“It would be a big achievement if I can get to 300 Test wickets”
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath has revealed that he wants to take 300 Test wickets before he steps away from international cricket.
Last week, Herath announced his retirement from ODIs and Twenty20 Internationals in order to prolong his Test career.
Herath only needs three more wickets to become just the third Sri Lankan bowler after Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas to take 300 Test wickets.
It is likely that the 38-year-old will accomplish the feat when Sri Lanka tour England next month, but should he not, Sri Lanka will host Australia right after before travelling to South Africa for three Tests in December.
“I have not set any goals for myself. Whenever I have played for my country, I have always wanted to see how best I could contribute to win,” he said. “That has been my approach all the time. It would be a big achievement if I can get to 300 Test wickets, but after that, I don’t see any goals that I can pursue.
“There are about ten Tests lined up for this year and I’ve decided that I can manage myself and my knees playing in that format rather than the hustle and bustle of one-day cricket.”
Meanwhile, Herath revealed that he decided to stop playing limited overs cricket as he is beginning to feel pain in both his knees again. The left-arm spinner underwent arthroscopic surgery to have the cartilage in both his knees repaired in 2012.
“It was fine for the first few years or so, but with the extra workload of playing international cricket, the pain in both knees started to come back, especially when I am running,” Herath said. “I have managed to continue playing by taping my knees. I was not 100% certain of being fit to play in all three formats, that’s why I decided to stick to Test cricket, a pace at which I can manage my legs. I am lucky that I didn’t end up as a fast bowler because my career wouldn’t have lasted this long.”
While Herath will be sorely missed after he retires from international cricket altogether, he is confident that Sri Lanka will find a suitable replacement to take his spot in the team.
“You don’t need one bowler to run through the entire opposition,” he said. “We still have quality fast bowlers and spinners who can take 20 wickets to win a Test match.
“We have plenty of good spinners around, like Dilruwan Perera, Tharindu Kaushal, Sachithra Senanayake and Jeffrey Vandersay, but they need to be given a consistent run in the national team. That is how they will gain the confidence to bowl under pressure and under different conditions and situations and win matches for us. I will certainly want to share my experience and help young spinners and contribute in whichever way I can.”
In regards to life after cricket, Herath is set to continue his role as Sampath Bank’s business promotions manager.
“I am still employed with Sampath Bank and have some years to serve with them,” he said. “I am lucky to have an employer like Sampath Bank who has never questioned my position even on occasions when I had not been part of the national team.”