The unsung allrounder
Sanath Jayasuriya is known more for his batting exploits, but he has become only the ninth bowler to take 300 ODI wickets
Sanath Jayasuriya became the ninth bowler to take 300 ODI wickets after his haul of 4 for 31 in the second ODI against Bangladesh. Jayasuriya - more known for his powerful shot-making ability than his left-arm slingers - is only the third Sri Lankan bowler to do so, after Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas.
Player | Matches | Wickets | Average | Economy rate |
---|
Wasim Akram | 356 | 502 | 23.52 | 3.89 |
Muttiah Muralitharan | 297 | 455 | 22.68 | 3.84 |
Waqar Younis | 262 | 416 | 23.84 | 4.68 |
Chaminda Vaas | 300 | 383 | 26.78 | 4.18 |
Glenn McGrath | 250 | 381 | 22.02 | 3.88 |
Shaun Pollock | 287 | 381 | 24.02 | 3.71 |
Anil Kumble | 271 | 337 | 30.89 | 4.30 |
Javagal Srinath | 229 | 315 | 28.08 | 4.44 |
Sanath Jayasuriya | 397 | 300 | 36.92 | 4.76 |
To add to his 300 wickets, Jayasuriya has also scored over 12,000 runs in ODIs, a feat matched by no other player. He's no slouch in the field either, having taken 114 catches in 397 matches. Other than Sachin Tendulkar, Jayasuriya is the only player to have completed the unique treble of 10,000 runs, 100 wickets and 100 catches. The fact that he is currently the highest-capped player in ODIs does come to Jayasuriya's aid, though.
At 38, Jayasuriya is the grand old man playing in the international circuit, with only Tendulkar having played longer. His crucial role for Sri Lanka with the ball is reflected in the fact that the team has won 22 of 30 matches when he has taken three wickets or more. His matchwinning ability with the bat is well known, with 22 of his 25 hundreds resulting in victory for his team.
Not only has Jayasuriya bowled his left-arm spin effectively in the middle overs, he has often done the job at the death too, where he has used all his experience to curb the runs and pick up crucial wickets.
Record | Overs | Runs conceded | Wickets | Runs per over | Average |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Overall | 757.1 | 3597 | 86 | 4.75 | 41.82 |
Last 10 overs | 133.2 | 821 | 30 | 6.15 | 27.36 |
Jayasuriya is also part of a unique allrounders club, and is one of three players having scored 5000 runs and taken 200 wickets in ODIs.
Player | Matches | Runs | Batting average | Wickets | Bowling average |
---|
Sanath Jayasuriya | 397 | 12108 | 32.90 | 300 | 36.92 |
Jacques Kallis | 261 | 9144 | 45.49 | 233 | 31.48 |
Shahid Afridi | 240 | 5072 | 23.37 | 204 | 35.25 |
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