At 29 years and 59 days old, Tharindu Ratnayake is hardly a new face in Sri Lankan domestic cricket. A decade-long career that began with his first-class debut in 2015 has yielded 337 wickets across 73 matches. Yet, his recent call-up to the national Test squad for the series against Bangladesh isn’t drawing attention for the numbers alone.
Ratnayake’s true claim to fame lies in his rare ability to bowl with both arms. Following in the footsteps of Kamindu Mendis, Sri Lanka now boasts two ambidextrous bowlers in their Test ranks. Like Kamindu, Tharindu can deliver both right-arm off-spin and left-arm orthodox. However, their roles in the team differ: Kamindu is a batting all-rounder with just three wickets in 12 Tests, while Tharindu is a genuine bowling all-rounder, though his batting is no liability either: he averages 21.47 in first-class cricket with nine half-centuries to his name.
With both matches of the Test series set to be played in Galle—long considered a paradise for spinners—Ratnayake could make his debut on a ground that has been a happy hunting ground for Sri Lankan tweakers. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva will certainly welcome the added tactical advantage of a bowler who can switch arms with equal effect.
Sri Lanka have been searching for a reliable spin partner to support Prabath Jayasuriya, who has proven nearly unplayable at Galle but far less effective elsewhere. Of his 116 wickets in 20 Tests, a staggering 80 have come from just 10 appearances at the iconic coastal venue. Despite trying out several spinners in recent years—Ramesh Mendis, Lasith Embuldeniya, Praveen Jayawickrama and Jeffrey Vandersay—none have managed to cement their place.
Ratnayake’s consistent performances in domestic cricket over the past 15 months have finally earned him a spot in the national side. His inclusion is part of a broader overhaul of Sri Lanka’s spin options. Akila Dananjaya returns to the Test fold after six years, while the selectors have also brought in 24-year-old spin-bowling all-rounder Sonal Dinusha, viewed as a long-term replacement for the recently retired Angelo Mathews. Dinusha boasts an impressive domestic record, with 2,478 runs at 40.62 including seven centuries, and 99 wickets in 48 first-class games.
With Jayasuriya, Ratnayake and Dananjaya forming the core spin attack, and additional support from Kamindu and Dhananjaya de Silva, Bangladesh are set to face a trial by spin in the two-Test series. Galle’s spin-friendly conditions and a pack of mostly unfamiliar bowlers could pose a real challenge for the touring side.