FANTASY
Follow UsBangladesh take on Sri Lanka in the first Test of the series at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram, starting Sunday (May 15). This two-match series will be part of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23. While Sri Lanka have picked have won 50% of their matches, Bangladesh, on the other hand, have managed to accumulate just 16.67% of the points available.
A series win for either side will help them make significant strides in the standings.
Bangladesh do not have a particularly good record against Sri Lanka in Tests, having won just one of the 22 Tests.
Tests head-to-head
Overall: Matches 22 | SL 17 wins | BAN 1 win | 4 Draws
Last 5 matches: SL 2 wins | BAN 1 win | 2 Draws
Suggested team
While you could go with the above team, check out our Fantasy Research for more ideas
Ground details
In Tests since 2021, spin has been dominant at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, having picked up close to 64% of the wickets. However, the pacers have fared a little better having picked up a wicket every 31 runs and 61.7 balls apart, compared to the spinners, who have an average of 35.6 and have struck once every 7.2 deliveries.
The key here will be to bat first and get a big total on the board as chasing in the fourth innings could be a tough ask. The average first innings total at this venue since 2021 has been 380.
Captain
No opening batter has scored more runs than Dimuth Karunaratne in Tests since 2021. Overall, only Rishabh Pant (1,077) and Joe Root (2,066) have scored more runs than Karunaratne (1,068) in this time period, further showing that he is among the most consistent batters in the world at the moment. His scores have come at an average of 62.82 and has hit five tons and three fifties since 2021. We could expect a lot of runs from the Sri Lankan skipper’s bat on this tour.
Our Criclytics Player Projector predicts Karunaratne could score 69-104 runs in this match
X-Factors
In his four Tests so far, left-arm orthodox spinner Praveen Jayawickrama has made quite the impact. He has picked up 25 wickets since his debut against Bangladesh in March 2021 and has done so at an average of 19.48 and strike-rate of 40.5, which are significantly better than the other two spinners – Lasith Embuldeniya and Ramesh Mendis. If picked, he could play a pivotal role for Sri Lanka in the series.
Our Criclytics Player Projector predicts Jayawickrama could pick up 6-8 wickets in this match
Mehidy Hasan has been in decent form in Tests since 2021. He has picked up 38 wickets at 38.68 and with the bat, he has struck 434 runs at 24.11, including one century. Among bowlers, only Taijul Islam with 39 scalps since 2021 has more, but the fact that Mehidy can also score some valuable runs works in his favour.
Our Criclytics Player Projector predicts Jayawickrama could score 23-37 runs and pick up 3-5 wickets in this match
Tamim Iqbal returned to Test cricket for the first time in a year against South Africa recently. He scored 47 and 13 in his two innings as Bangladesh went on to lose by 332 runs. However, he could be crucial cog at the top of the order and with over 4,800 in 65 matches, all his experience will come into play in this series.
Our Criclytics Player Projector predicts Tamim could score 64-97 runs in this match
Here are the top-ten picks as per Criclytics prediction:
Probable XIs
Bangladesh: Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Tamim Iqbal, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Shohidul Islam.
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Ramesh Mendis, Lasith Embuldeniya, Praveen Jayawickrama, Vishwa Fernando.
