Suranga Lakmal


Ranasinghe Arachchige Suranga Lakmal, commonly Suranga Lakmal, is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer, who plays in all formats of the game and is a former Test cricket captain. He is a right-arm fast bowler and right-handed batsman. He started his cricket life in Debarawewa National School, Tissamaharama. He was first included in the national squad for the tour of Pakistan in 2008-2009 and was reported to have been injured in the attack on the Sri Lankan team by terrorists.
He currently plays for the Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club. He was an important member of 2014 ICC World Twenty20 winning team.

Early and domestic career

Born in Hamabanthota district, Lakmal started his cricket career at his first school, Deberawewa Central College, in Hambanthota. He then attended Richmond College, Galle and played his senior school cricket at Richmond College.
In March 2018, he was named the captain of Galle's squad for the 2017–18 Super Four Provincial Tournament. The following month, he was also named in Galle's squad for the 2018 Super Provincial One Day Tournament.
In August 2018, he was named as the captain of Galle's squad the 2018 SLC T20 League. In March 2019, he was named in Colombo's squad for the 2019 Super Provincial One Day Tournament.

International career

Early days

Lakmal was called up as a replacement for Dilhara Fernando in India in December 2009 and he made his ODI debut in the second match in Nagpur, where he bowled eight wicketless overs for 58 runs before Sri Lanka won by three wickets. He made his Test debut on November 23, 2010 against the West Indies in the second Test match played at the R. Premadasa Stadium, becoming the 114th Sri Lankan Test player.
By dismissing Chris Gayle of West Indies, Lakmal became the third bowler to take a wicket with the first ball bowled in a test match at a new venue, joining Kapil Dev of India and Imran Khan of Pakistan, which was held at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
Lakmal is also the first cricketer from Hambantota District to represent the national cricket team of Sri Lanka.

Become strike bowler in team

During first Test against South Africa, Lakmal bagged his maiden five-wicket haul, becoming the second Sri Lankan pacer Chanaka Welagedara to take a fifer against South Africa in South Africa. However, Sri Lanka lost the match by 206 runs. Though Sri Lanka lost all three Test matches, Lakmal showed best bowling figures throughout the series. He is the highest wicket-taker for Sri Lanka in the series with 12 wickets at an average of 30.83.
On 10 December 2017, in the first ODI against India, Lakmal used swinging and seaming bowling performance to rip through Indian batting line-up to restrict them to 112, which is India's third-lowest in ODIs at home and their lowest at home when batting first. At one stage, India were seven down for just 29 runs, until MS Dhoni scored his fifty to reach total over hundred. Lakmal finished his bowling spell with four wickets for 13 runs, which is best bowling figures in ODIs up to date. Sri Lanka reached the mark in twentieth over and won the match by 7 wickets. This win gave Lankans their first win after 12 consecutive ODI losses in 2017. Lakmal adjudged man of the match for his match winning bowling performance.
During the Bangladesh Tri-series, Lakmal played as the spearhead of Sri Lanka bowling line-up where his counterparts always struggled with injuries. On 25 January 2018 against Bangladesh, Lakmal delivered a match winning bowling performance to dismantle Bangladesh to 82 runs, which is their second lowest against Sri Lanka in all ODIs. Sri Lanka won the match by 10 wickets and Lakmal has awarded man of the match. With that win, Sri Lanka reached the final of the tri-series as well.
On 8 February 2018 during second Test against Bangladesh, Lakmal took his 100th Test wicket by dismissing Tamim Iqbal caught by himself. He became the fourth Sri Lankan fast bowler to achieve the feat after Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga and Dilhara Fernando. Lakmal is currently the fourth highest Test wicket taker for Sri Lanka.

Captaincy

In May 2018, he was one of 33 cricketers to be awarded a national contract by Sri Lanka Cricket ahead of the 2018–19 season.
The following month, he was named the captain of Sri Lanka's Test side, for the third and final match against the West Indies, after Dinesh Chandimal was handed a one-match ban for ball tampering. He became the 16th player to captain Sri Lanka in a Test match. Sri Lanka won the match and became the first Asian team to win a Test match at Kensington Oval.
On 11 July 2018, ICC concluded its hearing on the ball tampering issue and violence of code of conduct by regular captain Dinesh Chandimal, who had pleaded guilty to a level three spirit of cricket offence. Chandimal, coach and team manager's hearing took place before the start of the first Test against South Africa, with them found guilty. Chandimal received a two-match ban, with Lakmal captaining the side in his place. Under his captaincy, Sri Lanka won the first match by 278 runs, and ended the match within three days. Sri Lanka comprehensively won the second Test and won the series 2-0 under Lakmal's captaincy.

Post captaincy

On 1 August 2018, Lakmal took his 100th ODI wicket by dismissing David Miller during the second ODI against South Africa. He became the 10th Sri Lankan fast bowler to achieve the milestone.
On 8 August 2018, Lakmal defended seven runs off the final over to cap off Sri Lanka to end an 11-match losing streak against South Africa. Sri Lankan batsmen scored 300+ runs in rain affected 39-over match. South Africa's target was reduced to 191 runs off 21 overs, where they required 69 runs off the last 10 overs with seven wickets in hand. Sri Lanka finally won the match by 3 runs in D/L method.
During first test at Gabba against Australia, Lakmal took his third five-wicket haul. He finished with 5 for 75, though Sri Lanka lost the match by an innings margin. However, he suffering from a stiff back during the practices ahead of second Test and did not play the match.
In April 2019, he was named in Sri Lanka's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup. He had a fair World Cup campaign and Sri Lanka finished the tournament as sixth in the table.
In December 2019, Lakmal was ruled out of the team due to dengue fever. Therefore he was unable to travel with the Test team to Pakistan for two-match series. In January 2020, Lakmal was recalled into the test squad for the series against Zimbabwe. He was the spearhead of the Sri Lankan attack, where he took 3 for 53 in first innings and then 4 for 27 in the second innings. Finally Sri Lanka won the match by 10 wickets.

Awards