Babar Azam Vs Prabath Jayasuriya:
Innings – 7.
Out – 6.
Runs – 172.
Average – 28.7.
This is one of the stats that highlights what Prabath Jayasuriya has done in his short test career of 8 matches so far.
Having to deal with some fitness issues like failing the skinfold test in April 2021 against Bangladesh and unable to start his test journey 2 years back, even after a decent first class record of 263 wickets in 65 matches at an average of 25.04, he finally got his due a year later.
He was finally included in the final test against Australia on 8 June, 2022 as other spinner Jayawickrama was diagnosed with Covid 19, and other spinner Lasith Embuldeniya was dropped due to poor form.
On his debut, he took a five wicket haul, with figures of 6/118, that too against Australia, Prabath Jayasuriya finally had all the hard work paid for him. With another five wicket haul in the second innings, he finished with 12 for 177, best bowling figure for a Srilankan on debut.
In the next series against Pakistan, he took another 5 wicket haul, making him only the third bowler to take 3 5 wicket haul in the first 3 innings of test. Much like a hatrick in test cricket.
With 57 wickets in just 8 matches with six 5 wicket hauls and 2 10 wickets haul, considering both test of the innings, means he has been taking more than 7 wickets on average in each test. Not bad at all.
Talking about his action, there isn’t much run-up but a steady tall body and nice smooth action much like Rangana Herath, who holds the record for most wickets by a left arm spinner, with 433 scalps to his name.
With such a start, the 31 year old Prabath Jayasuriya as of now is Srilanka’s go to spinner in test cricket and with kind of action he has, he is certainly is long race horse.
With just 2 ODIs under his belt, it would be interesting if he will be included in the familiar Asian conditions for the World Cup 2023.
Well, with such a nice action, he is one of the best left arm spinner at present and he should at least be in the World Cup squad and should play against associate nations to give him the confidence, that he also belongs in the limited overs cricket.
