Follow UsSri Lanka will take on Pakistan in the first Test of the two-match series at the Galle International Stadium, starting on Saturday (July 16). The hosts would be high on confidence after hammering Australia in the second Test after being toppled in the first encounter. Meanwhile, Pakistan head into this series having lost to Pat Cummins and Co. at home. Sri Lanka and Pakistan are placed third and fifth respectively in the World Test Championship table and would be eager to strengthen their position.
Ground details
We are talking about Galle, you know spinners are going to dictate terms on this venue. Amongst venues that have hosted at least three Tests since 2020, the Galle International Stadium has been the most spin-friendly. Spinners here have operated at an average of 26.5 and a strike rate of 52. Since 2020, they have bowled 76.3 percent of the total overs at this venue and have picked up 83.4 percent of the total wickets to fall. Meanwhile, batters here have scored runs at an average of 28.2, so it’s not all doom and gloom for them.
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: Babar Azam (Captain) and Dimuth Karunaratne (Vice-Captain)
For Grand Leagues: Dinesh Chandimal (Captain) and Yasir Shah (Vice-Captain)
Stats that matter
Amongst batters who have scored at least 2000 Test runs since 2018, Babar Azam (56.57) has the second-best average and third-best balls per dismissal (100.6).
Only two other batters have scored more runs than Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne (1484 in 30 innings at an average of 53) since 2020.
In his maiden Test, Prabath Jayasuriya scalped six wickets in each innings and ended up with match figures of 12 for 177 - the best for Sri Lanka on Test debut.
In Tests since 2020, Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has scored 278 runs against spin and has been dismissed only once in 17 innings.
Amongst batters who have scored at least 1000 runs since 2020, Angelo Mathews has the best batting average (58.15) and balls per dismissal (130.2) in Test cricket.
Grand League punts
Dinesh Chandimal has been solid this year, having managed scores of 206*, 13, 0, 124, 39* and 66. It was his double century in the second Test that helped Sri Lanka gain a match-winning lead.
Set to play his first Test since August 2021, legspinner Yasir Shah has played 26 Tests in Asia, picking up 164 wickets at an average of 25.4 and a strike rate of 52.1. What’s more, it was Yasir who was named Player of the Series when Pakistan last played Test cricket in Sri Lanka in 2015. He scalped 24 wickets in three Tests and helped his team win the series 2-1.
Shaheen Afridi has played 11 Tests in Asia and has claimed 42 wickets at a strike rate of 53.
Here are the Top 10 Criclytics Projections:
Probable XIs
Sri Lanka - Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Kamindu Mendis/Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Prabath Jayasuriya, Kasun Rajitha.
Pakistan - Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz/Salman Ali Agha, Yasir Shah, Hasan Ali, Nauman Ali, Shaheen Afridi.