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The last time a Sri Lankan bowler took more wickets than Muttiah Muralitharan in a Test series - barring the one at home against South Africa in 2004 where he played only one match - was when West Indies visited in 2001-02. Only a record-breaking performance from Ajantha Mendis, in his debut series, prevented Murali from topping the wickets tally again against India with 21 scalps. Mendis' 26 at 18.38 apiece was the record for most wickets by a debutant in a three-Test series. This week's List looks at which bowlers have taken the most wickets in debut series of varying length.
The record that Mendis broke belonged to Alec Bedser, which he set during his debut series - a three-Test rubber against India in 1946. Bedser took 24 wickets in five innings at an average of 12.41, including 11-wicket hauls in the first two Tests. His 7 for 49 at Lord's was the second-best performance in an innings on debut, after Albert Trott's 8 for 43 against England at the Adelaide Oval in 1895.
Does anyone remember Franklyn Saliya Ahangama? He was a Sri Lankan medium-pacer who was fast-tracked into the Test side less than two weeks after his first-class debut with Sri Lanka Colts in 1985. He dismissed Mohammad Azharuddin with his fourth ball in Test cricket - the first of his 18 wickets at 19.33 apiece in the three-Test series against India. He took five wickets in his second match, at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium, which was Sri Lanka's maiden Test victory. Injuries, combined with the short supply of Tests, curtailed Ahangama's career and though he toured England in 1988 and 1991, the 1985 series against India remained his only Test appearance.
| Player | Mat | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Ave | 5 | 10 | Series | Season | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAW Mendis (SL) | 3 | 979 | 478 | 26 | 6/117 | 18.38 | 2 | 1 | v India | 2008 | |
| AV Bedser (Eng) | 3 | 866 | 298 | 24 | 7/49 | 12.41 | 2 | 2 | v India | 1946 | |
| SR Clark (Aus) | 3 | 708 | 317 | 20 | 5/55 | 15.85 | 1 | 0 | v South Africa | 2005/06 | |
| J Cowie (NZ) | 3 | 839 | 395 | 19 | 6/67 | 20.78 | 1 | 1 | v England | 1937 | |
| FS Ahangama (SL) | 3 | 801 | 348 | 18 | 5/52 | 19.33 | 1 | 0 | v India | 1985 | |
| Shabbir Ahmed (Pak) | 3 | 714 | 341 | 17 | 5/48 | 20.05 | 1 | 0 | v Bangladesh | 2003 | |
| MRCN Bandaratilleke (SL) | 3 | 960 | 339 | 16 | 5/36 | 21.18 | 1 | 0 | v New Zealand | 1998 | |
| RO Collinge (NZ) | 3 | 655 | 265 | 15 | 3/41 | 17.66 | 0 | 0 | v Pakistan | 1964/65 | |
| RJ Shastri (India) | 3 | 882 | 277 | 15 | 5/125 | 18.46 | 1 | 0 | v New Zealand | 1980/81 | |
| BKV Prasad (India) | 3 | 855 | 375 | 15 | 5/76 | 25.00 | 1 | 0 | v England | 1996 |
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