumara 36 3 192 5 2/30 38.40 0 5.33
C N Bandaratilake 24 0 112 2 2/35 56.00 0 4.66
K S C de Silva 12 0 80 1 1/41 80.00 0 6.66
T T Samaraweera 38 0 171 2 1/35 85.50 0 4.50
D P M Jayewardene 3 0 17 0 - -- -- 0 5.66
U C Hathurusingha 9 1 56 0 - -- -- 0 6.22