Sri Lanka, after losing the first Test by seven wickets are determined to bounce back against the high-riding England Team when the second and final Test gets underway at the Galle Stadium today.
The Sri Lankans who recently suffered a 0-2 series defeat at the hands of South Africa are hoping that ace paceman Suranga Lakmal will be fit for the deciding Test.
In fact, spinners Lasith Embuldeniya, Dilruwan Perera, Ramesh Mendis, Lakshan Sandakan and Wanindu Hasaranga remain as the key players for the home side on a track expected to favour the turning ball.
The Sri Lankan camp is hoping that their four senior players, former captain, Angelo Mathews, stand-in captain Dinesh Chandimal, openers, Lahiru Thirimanna and Kusal Perera will continue their form into the second Test as well.
Sri Lanka will open the batting with Thirimanna and Perera and Oshada Fernando will make a welcome return to the side and drop down to number three position.
Mathews will follow at number four and Chandimal will occupy the number five slot. Out of form wicket-keeper batsman, Niroshan Dickwella will occupy the number six position.
All-rounder, Dasun Shanaka and debutant off-spinning all-rounder, Ramesh Mendis will fight it out for the number five slot.
Off spinner Dilruwan Perera will occupy the number six slot with experienced fast bowler Suranga Lakmal likely to have an edge over new boy Wanindu Hasaranga and most likely will occupy the number seven position followed by the tail-enders, Lasith Embuldeniya and Asitha Fernando.
Meanwhile, England will try to brush aside Sri Lanka in the second and final Test, as they prepare to face India in a four-Test series from next month.
England captain, Joe Root is expecting a stronger challenge from Sri Lanka after the visitors wrapped-up a convincing seven-wicket win in the first Test.
“I expect them to come at us really hard. We expect them to play really strong cricket. They have some match-winners and we expect a real challenge.”
“We saw in that second innings how Sri Lanka bounced back, how they looked a very different team.”
“I expect more of that in this second Test. They are a very proud team and we will have to play very well to beat them again.”
In fact, England’s performance in the next five Tests will also decide their fate of playing in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Inaugural World Test Championship.
The teams:
Sri Lanka (from): Dinesh Chandimal (Captain), Dushmantha Chameera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Niroshan Dickwella, Lasith Embuldeniya, Asitha Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Suranga Lakmal, Angelo Mathews, Ramesh Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Kusal Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Dasun Shanaka, Roshen Silva and Lahiru Thirimanne.
England (from): Joe Root (Captain), Jimmy Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Ben Foakes, Daniel Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali and Mark Wood.
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