Dasun Shanaka

He spent several seasons producing steady returns in the shorter formats before two rapid hundreds in club cricket in 2015 brought him wider attention. His T20I debut, against Pakistan, had already come before those innings. He then made the most of his growing profile by taking three wickets against India on a green surface in Pune in 2016. Soon afterwards he earned a Test debut during Sri Lanka's tour of England. His ODI debut, against Ireland, was the more striking occasion: he claimed five wickets, becoming only the third Sri Lankan to manage that in a first ODI, and he was also named Man of the Series.

Establishing himself proved difficult. Batting so low in the order meant few chances to make an impact, his form fluctuated, and he drifted in and out of the side. In 2017 he suffered a further setback when, during a Test against India in Nagpur, the match referee found him guilty of ball tampering and docked 75 percent of his match fee.

His response was a strong return to form. Against South Africa in an ODI he struck 65 from 34 deliveries, hitting five sixes and four fours. When many senior players withdrew from a tour of Pakistan over security concerns, Shanaka was given the captaincy for the T20I matches. Leading an understrength group, he guided Sri Lanka to a 3-0 series sweep over the then top-ranked side on their home soil.