DDS’ men up with daunting task against well-shaped England
When Sri Lanka played their first Test in England 40 years ago, they had seven warm-up games to find form and prepare. Cricket has changed dramatically in the decades since. The birth of franchise leagues and the growth of the white-ball game means that this time around, Sri Lanka must make do with a single tour match. How they might pine for the good old days.
The signs from that game at Worcester were inauspicious. Faced with a raw England Lions attack, Sri Lanka folded to 139 all out in their first innings – the batters unable to deal with testing lengths or the swinging ball.
Prabath Jayasuriya claimed five wickets in the warm-up game, potential to become England's nemesis in the three Tests - AFP
After a delayed start due to a wet outfield, Dimuth Karunaratne and Nishan Madushka built a promising stand – with Karunaratne, in particular, looking assured and authoritative. However, once he was caught trying to turn a ball onto the leg side, wickets fell at regular intervals. Zahman Akhter and Josh Hull – who’ve thus far made little impact in first-class cricket – bagged eight between them. If Sri Lanka can’t show more application and skill come the Tests, it could prove a long and arduous summer.
The first-innings blowout was especially disappointing as the team arrived in England in good spirits. They have won three of three since Dhananjaya de Silva took over as captain in February, and the recent ODI series win over India brought some joy back to Sri Lankan cricket. There is intrigue over what kind of impact Sanath Jayasuriya can have on the red-ball side. A strong showing in this series would have fans calling for his appointment as full-time coach.
Of course, close observers will insist they carried concerns long before this week’s warm-up. Over the past two years, when Sri Lanka have come up against better sides – namely Pakistan and New Zealand – they’ve fallen flat, losing four out of four. They haven’t played outside Asia since March last year. And most of their recent Tests have come in front of a sprinkling of fans. Playing in front of big crowds will, no doubt, add some extra pressure.
Still, Sri Lanka should benefit from the experience in their side. Mathews and Karunaratne have played five Tests on English soil; Chandimal has featured in four. Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis were both part of the group that toured in 2016. For these five, the challenges English conditions present are not new.
And while Sri Lanka’s last two trips played out in May and June – when the weather can be cool and the ball tends to swing around – this time, they have the benefit of playing at summer’s end. By British standards, August has been hot and dry. There is a possibility that the Tests could be played on batting-friendly pitches, which start to take spin as the games progress.
The last two places in Sri Lanka’s top seven seem more up for grabs. Nishan Madushka is expected to open the batting with Karunaratne, but his returns have been modest since he struck a double hundred against Ireland last year. On several occasions, he’s looked good while making starts – but a big score has proven elusive.
Pathum Nissanka’s presence in the Test squad, for the first time in over two years, could suggest Madushka’s place is under pressure. Nissanka impressed during his first run in the red-ball side, and it’s unclear why he was discarded in 2022. Since then, he has grown into a fulcrum for the white-ball teams; become Sri Lanka’s first ODI double-centurion; and transformed the way he bats in T20 cricket. Indeed, the improvements he’s shown suggest a hard worker with a strong mental game. A return to the team for the first Test at Old Trafford would present a compelling prospect.
After a breakout series in Bangladesh – twin centuries and 365 runs at an average of 121.66 – it was assumed that Kamindu Mendis would bat at seven. However, a delay to his visa meant he only arrived in England on Friday, so Sadeera Samarawickrama could play in his place. Clearly, Sri Lanka’s preparations have not been ideal.
Vishwa and Asitha Fernando both sat out the warm-up at Worcester, but look likely to share the new ball at Old Trafford. Their fortunes will have a huge bearing on Sri Lanka’s prospects of success. Vishwa has been in great form for Yorkshire in the County Championship this year (17 wickets at 13.35). Asitha has been outstanding for Sri Lanka over the past 18 months.
The race for the third seamer, meanwhile, is wide open. When on song, Lahiru Kumara can strangle batters with tight lines, hard lengths and good pace – but he’s had injury issues over the past nine months, and looked short of his best form in the warm-up. Swinging conditions may encourage Sri Lanka to favour Kasun Rajitha; while the uncapped Milan Rathnayake could also come into their thinking. He looked in good rhythm at Worcester, finding away swing and hitting a consistent length. The congested schedule means all three will surely feature at some stage in the series.
Encouragingly, Prabath Jayasuriya bowled cannily in the warm-up – flighting the ball less than he does in Sri Lanka, he fully deserved his five first-innings wickets. Sceptics have long questioned his ability to thrive on unfavourable surfaces, but he may well prove doubters wrong. England’s relentlessly attacking impulses should play into Jayasuriya’s hands.
The hosts have their own issues to contend with. Ben Stokes’ injury disrupts the balance of the side, and leaves the team without its spiritual leader – the man who sets the tone and has done much to transform England’s fortunes. It is unclear whether stand-in captain Ollie Pope will look to mimic Stokes’ ultra-aggressive style, or stamp his own ethos on the side. With Zak Crawley absent, Dan Lawrence will play as a makeshift opener. And given the three Tests’ proximity, Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson – whose pace could cause Sri Lanka real problems – will be forced to sit out at least one of the Tests.
Nonetheless, England are a daunting prospect. They have won five of their past six Tests at home – and were well on top in the sixth, only to be denied by the weather. Among the English press, little is expected of Sri Lanka. It would be a surprise and a boost if they can stand up and compete. They have the talent, but they will have to show toughness and proper temperament.
– Nicholas Brookes is the author of ‘An Island’s Eleven: The Story of Sri Lankan Cricket’. He podcasts about Sri Lankan cricket for ‘The Murali End’ and tweets @brookeswrites–