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Chaminda Vaas
Chaminda Vaas
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Chaminda
Vaas is the finest fast bowler Sri Lanka has ever produced. Born in Colombo, Chaminda Vaas started his international career in 1992 when he represented the Under-19 team to England.
His one-day debut was in 1993, when he was selected in the national squad to play against India. Subsequently, he toured South Africa, Zimbabwe and New Zealand in 1994-95.
He spearheaded the Lankan bowling attack in the World Cup 2003 and made a record taking a hat-trick in the first three balls of a match, which no one has ever done in the game's history.
His left-arm pace bowling has been pivotal in Sri Lanka's upsurge in Test and one-day cricket of late. The 30-year-old bowler is the first Sri Lankan to take 10 wickets in a Test match. His performance both at home and abroad has been Sri Lanka's leading pace bowler.
He claimed a hat-trick with the first three balls of the match against Bangladesh in the 2003 World Cup. Vaas reached the 300-wicket milestone in ODIs on the tour to Zimbabwe, and is easily Sri Lanka's second-most successful bowler - after Muttiah Muralitharan - in both forms of the game.
One major blip, however, was the 2002 tour of England. Was expected to find conditions to his liking, but fluffed his lines.
A testimony of his efficacy as a bowler was in display during South Africa's tour in August 2004 when Vaas got six batsmen out in the second Test. After Muttiah Muralitharan, he is the best Sri Lanka has and has always played a crucial role in Sri Lanka's success.
