GALLE: When Kusal Mendis inside edged a catch behind the wicket off the first ball he received and was given a reprieve by the head umpire who ruled that delivery a no-ball as the bowler Subash Roy had overstepped the crease he would have known that Lady Luck was certainly on his side.
Kusal Mendis celebrates his century on the first day of the first Test against Bangladesh at the Galle International Stadium yesterday. (Pix by Saman Mendis)

Following that awful first shot he played that nearly cost him his wicket Mendis from there onwards hardly put a foot wrong as he made his way towards his second Test century in 15 matches to put Sri Lanka in a much firmer footing than they were at one stage at the end of the first day of the first Test against Bangladesh played at the Galle International Stadium yesterday.

It was Mendis’ brilliant knock of 176 that paved the way for Sri Lanka’s 3-0 sweep of Australia in their last home series in July 2015, and it has taken him another seven months to notch up his second hundred at the highest level.

The way he is going he is certain to end up with another big score which could be the decisive factor in determining which way the series would go. Mendis was unbeaten on 166 at stumps having batted for 362 minutes and hit 18 fours and two sixes in his 242-ball innings with Niroshan Dickwella on 14.

At 149 Mendis passed 1000 Test runs – the 31st Sri Lankan player to do so and with Gunaratne, he shared a new fourth wicket partnership of 196 off 261 balls against Bangladesh erasing the previous highest of 150 by Kumar Sangakkara and Aravinda de Silva at the P Sara Oval in 2002.

Mendis of whom everyone expects big things was all class as he settled down to play some glorious pulls, drives and sweeps, mainly on the leg side where he collected 99 of his 166 runs.

Gunaratne continued his golden run with the bat and was unfortunate to be dismissed for 85 when he dragged a wide ball that could have been left alone onto his stumps. He had seven fours in his 134-ball knock of 85.

Mendis and Gunaratne raised the batting tempo during their partnership after Sri Lanka had scored only 61 runs in the first session of play so that by the day’s end the total had exceeded 300.

The final session of play produced 166 runs as the Lankan batsmen made capital out of the tired Bangladesh bowlers on a very hot day that saw the support staff bring out a giant umbrella to provide shade to the players during the drinks breaks.

The two batsmen Sri Lanka were banking on to score heavily Dimuth Karunaratne and Dinesh Chandimal both failed. Karunaratne coming to this Test on the back of a double century scored against England Lions in the unofficial test at Dambulla made 30 before chopping the ball onto his stumps.

Chandimal having scored an unbeaten 190 against this bowling attack for Sri Lanka President’s XI in the two-day warm-up match was strangely subdued scratching around 54 balls for five before dot balls brought about his downfall got the better of him and his expansive drive ended up in gully’s hands.

Upul Tharanga never looked a Test opener with his poor technique and it was no surprise when he was beaten all ends up by a delivery from Subash Roy that ripped through his defence and shattered his stumps in the sixth over of the day.

Sri Lanka strengthened their bowling attack for this Test going in with five specialist bowlers that included three spinners for the expense of a batsman Dhananjaya de Silva. Bangladesh also opted for five specialist bowlers but included three seamers instead.

Bangladesh has won just three of its 45 away matches — two against West Indies in 2009 and one against Zimbabwe in 2013 — but has shown considerable improvement since its last victory overseas.

In its own backyard, Bangladesh has won four Tests, drawn five and conceded only three defeats since 2014. It showed impressive recent form against New Zealand and then India in away matches despite losing in both countries.

Sri Lanka has a solid record at home and blanked Australia 3-0 in the last series it hosted, in August 2016. But Bangladesh will be buoyed by the return of Mustafizur Rahman, the left-arm paceman who has not played a Test since his debut series against South Africa in 2015.

Mustafizur, 21, had undergone a shoulder surgery in August last year, after picking up an injury while playing for Sussex. He was selected for the New Zealand tour in December-January, and played four limited-overs matches before being ruled out of the two Tests that followed due to a hamstring injury.

Sri Lanka has won each of its last five Tests on home soil and will be captained by Rangana Herath, its experienced left-arm spinner who replaced Angelo Mathews.

The Sri Lankan cricket board did not say why Mathews was dropped, but he returned home last month midway through the South African tour after twisting his ankle.

The second Test in Colombo from March 15 will be Bangladesh’s 100th since it gained full status nearly 17 years ago.

The teams are also scheduled to play three One-Day Internationals before facing off in two Twenty20 Internationals to wind down the tour on April 6.

Teams (from):

Sri Lanka: Rangana Herath (capt), Dimuth Karunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Upul Tharanga, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Asela Gunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Pradeep, Vikum Sanjaya Bandara, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Malinda Pushpakumara.

Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt, wk), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad, Sabbir Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam, Mehedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mosaddek Hossain, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Subashis Roy, Rubel H

One of them the key figure Chandika Hathurusingha is a former Sri Lanka cricketer and a former Sri Lanka ‘A’ team as well as senior team coach who is now the head coach of the Bangladesh side. His presence gives him access to the players, conditions and pitches that Sri Lanka will come up with against Bangladesh on the tour which could be a vital factor in determining the series.

Stand-in captain Rangana Herath well aware what is in store for them said, “Bangladesh have some advantage as they know our conditions and our players and all that. But this is a new game and at the end of the day it’s the team that plays well that wins.

They have some advantage no doubt. But as I said you have to play well. If you don’t play well you are not going to win. We have prepared as well as we could. I am sure they too have done the same.”

Having vital information of the opposition is nearly half the battle won and Bangladesh cricket which is on a high at the moment having beaten England in a Test match at home for the first time will fancy their chances against a Sri Lankan side that is still finding its feet at the moment with

an unsettled batting line up where the players are unaware of their positions going from one series to another.

For instance the openers slot sees a change from the last home series against Australia that Sri Lanka won so convincingly. There is no Kaushal Silva and his regular opening partner Dimuth Karunaratne saved his Test place with a double century in the second unofficial test against England Lions at Dambulla last month. Karunaratne will have another left-hander Upul Tharanga as his partner for this series.

In the 25 Test appearances Tharanga has made since making his debut 12 years ago, Bangladesh is one country that he has scored a Test century against – the other being against Zimbabwe. Tharanga has not opened in a Test since August 2015 against India at the SSC when he was dismissed for 4 and 5.

The no. 3 slot has become an enigma for Sri Lanka and Herath who will captain Sri Lanka in the two Tests in the absence of regular skipper Angelo Mathews (injured) said, “Maybe Kusal (Mendis). We haven’t decided on much.

We will wait for tomorrow morning to take a final call.”

Since making his Test debut against West Indies in October 2015, Mendis has batted from positions 2 to 5. Of the four occasions he has gone past the fifty mark three times he has batted at number four and that includes the series turning century of 176 against Australia.

Herath also stated that Dinesh Chandimal who has been the designated wicket-keeper in 24 of the 34 Tests he has played so far has been relieved from that position which will now be taken by Niroshan Dickwella who has kept wickets in three of the four Tests he has played.

That move is certainly not going to be a permanent one for according to Herath, “Whether we are going to stick with Chandi as wicketkeeper or move on with Niroshan needs to be spoken of. I need to talk to the selectors.”

Herath said the thinking behind the change of wicket-keeper is to give Chandimal who is expected to bat at number four more freedom to concentrate on his batting especially with Mathews being unavailable. The Lankan vice-captain came out of a lean patch with a stunning knock of 190 not out for Sri Lanka President’s XI against Bangladesh in the two-day warm-up match at Moratuwa.

Bangladesh is an opponent Chandimal has been prolific against scoring three of his seven Test hundreds including an unbeaten 116 at Galle in 2013 when Bangladesh last played here.

“Good to see guys like Dimuth and Chandi back in form. They have scored some big runs in the last couple of weeks and that’s important for the team,” said Herath.

“I am very happy leading the team into this Test series. The Bangladesh series is going to be tough. The guys I am sure are looking forward to do their best. I have lot of confidence in my team. We have been doing our training very well. We are confident.”

Even the position of Dhananajaya de Silva batting at number six is yet undecided.

“He has been batting at number six and we need to chat to the selectors and sort out where he needs to play. Dhananjaya most probably will bat below Chandimal at number six,” said Herath.

In that event the Lankan batting will read as: Karunaratne, Tharanga, Mendis, Chandimal, Gunaratne, De Silva and Dickwella, Herath will head the bowling along with Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Kumara for pace, but the second spinner will be a toss-up between Lakshan Sandakan and Dilruwan Perera.

Accordingly, the current scenario is of tremendous expectancy in a changed outlook of several colts that have come on the blocks who will strive to make their cricketing dream come true. Of significance to the Sri Lankan crusade is the presence of veteran campaigner Upul Tharanga back with a bang from an ODI century against South Africa and his consistency with the bat in leading the T20 team to the preceding series triumph. His T20 captaincy performance has been an apparent plus factor to the recall of the 32-year old veteran of 25 Test outings in ousting regular opener Kaushal di Silva for the opening berth. He has a moderate aggregate of 1400 runs from 46 innings with a highest of 165. He is epected to beef up the batting upfront pairing with Dimuth Karunaratne back from an on trial reprieve that he came through with a double ton against England A in the unofficial second test match. Also buoying is the apparent cementing of Test places by wicket-keeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella and Asela Gunaratne as specialist batsmen, and as much the naming of the 29-year old spin cum utility player Malinda Pushpakumara. While Dickwella and Gunaratne literally nudged the selectors by some fine performances in the instant cricket in South Africa after being omitted for the Test series, Pushpakumara, the former Lumbini MV, Colombo and Chilaw Marians player has been in top form with the ball heading the domestic averages. His 13-wicket haul and match sealing boundary in Sri Lanka A’s win against England A in the second unofficial Test was high stuff at that level that has thrust him on the threshold of winning his national cap against Bangladesh for the first Test starting on March 7 at the Galle Esplanade.

All in all, the squad does carry a lineup of some promising youngsters along with a string of campaigners who have been around long enough to test Bangladesh to the extreme in favourable home conditions. An added dimension to the Sri Lankan official ranks is of course that former top campaigner, Asanka Gurusinha as manager Cricket for the National Team. It is a highly laudable choice by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in getting the perfect blend at managerial level given Gurusinha’s tremendous services to Sri Lanka cricket.

Neighbours Bangladesh will be led by experienced batsman Mushfiqur Rahim in a composition that sees fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman recalled after a 2-year hiatus. The exchanges, that will also see three ODIs and two T20s, has already assumed fiery proportions with the visiting skipper Rahim having thrown the gauntlet in stating on his arrival that Bangladesh was confident of upsetting Sri Lanka in the absence of regular Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews. Test minnows, who top their 100th Test match against Sri Lanka on March 15, have indeed come a long way chalking up a string of Test wins mainly against Zimbabwe, and also defeating the West Indies, in their thrust to tasting the test series euphoria.

Sri Lanka Test squad:Rangana Herath (Captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Upul Tharanga, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Asela Gunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Pradeep, Vikum Sanjaya Bandara, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Malinda Pushpakumara.

Bangladesh Test squad Mushfiqur Rahim (c), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Sabbir Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam, Mehedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mosaddek Hossain, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Subashis Roy, Rubel Hossain.

Tour Manager – Ranjith Fernando, Heapd coach – Graham Ford, Physiotherapist – Ajantha Wattegama, Trainer – Nicholas Lee, Masseur – Lal Thamel, Performance analyst- Sriram Somayajula, Liaison officers – Chandra Rodrigo (Sri Lankan Team), Wasantha Ariyawickrama (B

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Gunaratne hit two match-winning fifties in the recent T20 series in Australia, and had also struck a maiden ODI hundred in South Africa earlier in the month. Dickwella, meanwhile, has been effective at the top of the order in the shorter formats, but had also had some first-class form behind him in recent domestic outings.

Among those omitted from the squad are Kusal Perera, who has been in poor form in both international and domestic cricket over the past few months, and opener Kaushal Silva.

Dimuth Karunaratne, the other opener, remains in the squad, however. This is thanks in part to his 212 for Sri Lanka A against England Lions over the weekend. He had also hit Sri Lanka’s only half-century in their most recent Test at the Wanderers.

The selectors sprang no major surprises on the bowling front. Malinda Pushpakumara, whom SLC had already announced would be part of the squad, is the only first-time addition. Lahiru Kumara, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep and Vikum Sanjaya – all right-armers – make up the seam-bowling options, while Rangana Herath leads a strong spin contingent featuring Dilruwan Perera and Lakshan Sandakan in addition to Pushpakumara. Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera has not played competitive cricket since late last year, and, as such, is unavailable.

Gunaratne’s inclusion in this squad was largely expected. He had prospered in his first Test series in Zimbabwe over October and November, and had only left the squad to make way for the return of Angelo Mathews, who had been injured for that series. With Mathews out of the side again for this series, Gunaratne is a potential replacement at no. 5, capable of providing a slow-medium bowling option for captain Herath.

Dickwella, 23, had to beat out a late challenge from Ron Chandraguptha to secure the second opener’s spot, but was also the frontrunner for this position. He had mixed results in his previous stint in the Test team in 2014, playing as wicketkeeper and batting down the order – he averages 20.57 after seven Test innings – but has since expanded his game. He was the Player of the Series in the 2-1 T20 victory over South Africa in January, and had also scored 522 runs at an average of 52.20 in Sri Lanka’s first-class competition before he left for that tour.

The Test series begins on March 7 in Galle.

Sri Lanka squad: Rangana Herath (capt), Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Dimuth Karunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Upul Tharanga, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Asela Gunaratne, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Pradeep, Vikum Sanjaya, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Malinda Pushpakumara.

Kithuruwan Vithanage was also among the runs scoring 130 for Tamil Union against CCC at Havelock Park. All the matches will continue on day two today.

DAY ONE SCORES

l At Havelock Park: Tamil Union: 377 in 87.3 overs (Kithuruwan Vithanage 130, Manoj Sarathchandra 63, Chamika Karunarathne 50, Jeevan Mendis 40, Tharanga Paranavitana 30, Lahiru Madhushanka 4/77, Lahiru Gamage 3/83) vs CCC

l At FTZ Katunayake: SSC: 275/7 at close in 80 overs (Dimuth Karunaratne 125, Dasun Shanaka 59, Kavindu Kulasekara 38, Minod Bhanuka 21, Dilruwan Perera 4/70, Prabath Jayasooriya 2/59) vs Colts

l At P. Sara Oval: Chilaw Marians: 190 in 61.2 overs (Mahela Udawatte 52, Ashen Silva 52, Sachithra Serasinghe 33, Raveen Yasas 25, Dhanushika Bandara 5/36, Nalin Priyadarshana 4/61)

Army SC: 65/4 at close in 27 overs (Arosh Janoda 2/9)

l At Colts: NCC: 265 in 62 overs (Chaturanga de Silva 83, Angelo Perera 59, Thimira Jayasinghe 37, Pawan Wickramasinghe 27, Chathura Peiris 4/60, Thilaksha Sumanasiri 2/29, Amila Aponso 2/72)

Ragama CC: 43/6 at close in 21 overs (Farveez Maharoof 3/14)

PLATE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

Sahan Wijeratne of Baduraliya SC hit an unbeaten 102 runs against Moors SC in the Plate championship match of the Premier League Tier ‘A’ Inter-Club cricket tournament at BRC grounds yesterday. All the matches will continue today.

DAY ONE SCORES

l At BRC: Badureliya SC: 300 in 88.1 overs (Sahan Wijeratne 102 n.o., Saliya Saman 38, Nimanda Madusanka 31, Vishva Wijeratne 27, Dilanka Sandakan 5/52) vs Moors SC

l At Bloomfield: Galle CC: 301 in 86.3 overs (Damitha Hunukumbura 97, Nilushan Nonis 65, Minhaj Jaleel 40, Shalika Karunanayake 34, Chalana De Silva 26, Kasun Rajitha 5/57, Chathura Randunu 3/85)

Saracens SC: 0/0 at close in 1 overs

l At Panagoda: Bloomfield: 290/8 in 92 overs (Nipun Karunanayake 98, Nisal Francisco 79, Vinod Perera 31, Dinuka Hettiarachchi 5/95, T. N. Sampath 2/72) v BRC

Premier League Tier ‘B’ Inter Club Cricket

Roscoe Thattil scores 175 for Air Force (main heading)

Roscoe Thattil of Air Force SC scored a fine 175 off 190 balls with fours against Kalutara PCC on the first day of their Premier League Tier ‘B’ Inter-Club cricket match played at Surrey ground Maggona yesterday.

Lahiru Sri Lakmal (Air Force SC) and Lakshan Rodrigo (Lankan CC) also made hundreds against Kalutara PCC and Navy SC respectively. All matches will continue today.

DAY ONE SCORES

l At Maggona: Air Force SC: 426/9 decl in 79.2 overs (Roscoe Thattil 175, Lahiru Sri Lakmal 115, Harshana James 33, Nalin Wijesinghe 20, Ruchira Silva 4/98, Rasika Fernando 2/66, Thenuka Dhananjaya 2/80)

Kalutara PCC: 7/1 at close in 5 overs

l At Moors: Lankan CC: 364/5 in 90 overs (Lakshan Rodrigo 133, Sasheen Fernando 96, Chanaka Ruwansiri 65 n.o., Lal Kumara 26, Madura Madhusanka 2/33) vs Navy SC

l At Welagedara: Kurunegala YCC: 63/3 at close in 23 overs (Chanaka Komasaru 2/22) vs Ports Authority

l At Sooriyawewa: Kalutara TC: 238/5 at close in 90 overs (Sulan Jayawardena 76 n.o., Tharindu Sriwardene 58, Nipuna Gamage 43, Risith Upamal 31, Suwanji Madanayake 3/45) vs Police SC – (YK

Kusal Perera, Upul Tharanga and Dinesh Chandimal all hit half-centuries before play was called off in mid-afternoon with Sri Lanka on 212 for five in their second innings after leading by 84 runs on the first innings.

No fewer than seven Sri Lankan batsmen made scores of 50 or more in the team’s only warm-up match ahead of the first Test against South Africa, starting in Port Elizabeth on Monday.

Perera and Tharanga were promoted to open the batting in the second innings and made 51 and 50 respectively before retiring. It completed an unusual feat by the tourists with four different opening batsmen all retiring after hitting half-centuries. Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva made 71 and 80 respectively in the first innings and did not bat in the second innings.

Chandimal hit a quick 60 off 52 balls, while captain Angelo Mathews followed a first innings duck by making 37 in the second innings before play was called off. Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva were the other players to make half-centuries in the first innings, leaving the tour selectors probably having to leave out at least one in-form batsman when they pick the Test side.

Herath followed up his five-wicket haul in the first innings with 5 for 45 in the second as Zimbabwe, set 491 to win, went to stumps on the fourth evening on 180 for seven.

The feat not only took Herath to 50 wickets in the calendar year — in just his eighth Test — but also gave him the seventh 10-wicket match haul in his career.

The tourists began the fourth day on 102 for four in their second innings, with an overall lead of 334, and spent the first half of the day extending that advantage.
With Dimuth Karunaratne anchoring the innings with a patient 88 and Kusal Perera adding a quickfire 62 towards the end, Sri Lanka were able to declare their second innings on 258 for nine to set Zimbabwe 491 to win.

Left with 136 overs to bat in order to save the match, Zimbabwe were soon reduced to 39 for three before a 74-run stand for the fourth wicket between Sean Williams and Craig Ervine briefly revived them.

Once Williams edged to slip off Lahiru Kumara to fall for 45, Sri Lanka were able to chip away at the middle order and move within three wickets of a 2-0 series sweep.

Ervine reached stumps unbeaten on 65, with Donald Tiripano for company.

AFP

Karunaratne had a poor home series against Australia averaging just 6.83 in the three Tests where his highest score was 22 and needed a big innings behind him to boost his confidence ahead of the Zimbabwe tour.

Sri Lanka A’s first innings total of 348 for eight wickets at the end of the day was largely built around Karunaratne’s assured knock of 131 off 242 balls comprising 15 fours. It gave them a handy first innings lead of 72 going into the third day today. West Indies A was dismissed for 276 on the first day.

The base for Sri Lanka A’s sound total was laid by Karunaratne and his opening partner Kusal Perera who made a swashbuckling 87 off 105 balls (7 fours, 3 sixes) out of a stand of 167 off 219 balls.

Antigua’s stockily built off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall broke the partnership by getting through the defences of Perera and looked the most penetrative of the West Indies A bowlers ending the day with impressive figures of six for 87.

Wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella was the other Sri Lanka A player to impress hitting an aggressive half century – 59 off 70 balls with 10 fours.

The disappointments for Sri Lanka A were the cheap dismissals of Lahiru Thirimanne for two and Roshen Silva for 17 – both falling victims to Cornwall’s spin.

West Indies A lost the services of fast bowler Reynard Leveridge in the ninth over when he was forced to retire and Cornwall completed the over.

That Australia face the prospect of such a humiliation when they are the current Test champions is borne by the fact that their batsmen have found to be vulnerable against some high quality spin bowling by Sri Lanka’s three-pronged line-up which sees them trailing 0-2 in the three-match series.

Led by veteran spinner Rangana Herath and comprising Dilruwan Perera and newcomer Lakshan Sandakan they have been so dominant in the series to capture 35 of the 40 Australian wickets to fall. Coming to the SSC, Australia’s woes won’t end there

That Sri Lanka has sought the assistance and expertise of the chief curator at Pallekele, Asitha Wijesinghe in the preparation of pitches for all three Tests including SSC means only one thing – that the SSC pitch which traditionally assists fast bowlers and batsmen will be turned into a track that will spin from the first day as has been the case at Pallekele and Galle.

Australian captain Steven Smith in conversation with his vice-captain David Warner as they prepare for the third and final Test at the SSC grounds.

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews described the SSC track being prepared for today’s third Test as a ‘turner’.

“SSC traditionally has been good for batting, but since of late it has helped spin bowling a lot. It will turn from day one and it will be a spinners’ paradise once again,” said Mathews.

Which means the Aussies won’t have any respite going into the third and final Test. They will once again face a trial by spin and if by now they have not found a way to tackle the spin of the Lankan bowlers, the Test is guaranteed to follow in the same trend as the first two.

“You don’t get these opportunities very easily. We know that. We have played really well in the first two games and we don’t want to give up this game,” said Mathews.

“We have put in lot of hard work ahead of this series and at the moment the mood and confidence is very good. We are excited. Everyone is geared up and we have not taken the foot off the gas. Hopefully we can go out there and beat the Aussies again. If we can do that it’s great.”

Seldom do countries want to make a change to their teams when they are winning. In that aspect openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva could consider themselves lucky to be retained for today’s Test despite a spate of low scores in the series which has seen neither of them getting into double figures in any of their four innings. Their highest score is seven.

“What the management and selectors think is that we can give opportunities to players whom we believe can deliver,” said Mathews. “Kaushal when it was tough in England fought really hard and after two games we don’t want to throw a character like him away. Dimuth didn’t score runs in England but he had got a big hundred in New Zealand. Everyone will go through that rough patch and hopefully they can deliver.

“It’s pretty easy to do when you are winning and give the guys a longer run when you are losing that’s not going to be the case. The selectors and the coach and everyone else are of the view that we will retain the same side now that we have won the series. These are the guys whom we believe will deliver at some stage,” he said.

However the only likely change Sri Lanka may make is replace Vishwa Fernando with Suranga Lakmal who has reported fit following hamstring stiffness that saw him miss the first two Tests.

You have to be proactive – Smith

Aussie captain Steven Smith knows what’s in store for his team at the SSC.

“Looking at this wicket it looks like it’s going to take a fair bit of spin from day one so you have to be proactive in the way you play,” said Smith.

“You’ve almost have to reinvent your game to be successful on these surfaces. In Australia, you don’t get balls that are turning like they are here and skidding on, everything’s pretty consistent.

“So it’s finding a way, I guess, and getting outside your comfort zone. It might be about sweeping, or coming down the wicket or getting deep in your crease.

“Sometimes it’s easy to do in the (practice) nets and when you get out in the middle there are guys around the bat, there’s the pressure of the match and it’s a whole different ball game.

“It’s just having the courage and faith to sometimes take a risk you may not take in Australia, and different ways of thinking to get around different situations.”

Australia’s indecision to name their eleven ahead of the third Test as they had done in the first two adds to the uncertainty that exists within the team.

The reason for that was given as hamstring soreness to one of their batters Adam Voges at yesterday’s training session.

“I am sure the selectors are talking about that (making personnel changes),” Smith said ahead of his team’s final training session.

“Losing two matches, you generally talk about those sorts of things so there are certainly possibilities that could happen.”

There is a likelihood of Shaun Marsh making his first appearance in the series after being overlooked for the first two. Marsh is one of the few batsmen in the present team to score a Test hundred in Sri Lanka when Australia last toured in 2011.