Late-Bloomer Herath Not Overly Excited About 100 Tests

If all goes well, left-arm spinner Rangana Herath will play his 100th Test match later this year. However, the veteran, who will turn 40 next month, is not overly excited. Herath, who returned to his native Kurunegala on Wednesday to a hero’s welcome after overtaking Wasim Akram’s tally for most wickets by a left-armer, has so far featured in 89 Test matches.

Sri Lanka will travel to West Indies for a three-Test series in May and then host South Africa and England before touring New Zealand later this year. Herath is expected to complete the milestone in New Zealand.

Only five Sri Lankans have featured in 100 Tests so far and it will be a huge moment for Herath given the fact that he played only 14 Test matches in his first decade as a Test cricketer. Herath made his Test debut in 1999 but until 2009 opportunities were few and rare for him due to the presence of Muttiah Muralitharan. But since Murali retired in 2010, Herath has held his own.

“I am not looking at that far (100 Tests) to be honest. Having said that, it will be great if I can play 100 Tests, but the thing is when you set targets your commitments become too much. First, let’s finish off the West Indies series and then let’s take a call,” Herath told Cricbuzz.

“I am completely focused on playing Test cricket and contributing to the team. My only worry is that to play in the team, you have got to perform. That’s the number one criteria to remain in the side. Then the other important thing is that I have to maintain my fitness,” Herath added.

There’s no question about Herath’s place in the side. He is adored by all players and coaching staff for the contributions he makes. In October, with just 136 runs to defend, he turned the Abu Dhabi Test against Pakistan on its head, picking up six wickets in the second innings. Although his returns weren’t too impressive against a Bangladesh side packed with left-handed batsmen, his four-wicket haul in the second innings in the second Test in Dhaka helped him overtake Wasim Akram’s tally of 414 wickets.

However, Herath, who has gone through multiple surgeries on both knees, has been recently troubled by a back pain and hasn’t been able to play all games of three-Test series. “I don’t know whether you noticed, but I have lost a bit of weight and I do feel the difference. The back is not troubling anymore. I was told to take an injection before going to Bangladesh. I had to miss the third Test against India in Delhi due to back stiffness. We took some MRI scan and it was recommended to take an injection. I took a break from training and when I returned the stiffness had gone. Hopefully, it will not come back,” Herath noted.

If the back trouble resurfaces, his 100th Test could be delayed or might not happen at all. “It is exciting I know that I could feature in 100 Tests by the end of the year, but we will take a look at the workload ahead of every series and then will see what happens. I am very pleased with whatever I have achieved. Let’s not look too ahead of ourselves.”

For the next few days, Herath will be attending a few functions to celebrate becoming the most successful left-arm bowler in the history of the game. “Very satisfying about the milestone especially when it comes when the team is winning. Even when I took 400 Test wickets in UAE we won the series. I am thankful to everyone. My family, friends, coaches, players, SLC and my employers Sampath Bank.”

Herath also credited Head Coach Chandika Hathurusingha for helping the team to turn things around after a disappointing 2017 during which Sri Lankan cricket hit new lows. “I have known him for 20 years now,” Herath said about Hathurusingha. “I played with him at Moors SC and Sampath Bank. We go a long way. He was my coach at the ‘A’ team as well. The best thing about his coaching is the knowledge he has about the game. He reads the game very well and then he is able to share the information he has with us in a simplified manner. He is very good at creating a good team environment and then his planning is so good. It is up to us to execute those plans and when we don’t, he gives us other options as well. He is a terrific coach.”

Courtesy : cricbuzz