5 best first change bowlers in Test cricket

#4 Rangana Herath

Rangana Herath recorded an average of 28.67, along with a strike rate of 63.2

The Sri Lankan great, who spent most of his career under the giant shadow of Muttiah Muralitharan, is without a doubt, one of the best spinners in world cricket. Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath started off his career in 1999 and over the years, he has bowled as the first change bowler for Sri Lanka 57 times in 47 Tests. The raging turners in Sri Lanka were definitely a factor behind that but Herath's craft as a bowler held him in good stead.

He has snared 162 wickets in those games in which he started as first change and recorded an average of 28.67, along with a strike rate of 63.2. It is a testament to his skills as a bowler that he does not often need to wait for the ball to get old to come into the game and it is no wonder that he has been Sri Lanka’s primary strike bowler over the better part of the last decade.