Like one of the many unconventional finds of Sri Lankan cricket, Nuwan Pradeep's story is also one of someone unconventionally found. A product of soft-ball cricket and a tearaway quick bowler with a distinct slingy action, he came through a pace contest in 2007. It was only after he was 20 that he started bowling with a proper cricket ball and thanks to his ability to generate good pace with a threatening outswinger in his armoury, he was fast-tracked into reckoning.
Troubled by injuries right through his career, he's been in and out of the squad even before he made his debut, which eventually happened against Pakistan in 2011. Such was his inconsistency with fitness that over the next four years he played only four Tests, one every year. It was only after 2014 that he could cement his spot, first playing a key role in Sri Lanka's series victory over England in England and was particularly impressive with his ability to generate good pace and nip the ball around. His personal stand out moment came in 2017 at Galle, where amidst the pasting that Sri Lanka were handed over by India, he managed a six-fer in the first innings.
