Who is Nisala Tharaka? 5 interesting facts about Sri Lanka seamer selected for England Tests

[Credit: nisala_tharaka Instagram handle]

Sri Lanka named their 18-member squad for the three-Test series in England, starting August 21. The roster included two uncapped players, one of which was right-arm pacer Nisala Tharaka.

Having played their last four Test series in the Asian sub-continent and winning out of them, the Lankans will be tested in seam-friendly conditions against a rampant English side. While the Lions are on a high after winning a bilateral ODI series against India for the first time in 27 years, a Test series in England will be a different ball game altogether.

Sri Lanka are well-placed on fourth in the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) table and an improbable series win in England could provide them a chance to make a run at playing the final next year.

With the series a fortnight away from getting underway, it would be worthwhile to discover five interesting facts about Sri Lanka's newest member of the Test squad, Nisala Tharaka.

#1 Tharaka is a veteran of over 13 years in the domestic circuit

Nisala Tharaka's selection for a possible Sri Lankan Test debut might have fans guessing his age to be in the early 20s or under. However, here's a newsflash - he is 33 and has played in the domestic circuit for over 13 years.

Tharaka debuted in List-A cricket at the start of 2011 and played his maiden first-class outing in May that year. It took him another four years to debut in T20Is, with that happening in April 2015.

#2 Tharaka has breached the 2000 runs-250 wickets landmark in first-class cricket

While Tharaka is renowned mainly for his reliable medium-pace bowling with speeds in the 125-130 kmph range, he is no slouch with the willow. In his 13-year first-class career, the 33-year-old has picked up 257 wickets at an average of 30.27 in 107 games.

However, the Galle-born cricketer also boasts an underrated 2,358 first-class runs at an average of a tick under 20. Further impressive is Tharaka's 10 five-wicket hauls and 12 50+ scores, including a century in those 107 first-class outings.

Even in the two white-ball formats of domestic cricket, Tharaka has impressed with 140 wickets and 999 runs in 135 games.

#3 Heroics against Afghanistan A finally tipped the scales in Tharaka's favor

So how exactly did Nisala Tharaka finally get the nod after 13+ years of toil in various Sri Lankan domestic sides? It was his 11th-hour heroics in a recent four-day game for Sri Lanka A against Afghanistan A in May at Colombo.

The 33-year-old started the match with little to show for, scoring a first-innings duck and going wicketless in Afghanistan A's first innings with the bat. However, Tharaka arrived in the second innings with Afghanistan A following on.

The veteran pacer ran through the opposition with a devastating spell of 6/42 in 11.3 overs to help Sri Lanka A's win by an innings and 26 runs. He took six of the final eight wickets as Afghanistan A collapsed from a solid 110/2 to 211 all-out.

Following the game, Tharaka spoke about breaking through to the national side despite his age as quoted by Daily News.

"Actually age is not a barrier for me," Tharaka said. "If I can maintain my fitness I can do my best at any level. From NSL I got oppertunity to play Sri Lanka ‘A’ and proved my ability to take six wickets haul. I have to go next level which is my ultimate goal to represent National team and waiting to reach that level very soon."

"Especially Sri Lanka have busy Test match schedule ahead and England, South Africa and New Zealand Test series ahead in this year. I knew getting National status is very difficult and keep the place at National level is more difficult and I like to face this challenge," Tharaka added.

Tharaka's dreams finally came to fruition with selection for the England Tests two months later.

#4 Tharaka was part of the LPL 2024 Champions Jaffna Kings squad

Nisala Tharaka was part of the Jaffna Kings squad that recently triumphed in the 2024 Lanka Premier League (LPL). He was acquired by the franchise for $ 5,000 for the recently concluded season.

However, the pacer did not get game time either in the group stage or the knockouts.

Nevertheless, the Kings finished second on the points table with five wins in eight outings before winning Qualifier 2 and the final to win their fourth LPL title.

#5 Nisala Tharaka scored his lone first-class century earlier this year

It took Tharaka almost 13 years to finally score his maiden first-class century in March this year.

Playing for Colombo against Kandy in Sri Lanka's 4-day tournament, the 33-year-old came in to bat at No.9 in the first innings and smashed a brilliant 107 off 153 deliveries. Tharaka's century took Colombo from a precarious 283/7 to a massive total of 500.

He made his impact felt further by picking up combined figures of 5/39 to help Colombo win by an innings and 21 runs.