As Sri Lanka plots the very unlikely demise of the number-one-ranked Australian test cricket team, their secret weapon might just be a 38 year old, part-time bank clerk.Rangana Herath is nearly old enough to be on the Sri Lankan coaching staff. His technique might be unconventional and, according to some, lack the elegance of a true test spinner yet Herath has been a mainstay of the Sri Lankan lineup for years now, picking up the slack since the departure of cricket's greatest wicket-taker, the legendary Sri Lankan off-spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan.At just 1.68 metres tall, Herath carries the slightly bulbous frame typical of sedentary desk-clerks and lacks any kind of strike or 'mystery' ball to keep the batsman on their toes. His strength, like that of any desk-bound number cruncher, however, is the strange comfort he derives from monotony. Herath is renowned for wearing batsmen down with endless spells of banal but well placed balls, excruciatingly consistent in their line, length and flight. His record speaks for itself with an impressive 23 five wicket hauls in Test cricket, including a pretty mind legit 9-127 against Pakistan in 2014."(Sri Lanka's) main weapon is Rangana Herath. Other than that, they don't have any other bowler to get wickets for them," Sri Lankan great, Muralitharan told cricket.com.au.Raised in the small coconut and rubber plantation city of Kurunegala, 94 kilometres north-east of the country's capital Colombo, Herath has been touted as one of the more stoic spinners of the modern era. With legendary Sri Lankan spinner, Murali Muralitharan having not only retired but sold out and joined the coaching staff of the Australians ahead of the test series, Herath's big game experience will prove invaluable if Sri Lanka are any hope of challenging Steve Smith's rampant Aussies, who are hoping to win their fourth consecutive Test series and consolidate their world number one Test ranking.Herath started his cricket trade at the Mayarapada Central College before moving to the prestigious all-boys Maliyadeva College and later the Tamil Union Cricket Club, where he was chosen to join the legendary Muralitharan in creating Sri Lanka's new spin-twins.Despite his talent, Herath wasn't ready to, eh-hem, bank on cricket and turned his mind to hard study after the long hot days in the nets and on the oval. It proved a wise decision with the Sri Lankan great Muralitharan often keeping him out of the Sri Lankan cricket team.When the time came to chase a cricket career in Colombo, Herath tee'd up a side gig as a marketing clerk in Colombo's Sampath Bank, which he continues to hold down today.Herath has a chequered history against the Aussies. He made his Test debut at home against the invincible Steve Waugh Australian lineup of 1999. Naturally, he had a tough time of it playing only two more Tests over the next nine months before receiving consistent call-ups in 2004 and 2005. Another stint in the wilderness followed, before he made a permanent return to the side in 2008, and has played nearly every Test for Sri Lanka since. In eight games against Australia, Herath has taken 38 wickets, which is pretty good for a guy with bad knees and a desk job. Not to mention that outfield catch he took against us in a one day match back in 2012.
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Sri Lanka was brutally swept aside on a recent tour to England where there frailties against swing bowling were badly exposed by what was, by world standards, an unconvincing England side. Herath himself didn't create any considerable headlines, apart from reaching the 300 wicket milestone in subdued fashion. He did, however, bowl more overs than any other player in the series, which is pretty fucking impressive for a 38 year old.Australia should shit this in realistically, with great players of spin such as David Warner and Steve Smith, plus swing bowling weapon Josh Hazlewood and the returning speedster Mitchell Starc.Watch Sri Lanka's 38 year old bank clerk in action in the first Test beginning July 26 in Kandy.