On this day, 23 years ago, Muttiah Muralitharan took a match bag of ten wickets for the first time as Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe by ten wickets. He would go onto to take match bag of ten wickets on 21 more times.
Record alert; @Angelo69Mathews needs 19 more runs to become the 5th Sri Lankan to post 6000 Test runs. @chandi_17 is 13 runs short of the 4000 run mark. Only 12 Sri Lankans have reached the milestone so far. Chandimal's 11 Test hundreds; the most by a current Sri Lankan batsman.
On a day like this, 25 years ago, Sri Lanka took a gamble by opening with Little Kalu, in a game at the MCG against Australia. It paid off as Kalu scored a match winning 77. The thrilling contest ended with a 3 wicket win for SL. From thereon, pinch hitting was born.
There have been 35 Test matches between Sri Lanka and England. Eight of them won by Sri Lanka and 15 won by England. @MahelaJay has played in 23 of those matches and has a phenomenal record against England. He scored over 2200 runs at an average of 58 with eight hundreds.
Eight Sri Lankans have claimed five wicket hauls in Test matches in South Africa. Vishwa Fernando joined the club yesterday. Who are the others - Muttiah Muralitharan (3), Dilhara Fernando, Chanaka Welegedara, Rangana Herath, Lahiru Kumara, Suranga Lakmal and Lasith Embuldeniya.
Great to see Roshen Silva back in contention for a spot in the Test team. On debut, he saved the Delhi Test in 2017 with an unbeaten 74. Had a fine start to his career making a Test hundred in his second game and twin fifties in his third Test.
The Wanderers in Johannesburg, also known as the Bullring has hosted some thrilling cricket matches over the years. This venue will host today's second Test between Sri Lanka and South Africa.
Sri Lanka will have two debutants in the New Year Test at Wanderers starting tomorrow. Batsman Minod Bhanuka and fast bowler Asitha Fernando. Both players from outstations. While Bhanuka is from Kurunegala, Asitha is from Katuneriya.
WACA considered world's fastest wicket poses many challenges for visiting teams. On a day like this, 31 years ago, Sri Lanka won a tensed game against Pakistan. Athula Samarasekara was their hero. Pakistan had a super attack - Imran, Wasim, Waqar, Aaqib Javed and Abdul Qadir.
On this day, 20 years ago, Muttiah Muralitharan became the first Sri Lankan to take 300 Test wickets in Durban. His 300th Test wicket was home town boy Shaun Pollock.
On this day, nine years ago, @KumarSanga2 scored a hundred and @CWelagedara completed a five wicket haul in Durban to set the stage for Sri Lanka's first Test win in South Africa.
Hasaranga to make Test debut today:
Sri Lanka playing XI: Dimuth, KJP, Mendis, Chandimal, DDS, Dickwella, Dasun, Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando and Rajitha.