Nuwan Zoysa

A left-arm seam bowler with a loping, rhythmical run-up and action, Zoysa has shown plenty of promise, but his career has so far been plagued by injuries. He was discarded after a disappointing tour to England in 2002, but he trained hard and regained pace, nip and bounce off the pitch. Most importantly, though, he returned with the delivery that moves back into the right-hander, a weapon that makes him a far more potent force.

A natural striker of the ball, he's also emerged as a useful lower-order strokeplayer. During the A tour to Kenya in 2003, he was even employed as a pinch-hitter to good effect, and, making his comeback to international cricket in the one-day series against Australia in 2003-04, Zoysa further underscored his batting potential with a matchwinning unbeaten 47 in the final match.

His bowling continued on its upward curve, culminating in a damaging five-wicket haul against South Africa in the one-day series in 2004-05. First spotted by Arjuna Ranatunga, who encouraged him to join the SSC in Colombo, he made his debut during the 1996-97 tour of New Zealand. In only his eighth Test, Zoysa achieved the rare feat of claiming a hat-trick off his first over of the match, against Zimbabwe at Harare in 1999-2000. His victims were accomplished top-order batsmen too - Trevor Gripper, Murray Goodwin and Neil Johnson.
Charlie Austin (September 2004)