Sri Lanka eye series win in their first WTC series
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Nine years after, Sri Lanka clinched a series win over visiting Pakistan cricketers (2-0), Dimuth Karunaratne’s men will look to begin the new ICC World Test Championships (2023-25) in style when the first of the two-match Test series kicks off in Galle this morning.The Angelo Mathews-led Sri Lanka beat Pakistan 2-0 in the series played in 2014 and, although Sri Lanka hosted them twice in 2015 and 2022, a series win has remained elusive. Pakistan ended the 2015 series with a 2-1 victory and drew the 2022 series 1-1 after the hosts put up a strong performance in the second Test to share the series honours.
However, Sri Lanka’s Test cricketers are on a high after a 2-0 series win over Ireland in April. A victory over Pakistan will bring some welcome cheer to a side that is looking to put maximum points on the WTC points table.
“We want to make a good start to the new cycle and it’s always good to start with a home series,” said skipper Karunaratne, standing in front of the historic Dutch Fort overlooking the Galle Stadium. “We could have been in the final during the last cycle, had we won the two home series against Australia and Pakistan, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. We have a very good combination and want to win all the matches and get into the final.”
Sri Lanka finished fifth in the last WTC cycle while Pakistan finished seventh.
Sri Lanka is currently ranked seventh and the visitors sixth in the current ICC Test ranking–postions both would look to improve on during the current Test Championships cycle.
One big consolation for the hosts is the confirmation that its Karunaratne is fit to lead the side. The 35-year-old left-hander missed the final of the World Cup Qualifier against Netherlands last Sunday following a slight hamstring niggle and selectors brought in Pathum Nissanka as an injury cover.
Karunaratne is among the top run-getters this year, having scored 501 runs off four matches (six innings) and his presence would be of great comfort to the islanders as they try to tame the dominant Pakistan outfit led by Babar Azam.
With Karunaratne’s availability, Nissanka, who has been out of favour in Test cricket since playing against Australia at Galle in July last year, is likely to sit out the entirety of the two-match series.
Apart from Karunaratne, opener Nishan Madushka, top, and middle-order batters Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, and Sadeera Samarawickrema have all been among the run-getters this year.
Of the lot, Mendis has had an excellent year, scoring 536 runs off six innings. Sri Lanka will hope the 28-year-old carries his form forward to boost their chances of winning the series.
The side is bolstered by the addition of left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka and off-spinner Lakshitha Manasinghe–two uncapped stars. But the chances of either of them getting a Test cap in the opening Test looks remote. Left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando and Kasun Rajitha will share the new ball while Sri Lanka will trust the spin duo of Prabath Jayasuriya and Romesh Mendis to win the match.
Though Ramesh Mendis did struggle to dominate in his last international series against Ireland, Jayasuriya claimed 17 wickets to become the fastest tweaker to 50 wickets in men’s Test history. He reached the milestone in his seventh Test, having bowled in 13 innings.
Though Kamindu Mendis has been a regular in the squad since his debut against Australia last year, the chances of the ambidextrous Mendis breaking into the playing XI is far off with Dhananjaya de Silva as the preferred choice.
On the other hand, Pakistan’s chances are bolstered by the return of left-arm seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi. Afridi played his last Test for Pakistan here in Galle last year before he was struck down by injury when he landed awkwardly at the boundary line trying to stop the ball.
He is one short of reaching 100 Test wickets. Shaheen was on 99 Test wickets when he got injured.
“He got injured here and making his comeback and I am looking forward to it,” said Babar Azam, the visiting captain.
Afridi this week said he is excited to return to action in the longer format after a lapse of 12 months.
“I am very excited to be making my Test comeback in the country where I was injured,” Afridi said at the end of Pakistan’s two-day warm-up fixture against a Sri Lanka Cricket President’s XI which ended in a draw at Hambantota. Afridi took three wickets for 36 bowling 12 overs at a searing pace and lethal seam to knock out Sri Lanka for 196.
The second Test will be played at the SSC grounds, starting on July 24.
| Sri Lanka XI: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Nishan Madushka (wk), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando. Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Huraira, Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain/wk), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Aamer Jamal, Abrar Ahmed, Hassan Ali, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi. | |