Climate and Pakball to cope with for Sri Lanka to attract collection
Big Picture: Another take a look at for Pakball
Whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do, once they come for you? Bazball, Bazball…
Yup, sorry of us, even this – a preview of a Sri Lanka-Pakistan Test – isn’t any protected haven from utterances of Bazball. Though, in my defence, that is removed from a pained reference. Bazball’s barely much less thrilling cousin, Pakball (or formally, the Pakistan Way), may be very actual, and we have now to speak about it.
To briefly recap, Pakistan had not received a Test match in 12 months, a interval during which they had been engulfed by a model of cricket that may solely be described as… woah, sorry dozed off for a minute there… performed in opposition to a Sri Lanka facet that, of late, have had just one method of profitable Tests at house – taking part in solely in Galle.
Quite actually, the scene couldn’t have been higher set for a Galle classic, one that will have referred to as for rain, a staunch rearguard by the visiting facet, and a final-day Prabath Jayasuriya-led capitulation. But the OG brokers of chaos which can be Pakistan did not observe the script. To be truthful, they hadn’t adopted it final yr both, however that win in 2022 was extra typical.
Sri Lanka had no reply. Sure, Jayasuriya picked up some extra wickets, however he himself may confess they had been the least pleasing he has ever grabbed in Galle. Pakistan skipped alongside at 4 an over for a lot of the Test, taking part in genuinely thrilling cricket, whereas followers of either side had been left greater than somewhat bemused as to what they had been witnessing.
So right here we’re looking forward to the second Test on the SSC, a floor the place the trials by spin will presumably be much less and one the place the batters may conceivably bat much more freely. Pakistan will little doubt be itching to take their new philosophy for an additional spin, whereas Sri Lanka will as a substitute concentrate on the areas they know they should enhance on.
After all, no matter Pakistan’s method might need been, there’s little excuse for the shortage of utility proven by a number of of Sri Lanka’s batters, whereas the disparity in fielding between the 2 sides might need been the single-most necessary consider deciding the primary Test.
Form information
Sri Lanka LWWLL (final 5 accomplished matches, most up-to-date first)
Pakistan WDDLL
In the highlight: Kusal Mendis and Saud Shakeel
Each workforce has a participant who frustrates and thrills followers in equal measure, and in Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka have that participant after which some. Which is sort of an announcement when you think about that he has scores of 140 and 245 amongst his final 4 Test innings. But you then see figures of 12 and 18 in his final two, and you start to grasp what causes the frustration. Mendis is supremely gifted and had been earmarked for greatness from a younger age. At 28, he’s now hitting his prime. Both he and Sri Lanka want to make sure these are put to good use.
Six matches in and Saud Shakeel has a median of 90.88 in Tests – and it will have been extra had he managed to remain unbeaten throughout Pakistan’s profitable chase. You, nonetheless, would not put it previous him extending that common to triple digits by the top of this tour, as Pakistan appear to have discovered a participant with a uncommon mixture of adaptability and utility. At 27, very like Mendis, Shakeel too is heading into his peak. If he proves as stubborn and assertive in Colombo as he did in Galle, Sri Lanka can have their work lower out for them.
Team news: Asitha Fernando accessible
Sri Lanka are prone to make one change, with Asitha Fernando again and accessible having recovered from a bout of dengue fever. Dilshan Madushanka can also be an possibility ought to Sri Lanka look so as to add extra tempo to their line-up.
Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), 2 Nishan Madushka, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Dinesh Chandimal, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), 8 Ramesh Mendis, 9 Prabath Jayasuriya, 10 Asitha Fernando, 11 Vishwa Fernando/Kasun Rajitha/Dilshan Madushanka
Pakistan may go in with an unchanged facet, although Hasan Ali is obtainable ought to they decide to go in with an additional seamer.
Pakistan (possible): 1 Abdullah Shafique, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Shan Masood, 4 Babar Azam (capt), 5 Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), 6 Saud Shakeel, 7 Agha Salman, 8 Noman Ali/Hasan Ali, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Abrar Ahmed, 11 Shaheen Shah Afridi
Pitch and circumstances
The SSC pitch has been recognized to take some activate days 4 and 5, however early on can be higher for batting. In phrases of the climate, sadly there’s rain predicted for all 5 days of the Test, although most likely not sufficient to forestall a consequence.
Stats and trivia
- This is the primary Test being performed on the SSC since 2018. Sri Lanka have received three and misplaced three of their final six Tests on the floor.