SRI LANKA LOOK TO BID HERATH FAREWELL IN STYLE
Skipper Dinesh Chandimal yesterday said Sri Lanka’s spinners are ready to fire in the first Test against England in Galle as the hosts eye a winning farewell for the retiring Rangana Herath. Sri Lanka, who went down to the tourists 1-3 in the five one-day internationals and also lost a one-off Twenty20 match, are looking for redemption in the three-test series starting today (6).
Spinners Dilruwan Perera and Akila Dananjaya are expected to partner Herath in his final international outing on a turning Galle track that has seen rain in the lead up to the match.
“When you look at the Galle pitch, it’s always turning and helpful to spinners,” Chandimal told reporters.
“When we play in Sri Lanka, it’s spinners who take charge. Then again, it’s all about weather and the condition of the pitch.”
But England are also ready with their battery of spinners led by Moeen Ali. Jack Leach, Joe Denly and Adil Rashid will also be fighting for a place in the starting line-up.
Skipper Joe Root also admitted that spin would ‘play a huge part’ but said they were ready for anything.
“We’ve just got to adapt very well, very quickly and read the situation.”
But the spotlight in Galle remains on the departing Herath, the most successful left-arm spinner in
When we play in Sri Lanka, it’s spinners who take charge. Then again, it’s all about weather and the condition of the pitch
Dinesh Chandimal history, as he seeks a fairytale swansong.
“We have few things under the sleeve (for Herath). We don’t want Joe Root to reveal all because we want him to be surprised,” said Chandimal.
“The main thing is if we can win this game and the series that will be a really good farewell for him. That’s what the team is looking forward to,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will be without the services of fast bowler Lahiru Kumara who was dropped from the 16-member Test Squad for breach of the team’s code of conduct.
He was replaced in the squad by Dushmantha Chameera.
The squads
Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (Captain), Akila Dananjaya, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Rangana Herath, Dimuth Karunaratne, Suranga Lakmal, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Malinda Pushpakumara, Kasun Rajitha, Lakshan Sandakan, Roshen Silva Dushmantha Chameera and Kaushal Silva.
England: Joe Root (Captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Keaton Jennings, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone and Chris Woakes.