Deshabandu Warnakulasuriya Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas (born 27 January 1974) is a former Sri Lankan international cricketer who represented the Sri Lanka national cricket team. A left-arm fast-medium bowler, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers produced by Sri Lanka and among the most successful bowlers in international cricket.
Key facts
| Full name | Deshabandu Warnakulasuriya Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 27 January 1974 |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Role | Bowler |
| Bowling style | Fast-medium |
| National team | Sri Lanka |
| Career length | Fifteen years in international cricket |
| Major honours | 1996 Cricket World Cup; 2002 ICC Champions Trophy |
Overview
Vaas served as Sri Lanka's leading new-ball bowler for much of his career and was noted for his durability, remaining relatively free of injury through fifteen years of international cricket. He set a number of national and international records as a bowler.
Career highlights
- Member of the Sri Lankan squad that won the 1996 Cricket World Cup.
- Member of the Sri Lankan squad that won the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy.
- Selected for the World Test XI and the World One-Day XI at the inaugural ICC Awards in 2004.
- Selected for the World Test XI again in 2005.
Records and milestones
- Holds the record for the best bowling figures in One Day International (ODI) history, and is the only bowler to take an eight-wicket haul in ODIs.
- Youngest bowler to take 300 wickets in ODI cricket.
- As of 11 February 2022, only three bowlers had taken more ODI wickets than Vaas.
- First Sri Lankan to take a hat-trick in ODI cricket, achieved in 2001 against Zimbabwe.
- First Sri Lankan to take a hat-trick at a Cricket World Cup, achieved against Bangladesh during the 2003 Cricket World Cup.
- His World Cup hat-trick was the first to be taken during the first three deliveries of an innings.
Significance
Vaas's combination of swing, control and longevity made him a central figure in Sri Lanka's emergence as a major force in international cricket during the late 1990s and 2000s. His ODI bowling records, particularly his eight-wicket haul, remain among the most distinctive individual achievements in the limited-overs format. He is also noted as having one of the longest names among international cricketers.
Related topics
- Sri Lanka national cricket team
- 1996 Cricket World Cup
- 2003 Cricket World Cup
- 2002 ICC Champions Trophy
- ICC Awards
- List of ODI cricket hat-tricks