The improbable tormentor once too unfit for Test cricket

A journeyman spinner who had been deemed unfit to play Test cricket only 12 months earlier, Prabath Jayasuriya will go down as one of the most improbable tormentors of an Australian Test side.

Jayasuriya might have decided his international cricketing dreams were over last year when rival left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama came from the clouds to take the best figures by a Sri Lankan on debut.

If not for then coach Mickey Arthur's fitness demands that required players to be able to run two kilometres in under eight-and-a-half minutes, it almost certainly would have been Jayasuriya bowling in that match against Bangladesh in Pallekele.

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But with Sri Lanka's two first-choice orthodox bowlers Lasith Embuldeniya and Duvindu Tillakaratne both injured, next-in-line Jayasuriya's skinfolds were deemed too high.

Fitness was a non-negotiable for Arthur.

The coach, since replaced by Chris Silverwood, last year told The Island newspaper that "I don’t like sloppy cricketers," after a public spat with Bhanuka Rajapaksa who had also fallen afoul of the fitness standards due in part to his refusal to cut down on eating chocolate.

Jayasuriya had played nearly six times as many first-class games as Jayawickrama and had the trust of Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne who has captained him at domestic level.

But Jayarickrama, with just 10 first-class matches to his name at that point, got the nod instead and spun his side to victory with a match haul of 11-178.

It was a dagger blow for a veteran player who was only a few months away from turning 30.

Remarkably though, in a country that produces left-arm spinners like Australia produces fast bowlers, lightning struck twice.

Coming off a disheartening defeat to Australia inside two-and-a-half days and with Embuldeniya racked by confidence issues, Sri Lanka punted their most experienced spin bowler from the squad entirely.

Jayawickrama was the obvious replacement – until he caught COVID-19 days out from the second Test.

Even then Jayasuriya might not have got his hopes up.

In March he took 11 wickets in a domestic match for Colombo under Karunaratne's captaincy in Galle but his return of 1-114 against Australia A in Hambantota last month hardly inspired confidence.

Star teenager Dunith Wellalage, another left-arm spinner, had been training with the squad and, as the leading wicket taker during the preceding ODI series against Australia, looked to have the advantage.

But Jayasuriya earnt the unlikeliest of second chances.

The 30-year-old needed to draw on all his experience against a confident Australian top-order, who initially found him little trouble as they scored at four-and-a-half an over against him.

But after conceding 56 from his first 12.4 overs, the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne (for 104) on the stroke of tea proved a turning point.

Jayasuriya went on to dismiss every Australian top-order batter (bar David Warner) at least once, including Labuschagne in both innings and Steve Smith, fresh off a chanceless first-innings ton, for a duck on a chaotic day four afternoon.

His fitness did not appear an issue as he maintained his probing accuracy, cleverly using the wind coming in off the Indian ocean for 52 overs across the match.

Few could have predicted that at the end of it all he would finish with even better figures (12-177) than Jayawickrama did against Bangladesh last year.

Only India leg-spinner Narendra Hirwani (who took 16-136 against West Indies in 1988), along with medium pacers Bob Massie (16-137 for Australia against England in 1972) and Frederick Martin (12-102 for England against Australia in 1890) have fared better on Test debut.

"He bowled well in NSL (Sri Lanka's domestic four-day competition), I skippered him," Karunaratne said. "He played a game in Galle and took 11 wickets.

"One reason why we lost the first Test was we didn’t have patience to bowl at one area. I had confidence in Prabath and he did the job for us. He used his experience and did a great job."

Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Test squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Maheesh Theekshana, Lakshitha Manasinghe, Dunith Wellalage, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lakshan Sandakan

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner. Standby players: Matthew Kuhnemann, Todd Murphy

June 29 - July 3: Australia won by 10 wickets

July 8-12: Sri Lanka won by an innings and 39 runs

Sri Lanka v Australia Test matches will be screened live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports