The Sri Lankan contingent in South Africa is a mix of youth and experience, where four players are likely to make their test cricket debut in the ‘Betway Test Series’. The first of the two off series in the ‘ICC Test Championship’ will get underway on Boxing Day (26) at the Super Sport Park, Centurion.
The 21-member Lankan squad includes four newcomers, Wanindu Hasaranga, Santhush Gunathilake, Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka who are yet to make their debut in test cricket.
As per the progress so far. It is very likely that all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga has become the cynosure of eyes and is to get the call in the event the team management decides to play a single spinner.
The team winning the toss will likely take first lease of the wicket and the batsman would have to play their shots on the merit of the bowling. It is expected that the new ball might swing both ways in the early hours of the morning, but as the day goes on it might turn out to be a placid batting track.
Sri Lanka has a strong batting line which runs to number seven. They are likely to open the inning with skipper Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Janith Perera with Kusal Mendis likely to be the one drop bat. Dimuth, who has scored over 4,500 runs in his 66 matches, is the most experienced player in the side. He has scored nine centuries and 24 half centuries and is expected to give a solid start to the innings along with Kusal Janith Perera, another scintillating player who is capable of scoring runs briskly.
Former skipper Dinesh Chnadimal is the second experienced player in the team with 58 appearances in this format scoring over 3,800 runs. He along with Kusal Perera will have to play a pivotal role to anchor the middle order if they are to build a score of over 300 runs. Both of them are immensely talented and capable of using the long handle to pile up big scores.
The middle order might have revolved between either Vinod Banuka or Lahiru Thrimanne, another experienced campaigner in this format. Dasun Shanaka might be also considered as a specialized batsman ahead of Niroshan Dickwella who is another quick run getter and wicket keeper.
Suranga Lakmal, the second most senior player in the squad and also the highest wicket taker so far has proved his fitness after a mild hamstring injury and is likely to share the new ball with Lahiru Kumara. The three pronged seam attack is likely to include left arm seamer Vishwa Fernando, another fine prospect for the Lankan team. If Lakmal fails to pass the fitness test, then they might go for Kasun Rajitha who is capable of bowling long spells.
The team management might opt to go for a single spinner as a supportive bowler in between spells and Wanindu Hasaranga is likely to be the first choice. He is capable of making runs while bowling a variety of balls which will be handy from day three, when cracks might open up enabling him to put the skids on the rival’s batting.
He is in prime form after claiming the highest number of wickets at the recently concluded Lanka Premier League which earned him several awards.
Nevertheless, as per the Lankan skipper, they are very much focused and the boys are very much keen to play their part in their respective departments to create a historic and end a memorable tour.
Kusal Janith Perera will no doubt focus on continuing from where left off after taking his team to a nerve tingling win when they last played. The team which wins the toss will take the first lease of the wicket, which the home team has done in their last five outings and four have been result oriented.
On the other hand, the newly appointed South African skipper Quinton de Kock will have a herculean task on his shoulder after several senior players were sidelined due to various reasons. Both sides have played against each other on 29 occasions. Sri Lanka have won nine, lost 14 and drawn 6 matches.
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