5 Sri Lankan bowlers who had a great first-class career but didn't shine in Test cricket

Sri Lankan cricketer Ajantha Mendis (R) : News Photo
Mendis faded away after his mystery was unveiled

#3 Upul Chandana

GALLE,SRI LANKA - MARCH 8:  Upul Chandana of Sri Lanka celebrates the wicket of Ricky Ponting of Australia  during day one of the First Test between Australia and Sri Lanka played at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on March 8, 2004 in Galle, Sri Lanka. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)
Chandana has 469 wickets in first-class career

The leg-spinner was a prominent part of the Sri Lankan ODI squad for a number of years and has telling numbers in the format that kept the legacy of spin bowling in the country alive.

But he did not taste too much success in the longest format of the game and played just 16 Tests for his country. He picked just 37 wickets at a costly average of 41.48, which pales in comparison to other spinning greats from the nation.

His first-class stats are an altogether different story. In 165 games, he picked 469 wickets with an average of 24.95. He simply could not translate his impressive first-class form to the highest level; if he had done so, Sri Lanka could have had one more great spinner to torment the opposition.

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