FANTASY
Follow UsSri Lanka will take on Australia in the second and final Test at the Galle International Stadium, starting Friday (July 8). The venue might be Galle but Australia looked more at ‘home’ than Sri Lanka in the first Test. The likes of Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson and Travis Head wreaked havoc as Australia won the game by 10 wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Sri Lanka will have to be a lot more smarter if they want to topple this in-form and fully-fit Australian side in the second Test. That’s not it, the hosts have also been hit by multiple Covid cases and will be without Dhananjaya de Silva, Asitha Fernando, Praveen Jayawickrama and Jeffrey Vandersay in the series-decider.
Ground details
The Galle International Stadium has been the most spin-friendly venue since 2018. There are 14 stadiums that have hosted five or more Tests in this period and spinners here have the best average (26.1) and strike rate (52). They have bowled 76.3% of the total overs and scalped 79.9% of total wickets in this time period. In the first Test, spinners took 25 of the 30 wickets to fall. Hence, it would be ideal to have as many spinners as possible in your team.
Suggested team
While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.
Captain and vice-captain suggestions
For Small leagues: Nathan Lyon (c), Usman Khawaja (vc)
For Grand leagues: Ramesh Mendis (c), Steven Smith (vc)
Stats that matter
Nathan Lyon has played 12 Tests in the sub-continent since 2017 and has scalped 74 wickets at an impressive average of 24.9. Amongst spinnes who have bowled at least 500 overs in Asia in this time period, only R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have better numbers than Lyon.
In 2022, Usman Khawaja has slammed 822 runs in 11 innings at an average of 117.43. In this period, the left-hander has slammed three fifties and four centuries.
Angelo Mathews is averaging 58.47 with the bat since 2020. In fact, no other batter has a better average and balls per dismissal (130.9) than Mathews in this period (minimum 20 innings).
Alex Carey has played only innings Tests in Asia but has managed 224 runs at an average of 56, studded with two fifties. On top of that, he could also fetch you some points with his wicketkeeping.
Grand League punts
In five Tests Ramesh Mendis has played in Sri Lanka, the offspinner has claimed 30 wickets at an average of 22.7 and a strike rate of 45. In fact, he was the only Sri Lankan bowler that managed to put some pressure on Australia in the opening Test.
Steve Smith has played 17 Tests in Asia and has scored 1432 runs at an average of 47.73, studded with eight half-centuries and four tons.
Probable XIs
Sri Lanka - Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Oshada Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Ramesh Mendis, Dunith Wellalage/Prabath Jayasuriya, Maheesh Theekshana/Lakshan Sandakan, Kasun Rajitha.
Australia - Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head/Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson.
