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Third England tour brings back fond memories for Herath
- Updated: May 17, 2016
Galle was the scene of Rangana Herath’s second coming as a cricketer, but before he wrapped up Pakistan’s second innings in that 2009 series, he was playing in the Staffordshire leagues. A domestic stalwart, but an undistinguished international bowler till then, Herath had begun to think of a career beyond the Sri Lanka team.
“In 2009 I was 31, and at the time I was only in the A team, which didn’t play a lot of cricket,” Herath said. “So I gave the selectors a letter asking if I could play in England. Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis were both in the Sri Lanka team at the time as well. They let me come to England, but the chief selector told me to be ready to come back if we need to. That’s the one condition they imposed.”
As it turned out, Murali injured his shoulder three days ahead of the Pakistan series, and a Kumar Sangakkara phone call found Herath in Stoke-on-Trent, about 90 miles southwest of Leeds. He left immediately for Galle, thinking this would be his final chance at the top level. In the seven years since, Herath has arguably been Sri Lanka’s most consistent Test matchwinner.
He prepares now for his third and final tour of England. Those months in Staffordshire, then later Surrey and Hampshire, should serve him nicely in the weeks to come, he said. The trick in England …
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