Big Picture: Another take a look at for Pakball

Whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do, once they come for you? Bazball, Bazball…

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.

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

Asitha Fernando may very well be again in motion after recovering from dengue•AFP/Getty Images

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.