Manchester: Sri Lankan all-rounder Milan Rathnayake made a historic Test debut by scoring the highest runs by a number nine batsman in his first Test match. Rathnayake’s impressive 72 runs from 135 balls on the opening day against England at Old Trafford not only helped his team set a competitive score but also broke a record that had stood for 41 years.

According to International Cricket Council, Rathnayake’s entry into the crease was under pressure with Sri Lanka struggling at 113/7. His partnership with captain Dhananjaya de Silva, who scored 74 runs, was crucial in helping Sri Lanka reach a total of 236. Rathnayake’s score surpasses the previous record for a number nine batsman on Test debut, set by India’s Balwinder Sandhu who scored 71 against Pakistan in 1983.

The match also saw strong performances from England’s bowlers, with Chris Woakes taking 3 wickets for 32 runs and Gus Atkinson securing 2 wickets for 48 runs. Despite these efforts, the debutant’s innings became the highlight of the day. England ended the day at 22 without loss, aiming to boost their standings in the World Test Championship with a strong performance in this series.