Herath and other history makers

Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath this week joined an elite group of cricketers following his match-winning performance against Pakistan in Colombo.

Herath's haul of 14 wickets in the second Test took his series tally to 23 wickets, the most ever by a bowler in a two-Test series.

The left-armer bettered the previous mark of 22 set by his countryman Muthiah Muralidaran against South Africa in 2006.

It means Herath joins an eclectic mix of spinners and fast bowlers who have set the mark for single series wicket-taking wizardry.

Six Tests in a series
Terry Alderman, 42 wickets, Australia v England, 1981
Alderman is the only man on this list whose record haul did not come in a winning series. The 1981 Ashes will forever be known as 'Beefy Ashes' after Ian Botham sparked a dramatic turnaround with a famous unbeaten century in the third Test at Headingley. Alderman was one of the Australian bowlers who felt the wrath of Botham that day and during the series, but still managed to finish with 42 wickets, three more than the legendary Dennis Lillee.

Five Tests in a series
Jim Laker, 46 wickets, England v Australia, 1956
Laker's historic series is best remembered for his 19-wicket haul in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, but the off-spinner was a thorn in Australia's side for the entire campaign. Laker repeatedly ripped through an Australian batting line-up that included the likes of Neil Harvey, Keith Miller and Richie Benaud on pitches that were tailored to suit him and spin partner Tony Lock. Not one Australian batsman scored a century during the series as England claimed the Ashes 2-1.

Four Tests in a series
SF Barnes, 49 wickets, England v South Africa, 1913-14
The career of the mythical Sydney Francis Barnes, who took an extraordinary 189 wickets in 27 Tests at the start of the 20th century, reached its highest point in South Africa in the summer of 1913-14. A well-built quick who also possessed the skills of a spin bowler, Barnes took a five-wicket haul in seven of the eight innings in which he bowled. Having taken an extraordinary 49 wickets in four Tests, Barnes missed the final Test of the series due to a dispute with the MCC over who should pay for his wife's accommodation.

Three Tests in a series
George Lohmann, 35 wickets, England v South Africa, 1896-97
On matting wickets in South Africa, England medium-pacer George Lohmann proved to be nearly unplayable in the summer of 1896-97. South Africa passed 150 just once in six innings in the series, a score of 151 in the first innings of the second Test, and twice lost by an innings. Lohmann led England's attack superbly, highlighted by a haul of eight wickets for seven runs as South Africa were routed for a then-record low score of 30 in the first Test in Port Elizabeth.

Two Tests in a series
Rangana Herath, 23 wickets, Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 2014
Having taken the unflattering figures of 3-116 in Pakistan's total of 451 to start the series, Herath bounced back in spectacular fashion to secure consecutive man of the match awards and a famous 2-0 series win for Sri Lanka. His haul of 6-48 in the second innings in the first Test set up an unlikely victory before he took 14 wickets in the second Test, including career-best figures of 9-127 in the first innings. Herath also completely outbowled Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal, who finished the series with nine wickets and a report for a suspected illegal bowling action from the ICC.

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