In the spotlight: Nishan Madushka and Andy McBrine
Nishan Madushka has had a stratospheric few months. Despite Sri Lanka’s Test side not necessarily in the market for top-order batters, Madushka’s recent form – a double-century and two centuries against England Lions opening the innings – has made a Test call-up almost an inevitability. And even though the series in New Zealand was a tough baptism, particularly having been asked to bat down the order, he showed glimpses of the talent that had brought him to that stage. Against Ireland, in more familiar conditions – and Pathum Nissanka surprisingly missing out on the red-ball side for yet another series – the stage is set for Madushka to make a claim for a permanent role at the top of the order.
Following a trialling tour of New Zealand, Sri Lanka might well be looking forward to more accustomed climes. But for their batters, who would have been utilising fairly separate skillsets in New Zealand’s bouncier conditions, Galle might initially take a little getting used to. Enter Andy McBrine, who picked up seven of his 10 Test scalps in Mirpur earlier this month. As of late, Sri Lanka’s batters haven’t been the most secure against visiting spinners, and so McBrine will surely be salivating at the prospect of trying out an accommodating Galle surface. He’ll certainly play a key role if the visitors have any hope of pushing for a historic first Test win.
Pitch and conditions
The weather in Galle is expected to be nice and sunny (read: hot and sweltering) with no rain expected over the coming week. And while the Galle pitch in recent times hasn’t deteriorated towards the fourth and fifth days as it might have in the past, expect it to spin nevertheless.
Team news
Having handed out seven debuts in their last outing against Bangladesh, some of whom had spent time training in subcontinental conditions, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see an unchanged XI.
Ireland (probable) XI: 1 Murray Commins, 2 James McCollum, 3 Andy Balbirnie (capt), 4 Harry Tector, 5 PJ Moor, 6 Curtis Campher, 7 Lorcan Tucker (wk), 8 Mark Adair, 9 Andy McBrine, 10 Graham Hume, 11 Ben White
Most of the Sri Lankan side picks itself, with the only point of contention being whether legspinner Hemantha is granted a debut. Sadeera Samarawickrama will also likely see a Test return following a five-year absence.
Sri Lanka (probable) XI: 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 Dushan Hemantha/Lasith Embuldeniya 11 Asitha Fernando
Stats and trivia
- This will be Ireland’s first ever Test series comprising of more than a single match.
- Prabath Jayasuriya, playing his sixth Test, is 17 wickets away from reaching 50 Test wickets. Dilruwan Perera holds the current SL record, having reached the feat in 11 Tests.
- Dhananjaya de Silva, with 34, boasts the highest number of Test wickets between the two sides.
