Nuwan Pradeep

  • D.O.B.: 19/10/1986
  • Player Type: Seam Bowler
  • Availabilty: Yes
  • Nationality: Sri Lankan
  • Playing Role: Right-handed Lower Order Batter and Right-arm Fast/Medium
  • Coaching qualifications: None
  • Recent teams: Sri Lanka, Dambulla Giants,
  • Entry route: International Sportspersons Visa
  • Available: April to September

Nuwan has been one of the standout fast bowlers for Sri Lanka for a number of years. He didn’t play with a cricket ball till he was 20 but less than three years later he was in Sri Lanka’s Test squad. He won a pace contest in 2007, impressing the talent scouts in a soft-ball event, and was sent straight to Sri Lanka Cricket’s academy. He follows in the Sri Lankan tradition of maverick bowlers with unconventional actions. Like Lasith Malinga, he has a slinging action and has troubled many batsmen in domestic cricket with his pace, generated from a long run-up. Nuwan toured with Sri Lanka A to Australia in 2010, where he was among the quickest bowlers from both sides though he didn’t bag many wickets. Less than a month later, he was rewarded with a call-up to the national squad for the second Test against India.

He was selected to Sri Lankan provisional squad for the test tour to England in 2011 and he took 4/29 in the warmup match against England Lions as Sri Lanka won it by 38 runs. However, he was ruled out prior to the test series after suffering injury. He was also initially selected in Sri Lankan squad for the test tour of South Africa in 2011 but was ruled out due to hamstring tear. In 2011 he was again selected to the national Test squad, in the tournament against Pakistan in the UAE. He made his Test debut against Pakistan in October 2011, at the age of 24 but did not take a wicket on debut.

In 2011, he was surprisingly picked by Royal Challengers Bangalore for the 2011 Indian Premier League even before his international debut. However, he did not play in any matches.
He became an in and out pace bowler for Sri Lanka due to most of the injuries. Despite the fact, he is one of the fastest bowlers ever found on current Sri Lanka squad. He took his first international wicket by dismissing Mohammad Ayub of Pakistan on 25 June 2012 at Galle International Stadium. After the tour of New Zealand in 2014/15 season, Pradeep showcased his bowling abilities, which sealed him in the permanent spot in Test squad. He became a bowling partner of Dhammika Prasad in Test cricket.

He was also known for being stranded in a famous test match draw against England at Lord’s in June 2014, where he batted to save the test match for Sri Lanka with just one wicket left. He survived five deliveries in the final over of the match bowled by Stuart Broad. On 5 July 2016 he made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut for Sri Lanka against England. On 28 December 2016 he took the 10,000th lbw in Test cricket, when he dismissed Hashim Amla during Sri Lanka’s tour to South Africa. However, Pradeep was injured during the second T20I against South Africa and was sent to Sri Lanka.

After injury, he was re-called for the India tour in July 2017. In the first match of the series, he took his maiden Test five-wicket haul at Galle International Stadium. His bowling performance in the match was highly praised by commentators as well. However, finally Sri Lanka lost the match by 304 runs. However, during the day two of second test, Pradeep was injured and did not bowl further throughout the match. He did bat in both innings, but was released from the remaining matches of the series. He was included for the ODI squad for the Scotland tour prior to World Cup in 2019. In the second ODI, he took a four-wicket haul by restricting Scottish total to 199. Sri Lanka won the match by 35 runs in DLS method. Pradeep won his first man of the match award for the bowling performance.

In April 2019, he was named in Sri Lanka’s squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup. During second match in the World Cup, Nuwan delivered a match-winning bowling spell against Afghanistan to take four wickets for 31 runs. Sri Lanka won the match by 34 runs, with Nuwan was named man of the match. However, he was ruled out of Sri Lanka’s last two matches of the tournament, after contracting chickenpox. He was replaced by Kasun Rajitha. Nuwan is currently considering his options and is open to a County/Club option for the 2023 summer. If your looking for an International opening bowler then look no further.

Team Season Matches Innings Runs
Sri Lanka Test Career 28 53 132
HS Average Wickets Average Best Bowling
17* 4.00 70 42.90 6-132
Team Season Matches Innings Runs
Sri Lanka ODI Career 47 45 30
HS Average Wickets Average Best Bowling
7 3.75 59 37.47 4-31