Best Sri Lankan Spin Bowlers In Tests Featured

Top 5 Sri Lankan Spin Bowlers In Tests Since 1950

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All Test Ratings on the website are from 01/01/1950 onwards (Know Why). They are updated till 2026-02-05. Brief explanation of the ratings is given before each section (Detailed Explanation) and at the end. So, here are the Top 5 Sri Lankan Spin bowlers in Test Cricket since 1950.

CONTENTS
1. THE CRITERIA
2. QUALIFICATION
3. PRIMARY CRITERIA
3.1. PROLIFIC
3.2. CONSISTENT
3.2.1. Against All Teams
3.2.2. Against Top Teams
3.3. ATTACKING
3.3.1. Against All Teams
3.3.2. Against Top Teams
3.4. BEST BOWLING (WKTS)
3.4.1. Against All Teams
3.4.2. Against Top Teams
3.5. PRIMARY RATING
4. CONDITIONS CRITERIA
4.1. HOME/AWAY
4.1.1. At Home
4.1.2. Away From Home
4.2. FAVOURABLE/UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS
4.2.1. Favourable Conditions Rating
4.2.1.1. Asians In Asia
4.2.2. Unfavourable Conditions Rating
4.2.2.1. Asians Outside Asia
4.3. CONDITIONS RATING
5. SECONDARY CRITERIA
5.1. WKTS/INN
5.2. TOP FORM
5.3. IMPACT INNINGS
5.4. SECONDARY RATING
6. OVERALL RATING
6.1. BRIEF EXPLANATION
6.1.1. Dynamic Nature
6.1.2. Trend Setter (TS)
6.1.3. Top Teams (TT)
6.1.4. Abbreviations
Nations Filter

The Nations Rating filters the OVERALL Rating to show players only from Sri Lanka.

  • The Rating of the players from Sri Lanka remains the same as in the original OVERALL Rating.
  • Thus the Trend Setter can be from any nation and is not necessarily from Sri Lanka.

THE CRITERIA

CRITERIA CONSTITUENTS
Primary Wickets, Average, Strike Rate, Top Inns
Conditions Home, Away, In Asia, Outside Asia
Secondary Wkts Per Inn, Top Form, Impact Inns

QUALIFICATION

Min Innings (TT) 25
Min Career Wkts 50

PRIMARY CRITERIA

CRITERIA STAT POINTS
Prolific Wickets Taken 250.00
Consistent Average 300.00
Attacking Strike Rate 300.00
Best Bowling Top Bowling Performances 150.00

PROLIFIC

The Eras

The time period from 1950 to present is divided into eras for this section. This is because less cricket was played earlier. To make it fair for earlier players they are compared with players of the same period with a slight reduction in points. Know More About Eras.

Era 1 MP before 1976
Era 2 MP between 1975 And 1996
Era 3 MP between 1995 And 2016
Era 4 MP greater than 2015

Criteria: Points For Wickets Taken

RANK ERA 1 NAT FP LP MP INNS WKTS RAT
TS LR Gibbs WI 1958 1976 1967 148 309 220.00
RANK ERA 2 NAT FP LP MP INNS WKTS RAT
TS Abdul Qadir PAK 1977 1990 1983.5 111 236 210.00
RANK ERA 3 NAT FP LP MP INNS WKTS RAT
TS M Muralitharan SL 1992 2010 2001 230 800 250.00
1 M Muralitharan SL 1992 2010 2001 230 800 250.00
2 HMRKB Herath SL 1999 2018 2008.5 170 433 135.31
3 ST Jayasuriya SL 1991 2007 1999 140 98 30.63
RANK ERA 4 NAT FP LP MP INNS WKTS RAT
TS NM Lyon AUS 2011 2025 2018 262 567 240.00
1 MDK Perera SL 2014 2021 2017.5 78 161 68.15
2 NGRP Jayasuriya SL 2022 2025 2023.5 41 122 51.64

CONSISTENT

R Ave

Relative Average (R Ave) is a more accurate type of average. Know How It Is Calculated. Briefly it takes into account:-

  • Strength of Opposition.
  • Venues at which a player has played.
  • Time Period in which a bowler has been active

Criteria: Points For Relative Average

Min Qualification For TS
Min Wickets 75
Min Wickets (TT) 60

Against All Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS RUNS WKTS AVE R AVE RAT
TS M Muralitharan 230 18180 800 22.73 23.67 120.00
1 M Muralitharan 230 18180 800 22.73 23.67 120.00
2 HMRKB Herath 170 12157 433 28.08 27.50 103.28
3 NGRP Jayasuriya 41 3828 122 31.38 32.59 87.15
4 ST Jayasuriya 140 3366 98 34.35 35.05 81.03
5 MDK Perera 78 5780 161 35.90 35.92 79.06

Against Top Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS RUNS WKTS AVE R AVE RAT
TS SK Warne 168 11491 451 25.48 23.55 180.00
1 M Muralitharan 134 11834 452 26.18 24.87 170.47
2 HMRKB Herath 117 8783 284 30.93 27.85 152.19
3 NGRP Jayasuriya 27 2712 87 31.17 30.22 140.29
4 ST Jayasuriya 89 2270 69 32.90 31.40 135.01
5 MDK Perera 53 4208 116 36.28 33.64 126.00

ATTACKING

R SR

Relative Strike Rate (R SR) for bowlers is calculated using the same method as R Ave with average being replaced with SR.

Criteria: Points For R SR or Balls/Wkt

Min Qualification For TS
Min Wickets 75
Min Wickets (TT) 60

Against All Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS BLS WKTS SR R SR RAT
TS SK Warne 273 40704 708 57.49 54.86 120.00
1 M Muralitharan 230 44039 800 55.05 58.29 112.93
2 HMRKB Herath 170 25993 433 60.03 66.70 98.68
3 NGRP Jayasuriya 41 7163 122 58.71 73.97 88.99
4 MDK Perera 78 10805 161 67.11 78.34 84.02
5 ST Jayasuriya 140 8188 98 83.55 85.08 77.37

Against Top Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS BLS WKTS SR R SR RAT
TS SK Warne 168 25511 451 56.57 53.94 180.00
1 M Muralitharan 134 27335 452 60.48 60.26 161.12
2 NGRP Jayasuriya 27 4867 87 55.94 66.91 145.11
3 HMRKB Herath 117 18692 284 65.82 68.09 142.59
4 MDK Perera 53 7782 116 67.09 73.33 132.41
5 ST Jayasuriya 89 5610 69 81.30 79.58 122.00

BEST BOWLING (WKTS)

BBW

In this criteria, we have taken the top 7 bowling performances by Wkts of a bowler. Best Bowling By Wickets (BBW) is simply the total wickets taken in the 7 innings divided by 7.

Criteria: Points For Wkts Taken In Top 7 Inns

Against All Teams

RANK BOWLER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 BBW RAT
TS M Muralitharan 9/51 9/65 8/46 8/70 8/87 7/46 7/84 8.00 50.00
1 M Muralitharan 9/51 9/65 8/46 8/70 8/87 7/46 7/84 8.00 50.00
2 HMRKB Herath 9/127 8/63 7/48 7/64 7/89 7/157 6/43 7.29 45.54
3 NGRP Jayasuriya 7/52 6/42 6/59 6/118 5/56 5/68 5/82 5.71 35.71
4 MDK Perera 6/32 6/70 5/69 5/75 5/88 5/98 5/109 5.29 33.04
5 ST Jayasuriya 5/34 5/43 4/24 4/31 4/40 4/44 4/50 4.29 26.79

Against Top Teams

RANK BOWLER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 BBW RAT
TS A Kumble 10/74 8/141 7/48 7/63 7/115 6/53 6/70 7.29 100.00
1 M Muralitharan 8/70 8/87 7/46 7/84 7/97 7/100 6/26 7.14 98.04
2 HMRKB Herath 9/127 7/48 7/64 7/157 6/43 6/48 6/74 6.86 94.12
3 NGRP Jayasuriya 6/42 6/59 6/118 5/68 5/82 5/117 5/129 5.43 74.51
4 MDK Perera 6/32 6/70 5/69 5/75 5/88 5/98 5/137 5.29 72.55
5 ST Jayasuriya 5/34 4/24 4/44 4/50 4/53 3/45 3/76 3.86 52.94

PRIMARY RATING

The total of the above four criteria comes out to be 1,000.00 points. The Primary Rating is the addition of the points a bowler scored in the four criteria. The Weightage of the Rating is 40%.

RANK BOWLER PRO CON ATT BBW RAT PRI PTS
1 M Muralitharan 250.00 290.47 112.93 148.04 962.56 385.02
2 HMRKB Herath 135.31 255.47 98.68 139.65 771.71 308.69
3 NGRP Jayasuriya 51.64 227.44 88.99 110.22 623.41 249.36
4 MDK Perera 68.15 205.06 84.02 105.58 595.23 238.09
5 ST Jayasuriya 30.63 216.03 77.37 79.73 525.76 210.30

CONDITIONS CRITERIA

The Conditions

The Conditions Ratings are calculated by applying the four criteria of the Primary Rating to diffirent conditions. If Innings are less than the Qualification than the Player gets 50% of the Points. Click on the Ratings to see how they were calculated.

The four conditions criteria and thier weightage is as follows:-

CRITERIA POINTS
Home 30.00
Away 120.00
Favourable Conditions 30.00
Unfavourable Conditions 120.00

HOME/AWAY

HM/AW RATING

Points to note:-

  • U.A.E. is considered as a second Home for Pakistan and Afghanistan.
  • All Home and Away stats of Pakistani and Afghani bowlers are calculated accordingly.

At Home

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 10

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 M Muralitharan 134 493 19.57 50.83 880.68 26.42
2 HMRKB Herath 92 278 23.65 51.34 711.65 21.35
3 NGRP Jayasuriya 26 96 27.26 53.84 574.11 17.22
4 MDK Perera 43 108 29.91 58.88 535.66 16.07
5 ST Jayasuriya 83 66 31.83 79.85 444.06 13.32

Away From Home

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 10

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 M Muralitharan 96 307 27.80 61.82 821.10 98.53
2 HMRKB Herath 78 155 36.01 75.62 619.93 74.39
3 ST Jayasuriya 57 32 39.53 91.19 462.53 55.50
4 MDK Perera 35 53 48.11 83.89 430.56 51.67
5 NGRP Jayasuriya 15 26 46.58 76.69 416.77 50.01

FAVOURABLE/UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS

Favourable/Unfavourable Conditions Rating

Points to note:-

  • Unfavourable Conditions (UC) is Outside Asia for Spinners and In Asia for Pacers.
  • Favourable Conditions (FC) are the opposite.

Favourable Conditions Rating

Asians In Asia

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 15

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 M Muralitharan 171 612 21.69 53.21 965.17 28.96
2 HMRKB Herath 127 354 26.03 55.63 807.16 24.21
3 NGRP Jayasuriya 30 100 28.51 55.71 658.52 19.76
4 MDK Perera 64 144 33.74 63.15 630.71 18.92
5 ST Jayasuriya 98 77 31.91 78.64 527.22 15.82

Unfavourable Conditions Rating

Asians Outside Asia

Min Innings Vs All Teams: 7

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 M Muralitharan 59 188 26.09 61.04 954.87 114.58
2 HMRKB Herath 43 79 37.24 79.75 625.57 75.07
3 NGRP Jayasuriya 11 22 44.41 72.36 450.92 54.11
4 ST Jayasuriya 42 21 43.29 101.57 406.99 48.84
5 MDK Perera 14 17 54.24 100.71 361.91 43.43

CONDITIONS RATING

The Conditions Rating is the addition of the points a bowler scored in the four criteria. The Weightage of the Rating is 30%.

RANK BOWLER AWAY HOME UC FC CON PTS
1 M Muralitharan 821.10 220.17 954.87 241.29 268.49
2 HMRKB Herath 619.93 177.91 625.57 201.79 195.02
3 NGRP Jayasuriya 416.77 143.53 450.92 164.63 141.10
4 ST Jayasuriya 462.53 111.01 406.99 131.81 133.48
5 MDK Perera 430.56 133.92 361.91 157.68 130.09

SECONDARY CRITERIA

The Secondary Rating consists of three parts. If Innings are less than the Qualification than the Player gets 50% of the Points. Click on the Rating Titles to see how they were calculated.

The three secondary criteria and thier weightage is as follows:-

CRITERIA POINTS
Wickets Per Inn 50.00
Top Form 100.00
Impact Innings 150.00

WKTS/INN

WPI RATING

Points to note about WPI Rating:-

  • It gives points for three criteria.
  • The number of wkts per inn overall and aganst Top Teams.
  • The number of bowled victims per inn.
  • The number of top 7 batsmen dismissed per inn.

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 25

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS W/I RAT WTG
1 M Muralitharan 230 800 3.48 1,000.00 50.00
2 NGRP Jayasuriya 41 122 2.98 910.75 45.54
3 HMRKB Herath 170 433 2.55 735.01 36.75
4 MDK Perera 78 161 2.06 554.81 27.74
5 ST Jayasuriya 140 98 0.70 195.96 9.80

TOP FORM

TF RATING

Points to note about TF Rating:-

  • TF is calculated by taking the best 50 consecutive innings of a bowler.
  • The inns are taken such that his points are maximum.
  • Only innings against Top Teams are considered.

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 20

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 M Muralitharan 50 183 21.81 52.91 901.82 90.18
2 HMRKB Herath 50 144 27.17 62.03 754.97 75.50
3 MDK Perera 50 115 35.21 64.70 615.97 61.60
4 NGRP Jayasuriya 27 87 31.17 55.94 596.46 59.65
5 ST Jayasuriya 50 49 24.35 68.10 535.84 53.58

IMPACT INNINGS

II RATING

Impact Innings (II) are those innings which have an impact either in terms of wickets or strike rate. Know All About II. These are the criteria for an inning to be included in II:-

  • A Bowler equal to or more wickets than 2 at a good AVE or SR.
  • The required AVE or SR is increases as the number of wickets taken increases.

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 25

RANK BOWLER INNS II II Perc RAT WTG
1 M Muralitharan 230 145 63.04 995.00 149.25
2 HMRKB Herath 170 81 47.65 685.64 102.85
3 MDK Perera 78 28 35.90 472.20 70.83
4 NGRP Jayasuriya 41 16 39.02 471.66 70.75
5 ST Jayasuriya 140 22 15.71 241.94 36.29

SECONDARY RATING

The Secondary Rating is the addition of the points a bowler scored in the three criteria. The Weightage of the Rating is 30%.

RANK BOWLER TF WPI II SEC RAT
1 M Muralitharan 90.18 50.00 149.25 289.43
2 HMRKB Herath 75.50 36.75 102.85 215.09
3 NGRP Jayasuriya 59.65 45.54 70.75 175.93
4 MDK Perera 61.60 27.74 70.83 160.17
5 ST Jayasuriya 53.58 9.80 36.29 99.67

OVERALL RATING

OVERALL Rating is the addition of the points of all the above criteria. The rating is out of 1,000 Pts.

RANK OV RANK BOWLER NAT PRI RAT CON RAT SEC RAT FIN RAT
1 1 M Muralitharan SL 385.02 268.49 289.43 942.95
2 10 HMRKB Herath SL 308.69 195.02 215.09 718.80
3 44 NGRP Jayasuriya SL 249.36 141.10 175.93 566.40
4 58 MDK Perera SL 238.09 130.09 160.17 528.34
5 81 ST Jayasuriya SL 210.30 133.48 99.67 443.46

BRIEF EXPLANATION

Dynamic Nature

Most of our ratings are dynamic, and as new matches are played, the rating of earlier bowlers may change if current bowlers set new benchmarks.

Trend Setter (TS)

  1. TS is the player who does the best in a criteria.
  2. The rating of all other players are calculated taking the TS as the benchmark. Example:-
  3. TS Bowling Ave: 25.00; Player X Ave: 30.00; Section Points: 300.00
  4. TS Points: 300.00 (Max)
  5. Player X Points: TS Ave/Ave X 300 = 25.00/30.00 X 300 = 250.00.
  6. Ratings of all sections are calculated similarly with Ave being replaced by the Criteria Stat.
  7. Know All About the Trend Setter
    8. .

Top Teams (TT)

  1. An opposition is counted as a TT considering its Win/Loss (WL) Ratios in last 7 years.
  2. Home, Away, In Asia, Outside Asia and Overall WL Ratio is considered.
  3. The WL Ratio should be more than a certain value overall or in specific conditions.

Abbreviations

  1. AVE - Average or Runs/Wkt
  2. BLS - Balls
  3. ER - Economy Rate or Runs/Over
  4. FF, 5WH - Five Fors or 5 Wkt Hauls
  5. FP - First Played by Year
  6. INF - Infinite
  7. INNS - Innings
  8. LP - Last Played by Year
  9. MDNS - Maidens
  10. MP - Middle Played or (FP+LP)/2
  11. NA - Not Applicable
  12. NI - Not In Top
  13. NK - Not Known
  14. NO, * - Not Out
  15. NQ - Not Qualified
  16. OPP - Opposition
  17. OVRS - Overs
  18. SR - Strike Rate or Balls/Wkts
  19. TS - Trend Setter
  20. TT - Top Teams
  21. WKTS - Wickets Taken

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