Incricket, a five-wicket haul (also known as a『five–for』or "fifer")[1][2] refers to a bowler taking five or more wickets in a single innings. A five-wicket haul on debut is regarded by critics as a notable achievement.[3][4] As of January 2024, 170 cricketers have taken a five-wicket haul on Test match debut, of which six are from Sri Lanka: Kosala Kuruppuarachchi, Upul Chandana, Akila Dananjaya, Lasith Embuldeniya, Praveen Jayawickrama, and Prabath Jayasuriya. Kuruppuarachchi and Chandana achieved the feat against Pakistan; Dananjaya and Jayawickrama achieved the feat against Bangladesh; Embuldeniya achieved his feat against South Africa, and Jayasuriya against Australia.
Chandana is the only Sri Lankan to get a five-wicket haul in a losing cause, during the 1998–99 Asian Test Championship at Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka. Jayawickrama and Jayasuriya both went on to take fifers in the second innings.[5]
|
| No. | Bowler | Date | Ground | Against | Inn | Overs | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Batsmen | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kosala Kuruppuarachchi | 14 March 1986 | Colombo Cricket Club Ground |  Pakistan |
1 | 14.5 | 44 | 5 | 2.96 | Won[6] | |
| 2 | Upul Chandana | 12 March 1999 | Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka | Pakistan |
2 | 47.5 | 179 | 6 | 3.74 | Lost[7] | |
| 3 | Akila Dananjaya | 10 February 2018 | Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka |  Bangladesh |
4 | 5 | 24 | 5 | 4.80 | Won[8] | |
| 4 | Lasith Embuldeniya | 15 February 2019 | Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban |  South Africa |
3 | 26 | 66 | 5 | 2.53 | Won[9] | |
| 5 | Praveen Jayawickrama*♠ | 29 April 2021 | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy | Bangladesh |
3 | 32 | 92 | 6 | 2.87 | Won[10] | |
| 6 | Prabath Jayasuriya*♠ | 8 July 2022 | Galle International Stadium, Galle |  Australia |
1 | 36 | 118 | 6 | 3.27 | Won[11] |
McGrath didn't get the five-for that he had hoped for...
... I'd rather take fifers (five wickets) for England ...
