Injury woes for Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews believes that his side could bounce back in the remaining two Tests. However Pakistan skipper Mishbah-Ul-Haq is looking forward to end a nine year drought without a series win when the second Test between the two countries starts at the P. Sara Oval today.

Sri Lanka are having a few injury problems to be sorted out on the eve of the second Test as all-rounder Dilruwan Perera will definitely miss the second Test due to splitting the webbing of his right hand which needed nine stitches while fielding in the Galle Test and Dhammika Prasad being the second casualty injuring himself during a practice session last morning. Dilruwan Perera’s place will be taken by off spinner Tharindu Kaushal and if Prasad does not play it will be either Suranga Lakmal or Dushmantha Chameera who will come into the side.

Tharindu Kaushal and seasoned left arm spinner Rangana Herath should form an effective spin combination. Tharindu Kaushal made his Test debut against New Zealand in the Boxing Day Test in Christchurch last year and had a fiery baptism taking 2 for207. On previous occasions Herath has been the ‘bug bear’ for the visitors , but the Pakistan captain is happy that his batsmen have done a good job in handling him in the first Test in which Herath managed only one wicket.

“It is a good sign for us because he is a very good bowler and could have done a lot more. We need to keep this going to win the series because he is a tough competitor capable of doing anything. Pakistan’s spinners claimed 13 wickets between them in Galle compared to the five by Sri Lanka. I admit that our spinners were not as effective as their spinners. Even the pitch was turning from day one,” said the Sri Lankan captain Anjelo Mathews. “Hopefully Rangana Herath will bounce back quickly”, he added. The P.Sara Oval, which hosted the inaugural Sri Lanka – England Test in 1982 will hold the key for this vital Test match. The venue has produced a winner in eight consecutive Test matches since 2005. Sri Lanka lost to India in 2010, then to England and New Zealand in 2012. In the last Test against New Zealand at the Oval, the Kiwi pacemen Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Doug Bracewell exploited the Lankan conditions exceptionally well to give New Zealand victory.

In today’s Test match the emphasis will be on Pakistan trying a to win and seal a series win, and Sri Lanka trying deprive Pakistan of victory. To prevent that the Lankans need to put in a gigantic effort.

The visitors’ attack look far superior than their Lankan counterparts. Paceman Dammika Prasad has the ability to take early wickets with his lively pace with the rest of the bowlers making only sporadic efforts. Pakistan on the other hand showed that they were able to adopt themselves in adverse conditions. Their two left arm bowlers Junaid Khan and Riyaz Wahab bowled exceptionally well on the dead wicket in Galle, supported by spinners Barba and Yasir Shah who were impressive.