After years of languishing in the shadows, failing to qualify for ICC events automatically, and even enduring the humiliation of early exits from global tournaments, Sri Lanka’s cricketing fortunes have done a dramatic U-turn in 2024.
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the team now finds itself in contention for a coveted spot in the World Test Championship final. Key to this renaissance has been a band of standout performers, with Lahiru Kumara emerging as one of the brightest stars in Sri Lanka’s cricketing firmament.
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The fast bowler has been a revelation this year, snaring 28 wickets in seven Tests at an impressive average of 22—a significant leap for someone whose career average hovers in the mid-30s. But beyond the numbers, Kumara has delivered match-winning performances in three pivotal victories abroad, including a historic win in England —their first in a decade
Lahiru has always been a bowler with raw, unbridled pace. His talent first shone brightly when Sri Lanka’s Under-19 team triumphed in England under his fiery spells, prompting coach Roy Dias to predict a glittering future. True to form, he was fast-tracked into the senior side, and at just 19, he made headlines in Cape Town, ripping through the South African batting lineup. When you bowl someone like Hashim Amla through the gate, you announce yourself as something special. That day, Lahiru claimed six wickets, though, curiously, it remains his career-best haul.
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For all the early promise, however, Lahiru’s journey has been anything but smooth sailing. His express pace came with a lack of control, and a string of injuries turned him into a perennial underachiever. Recurring hamstring troubles saw him limp off mid-Test far too often—Gabba in 2019, Centurion in 2020, Pallekele in 2021, and Mohali in 2022, to name a few. His fitness woes became a millstone around his neck, and failing fitness tests cost him dearly, including hefty fines.
Faced with these harsh realities, Lahiru took the bull by the horns. Hard work behind the scenes has borne fruit, and 2024 has been his most prolific year since his debut in 2017. Sri Lanka will be hoping this is just the tip of the iceberg as he builds on this foundation and cements his place among the pantheon of the nation’s great fast bowlers.
Bowling at express pace is both an art and a blessing, and Lahiru possesses this rare gift. When he’s in full flight, Sri Lanka soars. In South Africa, his thunderbolts not only rattled the stumps but also left a trail of casualties. Wiaan Mulder exited the series with a fractured finger, Ryan Rickelton bore the brunt of another searing delivery, and Kagiso Rabada’s bat was reduced to splinters by a Lahiru’s missile.
Credit must also go to Sri Lanka’s High-Performance Center for sharpening his accuracy, which had long been a chink in his armor. His ability to bowl with control now complements his natural pace, making him a more complete bowler. The selectors, too, deserve applause for wisely preserving him for Test cricket.
Despite over 40 years of Test cricket, only one Sri Lankan pacer, Chaminda Vaas, has scaled the 300-wicket summit. Vaas was the quintessential workhorse, but no fast bowler since has managed to match his longevity. Building a robust stable of quicks is now a pressing priority for Sri Lanka, particularly with the World Test Championship in play, where half their matches are overseas. Spin alone won’t cut it in conditions like England, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand.
The Oval provided a glimpse of what the future could hold. Trusting an all-seam attack for the final Test, a rarity in Sri Lankan cricketing history, paid handsome dividends. A similar gamble was considered for Port Elizabeth, but the team reverted to a three-seamer strategy at the eleventh hour, mindful of the venue’s reputation for assisting spinners.
While the bowlers have risen to the occasion, the same cannot be said for the batting unit, which has been the Achilles’ heel. In England, inconsistent batting at Old Trafford cost them a golden chance to clinch the series. A similar collapse in Durban left Sri Lanka playing catch-up. Yet, despite these setbacks, the team has shown tremendous grit, keeping their World Test Championship hopes alive.
Sri Lanka’s cricketing story in 2024 is one of resurgence and redemption. With Lahiru Kumara leading the charge, the island nation seems poised for greater glory, proving that when the stars align and hard work meets talent, the sky’s the limit.
