In the first series that the visitors have played in England in eight years, the coach’s talent could be able to rub off on his players.
Taking a test tour to England for the first time since 2016 is a significant chance for Sri Lanka, and the team will likely approach it with a mixture of confidence and dread.
Even though they have only played three tests against Afghanistan and Bangladesh, they have a perfect record since Dhananjaya de Silva took over as captain. Sanath Jayasuriya’s tenure as interim coach has gotten off to an astonishing start with the shocking victory over India in the one-day international series. On the bright side, they have a perfect record since Dhananjaya de Silva took over as captain. It had been 27 years since Sri Lanka had achieved a victory of this kind over their neighbours, and it brought a sense of satisfaction to the sport of cricket on the island. Due to the manner in which Jayasuriya played the game, there is a great deal of curiosity over the impact that his presence will have on the red-ball team. If he were to have a successful performance in England, fans from all over Sri Lanka would be demanding that he continue in his role as long-term coach.
Nevertheless, those who have been paying close attention to the team over the course of the past 18 months will recognise that there are reasons to be concerned. It has been difficult for Sri Lanka to perform well when they have been pitted against more experienced opponents. During this time period, they have lost four out of four tests against New Zealand and Pakistan. Since March of 2023, they have not performed anywhere outside of Asia. There are concerns regarding the hitters’ ability to deal with the pace, particularly with regard to the thunderbolts that Mark Wood throws. Furthermore, the presence of packed houses will add to the pressure; in recent years, Sri Lanka has become accustomed to playing Test matches in front of only a small number of fans.
There is at least a significant amount of experience at the core of their batting. Angelo Mathews, who is 37 years old, Dinesh Chandimal, who is 34 years old, and Dimuth Karunaratne, who is 36 years old, have all travelled to England twice with the Test team. The first two of them have played at Lord’s and Durham, respectively, and all of them have scored hundreds. Karunaratne would be eager to add his name to an honours board. Over the course of the past five years, he has maintained an average that is greater than fifty runs, which is more than any other test opener has ever accomplished. When Sri Lanka next travels to England, all three of these players will be able to relax and enjoy themselves.
At the opposite end of the spectrum are a number of young batters who are quite exciting. Pathum Nissanka, who is 26 years old, is making his comeback to the red-ball squad for the first time in two years. During his absence, he has proved to be an indispensable member of Sri Lanka’s white-ball teams, achieved the distinction of becoming the first one-day international double-centurion for the island, and demonstrated an extraordinary capacity to continue developing his game. Over the course of two Test matches played in Bangladesh, Kamindu Mendis, who is 25 years old and has long been renowned for his extraordinary ability to bowl with both hands, has had a breakthrough year after scoring 365 runs. It is possible that six of Sri Lanka’s top seven hitters would have an average of more than 40. Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis will view the tour as an opportunity to improve their reputations on the international stage.
In the bowling department, there are more questions than answers because none of the attack players have ever participated in a test match in England. It appears that Vishwa and Asitha Fernando, who are not related to each other, will be sharing the new ball. This means that they will be responsible for a significant amount of labour and will have to carry a lot of responsibility. In their most recent red-ball match, the skilled left-armer Vishwa took nine wickets for Yorkshire. Both of them have had brief periods as overseas players in the County Championship.
Asitha’s potential to become the series’ breakout star is something that fans of Sri Lanka will be hoping for. He is quick with a great heart and broad shoulders, and he has quickly become a spearhead for their speed assault. He has also quietly introduced himself as possibly the best red-ball seamer on the island since Chaminda Vaas.Concise Summary
The suspension of Dickwella was due to an alleged doping offence.
He has taken 45 wickets at a rate of 26.60, which is quite an accomplishment considering that only three of his 14 Test matches have been played outside of Asia. By toiling away on adverse tracks in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, he has been obliged to develop a diverse arsenal. He possesses a deadly yorker and a crisp bouncer, and he is also capable of extracting reverse swings. In addition to that, he has demonstrated the ability to bring out the greatest batters. In the event that Sri Lanka manages to pull off a surprise in the series, Asitha might very well be the game-changer.
The position of third seamer is still open for applications. England discovered that Lahiru Kumara is capable of acting as an enforcer when he is at his best. He bowls hard lengths at a good tempo, as England discovered during the 2023 World Cup. Nevertheless, he has not played a lot of cricket at the highest level in recent months, and he has a propensity to wander off course. It’s possible that Milan Rathnayake or Kasun Rajitha may be better prepared to take advantage of swinging situations. Rathnayake appears to be in good rhythm, but he has not yet been capped and has not been tested at this level. Rajitha bowls decent balls, but he has never really established himself as a guarantee for selection. Over the course of twenty days, there will be three tests played, and it is highly possible that all three will be featured at some point.
Over the course of previous trips, spin has been the most prominent aspect of Sri Lankan attacks. Prabath Jayasuriya has put together an impressive record, having taken 71 wickets in 12 Test matches. On the other hand, the majority of these have been scored on wickets that are favourable to spin; it needs to be seen whether he possesses the skill and variety necessary to prosper on tracks that are less receptive. He will be hoping to take advantage of England’s incessant drive to attack, and if the ball begins to spin, he has the potential to be a genuine issue for the opposition.
It’s possible that arriving at Old Trafford less than fully cooked will be the most difficult obstacle to overcome. Because of issues with visas, the remaining members of the squad arrived in the United Kingdom on Friday, which was five days before the first test match was scheduled to begin. Also, the one and only warm-up match has had a foreboding atmosphere. Their batsmen appeared to be woefully unequipped to deal with probing lengths and the moving ball, and as a result, Sri Lanka was bowled out for 139 in their first innings at Worcester by a callow England Lions attack. It is possible that it will be a very long series if they do not improve quickly.
Nevertheless, both the team and the island are buzzing with excitement. What Jayasuriya had to say about the opportunity to play three test matches in England was that it was a fantastic one. “Our players are given the opportunity to showcase their red-ball talent through the use of this series.”
Over the past few years, Sri Lanka has been shifting its focus more and more towards limited-overs cricket as a result of the shifting landscape of the world game. All of the most prominent figures in the country are white-ball specialists who have not travelled to the destination. So, it is possible that this tour will have significant repercussions. A blowout would be another nail in the coffin for the global future of Tests, and competitive cricket might serve as a reminder to the globe that the five-day game requires countries other than the big three of India, Australia, and England. As we make our way to Old Trafford, nobody is entirely certain what we will see there. In and of itself, this makes the possibility absolutely persuasive.