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.

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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Sri Lanka Board XI replying to Bangladesh’s first innings total of 391 for 7 declared finished on 403 for seven wickets with Chandimal’s monumental knock making up for most of the total.

Chandimal captaining the side displayed responsibility and maturity as he steered his side towards an honourable draw with an innings that would have given him immense confidence ahead of the first Test against Bangladesh starting at Galle Tuesday next.

The exciting right-hander was dropped from the side following a poor run in South Africa where in 12 international innings his highest score was 36 and was told by chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya that he should ‘go back to club cricket’ and work out his game.

Chandimal was however named in the squad for the two Tests against Bangladesh and having been given the opportunity to enhance his chances in the Test eleven further and regain his lost form, he was asked to lead the Sri Lanka President’s XI in the warm-up game against Bangladesh. He has responded in magnificent fashion rising up to the challenge stroking 21 fours and seven sixes in an innings that would give immense confidence to the wobbly Sri Lankan middle order for the Test series. Chandimal’s innings came on the back of him having kept wickets the entire first day when Bangladesh batted. He had only a brief rest the following day because the SL Board XI lost their first two wickets by the fifth over.

The local team were 29 for three before four half century partnerships involving Chandimal with Roshane Silva (38), Rumesh Buddhika (32), Leo Fransisco (27) and Wanidu Hasaranga (32) and an unbroken century stand of 112 for the eighth wicket with Chamila Karunaratne (50 n.o.) lifted the SL Board XI and helped them gain control of the Bangladesh bowling.

The pick of the bowlers for the visitors were Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed who took five wickets between them.

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It required just two good knocks – both of them top drawer stuff against the Aussies to catch the attention of the cricket world… and unknown Asela Gunaratne is suddenly the most sought after cricketer today.

The good news is that Gunaratne had become a hot “buy” at the IPL auction held yesterday and was quickly snapped up by Mumbai Indians for Indian Rupees 30 lakhs. Gunaratne will be in the company of Sri Lanka’s top one-day fast bowler Lasith Malinga who also represents the same franchise. The only other Sri Lanka cricketer who was successful at yesterday’s auction was national captain Angelo Mathews who was purchased by Delhi Daredevils for Indian Rupees 2 crore. The tenth edition of IPL is slated to commence on April 5 with eight franchises in the running for the title.

Gunaratne is not a name that comes to mind when someone talks about potential big signings the IPL is renowned for but he beat some of his celebrated colleagues like Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Perera, Niroshan Dickwella and Thisara Perera who all went unsold at the auction. At 31 years of age and just 17 international games under his belt, Gunaratne is a cricketer who has been pretty late for the party but nevertheless as the saying goes “it’s never too late”.

The right-hander had scored two consecutive match-winning fifties in the two T20Is against Australia. While his 37-ball 52 paved the way for a thrilling five-wicket victory in the first T20I at Melbourne, Gunaratne’s unbeaten 46-ball 84 in the second T20I at Geelong helped Sri Lanka to seal the three-match series 2-0. It was his exploits in the second T20I that arguably made him a prized-possession for any IPL franchise.

Coming to the crease at 37-3, Gunaratne looked to attack from the outset, taking a particular liking to the bowling of debutant Jhye Richardson as he kept the tourists in the run-chase despite a regular fall of wickets at the other end.

It was starting to look like mission impossible for Sri Lanka when the equation was 48 runs needed off 18 balls, but Gunaratne launched at exactly the right moment, striking two boundaries off the 18th over before launching at Moises Henriques with the next, blasting 22 runs in the form of three sixes and a four. Suddenly, Sri Lanka needed just 14 off 6, and boy, did the soldier from the Sri Lanka Army polish it off in style, finishing the match with a cracking four off the last delivery.

Gunaratne smashed five sixes and six fours in his breath-taking innings. Thanks to his blitz, Sri Lanka secured their third successive T20 series win in Australia.

Gets picked by Mumbai Indians for his maiden IPL

THE POWER OF GUNARATNE

Gunaratne’s amazing scoring rate for his unbeaten 84 not out was as follows:

•24•11•211•11114212•16412•1•11••2111•666•446144.

He scored 47 off his first 37 balls and 37 off his last 11.

Praise From The Greats

Amongst the top cricketers showering praise on Gunaratne’s fairytale knock were former Sri Lanka skippers Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya and Michael Vaughan of England.

Here are their comments and of others that appeared on Twitter:

Mahela Jayawardene:

Wow… Asela Gunaratne. Take a bow! Amazing finish. Well done boys.

Kumar Sangakkara:

The best t20 ever played by Sri Lanka. What a win. Take a bow Asela. Probably the best knock under pressure. So proud.

Sanath Jayasuriya:

Congrats Upul & boys on a stunning victory & series win. what an absolute beauty of an inns from Asela. You boys made me so happy

Michael Vaughan:

That was a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning ….. The Aussies being Walloped …. #AusvSL #Gunaratne is my new hero….

Dinesh Chandimal:

Very weldone team srilanka what a victory. Asela you beauty what an inning it was top class buddy

Thilan Samaraweera:

What a phenomenal innings!! Great knock Asela Gunarathna

Angelo Mathews:

What a knock !!absolute genius. One of the best knocks in t20. Asela u beauty. kapu played a good hand too. congratulations boys

Rangana Herath:

Very well played Asela, one of the great T20 innings, congratulations to the boys for winning the tournament

Farveez Maharoof:

What a win special mention to asela for the unbelievable knock.. congratulations all involved! Another series win in Australia

Dhammika Prasad:

Unbelievable knock from asela. Wat a game boys. Congrats. Wel done.

South Africa were without their newest spearhead, 20-year-old Lungi Ngidi, for most of their time in the field after he bruised his hip, and he could not bowl his final two overs, but had a tardy fielding effort rather than lack of resources to blame for their inability to defend the total. They put down five catches in total and saw several more aerial chances go unclaimed to allow Sri Lanka some leeway in what was a tough task.

Still, it took cool heads for Sri Lanka’s batsmen to cross the line, especially after Imran Tahir removed their stand-in captain Dinesh Chandimal early on and then removed Dickwella and Dhananjaya de Silva in the same over. Sri Lanka had to rebuild their innings twice and eventually needed 26 runs off the last two overs. Against the inexperience of Andile Phehlulwayo and debutant Dane Paterson, Prasanna and Asela Gunaratne got there to seal a memorable win.

By the time the 19th over began, Prasanna already had 23 off 10 balls – having brought the target down from a daunting 50 off 21 balls – but Gunaratne had yet to score a run and only faced one ball after Kusal Mendis was run-out in the previous over. The pair ran hard off the first and second deliveries before Prasanna advanced on a Phehlukwayo slower ball and sent it over long-on for six. He did not get hold of the next one, losing his bat as he swung, but finished the over with a ramp over the Mangaliso Mosehle’s head to leave Paterson with 11 to defend off the last over.

Gunaratne took the pressure off the final passage of play with a scoop over fine leg for four and took quick singles before he swung across the line and top-edged over Mosehle to level scores. In his excitement, Gunaratne thought the match was over and grabbed a stump out of the ground in celebration only to be told he needed one run was still needed. He drove the penultimate ball through the covers and this time could keep the stump.

Having threatened through the series, with 43 in Centurion and 22 in Johannesburg, Dickwella went one better and converted his start into his first T20 half-century. He had support from Upul Tharanga, who was playing in his first T20 since the World T20 in 2012, and was aggressive from the get-go. The pair punished width early on and took on the short ball and it took a change of pace to separate them.

Tharanga lobbed a catch to mid-on off Wayne Parnell’s first ball, a slower delivery, to give South Africa a breakthrough but it was when stand-in captain Dinesh Chandimal was bowled by Tahir’s first delivery that Sri Lanka were under real pressure. Tahir’s over went boundary-less and then a hat-trick of missed chances came off Parnell’s second over, including a return catch, with Dickwella surviving two of those chances. He made South Africa pay.

He saw off Tahir and targeted Phehlukwayo at first, before switching gears and lapping Tahir but South Africa’s complications came when they needed a replacement for Ngidi after he injured his hip diving at cover. Jon-Jon Smuts had to fill in but his two overs cost 22 runs as Dickwella reached fifty off 34 balls.

With five overs to go, Sri Lanka needed more than ten an over but would have been fairly comfortable with Dickwella well settled. Tahir had an over in hand, though, and appeared to have changed the game. He had Dickwella caught in the deep and de Silva stumped to turn things South Africa’s way but Sri Lanka had more muscle.

In the end, South Africa might blame their middle-order problems for not posting a big enough total. They lost 4 for 28 runs in 25 balls between the 14th and 18th over, including de Villiers which may have been the difference.

South Africa trialled a new opening partner for Smuts in Reeza Hendricks and it proved a good decision. While Smuts continued to show nothing more than glimpses of the potential that took him to the top of the domestic T20 competition run-charts, Hendricks had the composure for a longer stay and formed one half of the hosts’ major partnership on the night

After Smuts was given out lbw, Hendricks was joined by de Villiers and was happy to cede control to the senior man, but not before a third perfectly timed offside drive to the end the PowerPlay strongly.

De Villiers initially played within himself before giving making room to drive through point for his first boundary. He did not focus on finding the rope too many more times early on, though, and strike-rotation with a partner who was as speedy as him formed the foundation of their scoring. Every single was cheered loudly, twos and a solitary three were even more appreciated but there was no doubt the crowd was expecting more. When de Villiers danced down the track to meet a Lakshan Sandakan delivery on the full and send it straight back over his head for six, Newlands erupted. Their superstar was back.

A scoop off Gunaratne saw de Villiers overtake Hendricks before the latter was stumped. Hendricks will not be happy with his carelessness when he dragged his foot out against Sandakan after the ball spun across him and he failed to push his foot behind the line. Chandimal needed two attempts to complete the stumping and, still, Hendricks did not inch further back.

Despite that wicket bringing South Africa’s most dangerous hitter, David Miller, to the crease, Sri Lanka had created an opening to claw their way back. Miller, Farhaan Behardien and de Villiers all departed and South Africa entered the final two overs on 141 for 5 without one of their regular finishers on hand. Nuwan Kulasekara did an exceptional job in his final two overs which only cost 11 and removed de Villiers.

Mosehle took the opportunity to show what he could do with a stunning cameo. He plundered three sixes off the first four balls in the last over, which cost Isuru Udana 21, and took South Africa’s total over 160 but it was not enough.

De Silva made 43 not out as Sri Lanka struggled to 181 for seven – still 105 runs behind South Africa’s first innings total of 286 – before bad light ended play.

South African new ball bowlers Vernon Philander and Kyle Abbott put the Sri Lankan batsmen under pressure in seam-friendly conditions, with the first three wickets falling for 22 runs.

It looked as though a full-scale collapse was possible but Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews made a solid 39 before De Silva came out to bat at number seven and played an impressive innings, with assistance from Dinesh Chandimal and Rangana Herath.

It was not a wholly impressive performance by the South African bowlers. Philander and Abbott both bowled well, taking three for 35 and two for 49 respectively, but rising star Kagiso Rabada had an off day. De Silva, playing in only his sixth Test, showed some of the quality that has already brought him centuries against Australia and Zimbabwe, although he survived a caught and bowled chance to left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj when he was on 27. When play ended he had faced 69 balls and hit five fours.

The day started well for Sri Lanka when fast bowler Suranga Lakmal, playing in his 32nd Test, took his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket, finishing with five for 63, as South Africa lost their last four wickets for 19 runs.

The previous Test best for Lakmal, 29, was four for 78 against Pakistan in Dubai in January 2014.

Philander was caught at deep square leg when he top-edged a pull against Nuwan Pradeep in the fifth over of the morning after South Africa had resumed at 267 for six. Maharaj edged an away swinger to wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal to give Lakmal his fifth wicket and Abbott was run out after a mix-up with Quinton de Kock.

But the hosts hit back almost immediately as Philander and Abbott ripped into their batting. Both gained appreciable movement through the air and off the pitch as three wickets fell in the first eight overs before captain Mathews joined a patient Kaushal Silva to add 39 runs for the fourth wicket.

Silva was the only one of the top four in the Sri Lankan batting order to show a solid defensive technique in tricky conditions.

But he made only 16 off 108 balls before he was leg before wicket to Philander, who produced a ball that cut back after a succession of deliveries that left the batsman.

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.

The home team’s recent results have not been favourable – Zimbabwe comes into the series having lost both Tests against New Zealand in its previous series by big margins – and it will hope that the milestone Test will usher the team into a new era.

Zimbabwe cricket is in a state of transition, with senior players gradually making way for youngsters. Vusi Sibanda, Elton Chigumbura and Chamu Chibhabha find no place in the squad, while Hamilton Masakadza is in search of runs.

Zimbabwe’s batting unit, though, still have some valuable experience in the form of Craig Ervine and Sean Williams in the middle order. Ervine will come into the game with a lot of confidence, having made a fighting 146 against New Zealand in his last Test. Masakadza might not be in the best of form, but he does add strength in a young batting line-up.

The Test series against Sri Lanka is also a great opportunity for some promising names to make a mark. Peter Moor, the wicketkeeper batsman, showed what he was capable of during his 71 on Test debut against New Zealand. Malcolm Waller is in good form too, making his way back to the Test side after scoring four consecutive half-centuries in the recent series against Pakistan A.

Zimbabwe also has an uncapped batsman in Tarisai Musakanda, the 21-year-old, who has made his way to the top after impressive performances in first-class cricket.

The home side’s bowling attack has been hit by injuries to Tendai Chatara and Tinashe Panyangara. Chris Mpofu and Carl Mumba, the uncapped seamer, will form the pace-bowling department.

Sri Lanka too has been hampered by injuries to Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal, forcing the selectors to name a new captain in Herath. However, Sri Lanka should be the favourite, having whitewashed Australia at home 3-0 in the team’s previous Test series. The big names are missing but there is no dearth of class in Sri Lanka’s batting line-up, with Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva in particular impressing against Australia. The dashing Kusal Perera also adds might to the line-up. Sri Lanka’s bowling attack is led by the skipper, who is fast establishing himself as one of his country’s best ever cricketers. He has younger spinning colleagues in Dilruwan Perera and Lakshan Sandakan, the chinaman, for company. The pace attack will be led by Suranga Lakmal, and also has uncapped names in the 19-year-old Lahiru Kumara alongwith Lahiru Gamage.

The first Test will be a special one for Zimbabwe, but it will have to pull collectively to make it a memorable one.

Teams (from):

Zimbabwe:

Graeme Cremer (captain), Regis Chakabva (wk), Brian Chari, Michael Chinouya, Craig Ervine, Hamilton Masakadza, Tino Mawoyo, Peter Moor (wk), Chris Mpofu, Carl Mumba, Tarisai Musakanda, Taurai Muzarabani, Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams.

Sri Lanka:

Rangana Herath (captain), Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Lahiru Gamage, Asela Gunaratne, Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Kumara, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Madushanka, Kusal Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Kusal Perera (wk), Lakshan Sandakan, Kaushal Silva.

To add to their woes vice-captain, top batter and wicket-keeper Dinesh Chandimal won’t be making the tour to Zimbabwe as he has still not fully recovered from a thumb injury which he sustained playing in a Mercantile ‘A’ division match last month. The injury required surgery.

Chandimal’s place is filled by the Sri Lanka Army SC’s uncapped 30-year-old right-hand batting all-rounder Asela Gunaratne who has been amongst the runs in the ongoing unofficial test series against West Indies A.

Chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya stated that he was hopeful that Chandimal would recover in time for the one-day tri-series against Zimbabwe and West Indies that starts at Harare on November 14.

The two Tests against Zimbabwe are scheduled to be played at Harare from October 29-November 2 and November 6-10.

The delay in releasing the squad which was picked over a week ago was due to the fitness concerns surrounding key players especially the fast bowlers..

Eventually the Lankan selectors were left with only Suranga Lakmal as the fast bowler who was fit for selection amongst the experienced lot.

How weak the Lankan pace bowling line-up is can be gauged by the fact that Lakmal although being the most experienced of the five fast bowlers picked for the tour has never produced a five-wicket innings haul in Tests in the six years he has played for his country. In 29 Tests he has 60 wickets at an average which is usually associated with a batsman – 49.40. The selectors have no option but to pick him as the spearhead of the fast bowling attack.

“We have picked the best possible line-up of fast bowlers available to us,” said chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya.

“Kasun Madushanka has been bowling well in the ongoing series against West Indies A and Lahiru Gamage is the most experienced Sri Lanka A bowler we have. We picked Lahiru Kumara (Sri Lanka under 19 bowler) because he is good potential for the future,” he said.

All three fast bowlers are uncapped along with Gunaratne. Adding to the woes of the long list of fast bowling injuries are two young fast bowlers Asitha Fernando (hamstring) and Vishwa Fernando (back injury).

Sri Lanka are already beset by injuries to key fast bowlers Dhammika Prasad (shoulder), Nuwan Pradeep (hamstring), Dushmantha Chameera (back stress fracture) and one-day specialist Lasith Malinga (knee). They have also lost the services of Shaminda Eranga reported for a suspect bowling action.

In the absence of Chandimal, Jayasuriya said that Niroshan Dickwella who has been picked in the squad would most probably be taking over the wicket-keeping gloves although there is also Kusal Perera who has kept wickets for Sri Lanka in Tests.

Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva are the two established openers, but Perera can also play the dual-purpose role of opener or late order batsman. The Lankan batting seems settled with the exception of Chandimal whose absence will put extra pressure on the rest of the batters to perform.

The spin department is once again headed by the experienced and most capped current Sri Lanka Test player left-armer Rangana Herath who will be supported by off-spinner Dilruwan Perera and left-arm chinaman Lakshan Sandakan.