Sri Lanka-Australia second Test
Sri Lanka rely on batsmen for a big total
Leg spinner Prabath Jayasuriya and Spin Specialist Coach Piyal Wijetunge discuss during training at Galle yesterday. Jayasuriya is likely to make his Test debut today. (Pic by SLC)
Leg spinner Prabath Jayasuriya is likely to make his Test debut today.
“I can’t blame our spinners for the first Test defeat but our batsmen couldn’t make a big total during the first innings and that mistake should be corrected in the second Test which will start today at the same venue at Galle International Cricket Stadium,” said Sri Lankan test skipper Dimuth Karunaratne yesterday. After the defeat in the first Test Sri Lanka is looking to win and equal the series in this game. Actually, this Test match going to be a big challenge for us as some of the players have tested positive for Covid 19 while some players have symptoms and another rapid antigen test was scheduled to be done yesterday evening. After that antigen Test, we will name the final eleven for the match.
We hope the Galle wicket is going to be good for the batters on the first three days and later favour the spinners We can only request that type of wicket. I think we have to play against a world-class spinner like Nathan Lyon and batters have a responsibility to face their spin attack said skipper Dimuth Karunaratne. We had a major issue with three spinners Lasith Embuldeniya, Praveen Jayawickrama, and Jeffrey Vandasay (Praveen and Jeffrey tested positive for Covid 19) while the part-time off-spinner Dhananjaya de Silva and paceman Asitha Fernando also tested positive yesterday and we have to find replacements. Already we have named 13 players for the team and playing eleven will be selected after the last antigen test yesterday.
Prabath Jayasuriya the experienced leg spinner having played domestic matches while he also played with me at the recently concluded National Super League and finished the highest wicket-taker.
At one time Duvindu Tillekaratne was next in line for the National team but Prabath Jayasuriya and other spinners were also ahead of Duvindu who played well at the Mercantile Super Premier League tournament and will see his name but that’s up to the selectors said Dimuth Karunaratne.
Maheesh Theekshana the mystery Spinner has a lot of experience in the white-ball format while young Dunith Wellalage the spin all-rounder and a last-minute addition to the squad wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan is also in the 13-member team.
The middle-order batter Kamindu Mendis who can ball with both arms as a spinner is a good choice as a replacement added Dimuth Karunaratne. Theekshana couldn’t play a long format game recently but the way he bowled at the white ball format we can expect success. Theekshana also worked hard during the training to focus on this test and looking forward to doing well.
Kamindu Mendis the highest scorer of the last National Super League tournament could be a good choice for all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva while Oshada Fernando also a good top-order batter played well in the last Bangladesh Test series but Kamindu Mendis has a better chance as a middle-order batter
Meanwhile, Dimuth Karunaratne said he has a very simple plan as a top-order batter. I was not among the runs in the first Test but never think about my failure. For the first fifteen overs, I have to play more responsibility and then build up the total from there.
I know my part is important and all others have to play their role around me, but may change sometimes and I also can play around another one and we have seven batters and they have to play their part. we have to settle and work hard said Dimuth Karunaratne.
Especially myself, Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal have a big part as experienced batters while others must come up to get success this game added Karunaratne.
Meanwhile, Australia led by Pat Cummins will strive to make it a 2-0 series win and they are very happy with the all-round performance during the last Test. Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Swepson the off-spin and leg-spin combination are their key weapon once again while the strong batting lineup hopes to give a good challenge against Sri Lanka to seal the 2-0 series win.
Meanwhile, ‘Daily News’ learnt that three debutants will make their Test appearance today. Prabath Jayasuriya, Maheesh Theekshana the two spinners, and batting all-rounder Kamindu Mendis are likely to play today’s game while Kasun Rajitha who was not fit for the last Test once will play this game in place of Asitha Fernando. If Kamindu Mendis the former Richmond skipper gets a chance today it will be special as he will be making his debut at his home ground at Galle.
The weather forecast is good to play the second Test and ground staff are very busy at Galle grounds while the two teams did their final training sessions yesterday.
Sri Lanka Cricket officials with Southern Province cricket officials have organized this series and they are looking to do well in the Pakistan first Test which will be held at the Galle International Cricket Stadium from July 16. Pakistan Test cricket team already arrived last Wednesday for the two-Test series.