Big Picture: Another take a look at for Pakball
Whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do, after they come for you? Bazball, Bazball…
To briefly recap, Pakistan had not received a Test match in 12 months, a interval wherein 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 successful Tests at residence – 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 each side had been left greater than a bit of bemused as to what they had been witnessing.
So right here we’re waiting for 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 deal with the areas they know they should enhance on.
After all, no matter Pakistan’s method may need been, there’s little excuse for the dearth of software proven by a number of of Sri Lanka’s batters, whereas the disparity in fielding between the 2 sides may need been the single-most essential think about 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
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 be an choice 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 out there 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 identified to take some activate days 4 and 5, however early on shall 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 stop a end result.
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.
Source web site: www.espncricinfo.com