Pakistan, Sri Lanka kick off new WTC cycle in battle of spin

There is a sense of familiarity with this series. The two squads look similar to when they met last year. Pakistan have a few sub plot shifts at an individual level but not a lot has changed.

Babar Azam is ever so solid. There are a few question marks about his spot as a captain but his batting credentials and the fact that no one else stands up as a candidate to succeed him keeps Babar steady in the side as a rock. 

The Sri Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, on the other hand, wanted to relinquish himself from captaincy duties but has stayed on at the behest of the board. 

Even the dates and venues are the same as last year. Two Tests in Galle, starting on July 16th and July 24th. The schedule for the upcoming series is exactly the same. That series was levelled 1-1. 

The 2023 edition of this rivalry will be about kicking the new cycle off - the World Test Championship 2023-2025 - on a fine note. Pakistan last played Test cricket in the first week of this year - the second Test of 0–0 drawn series at home against Pakistan. To put perspective into how it has been since Pakistan were seen in action in whites, we are in the 29th week of the year now, more than halfway through 2023. 

Sri Lanka have a win percentage of 38% in Test cricket since 2021 but they have not lost a Test series at home since facing England in January that year. Their last series was a 2-0 victory against Ireland in home conditions in April.

After such a big gap, it could come down to which side hit the rhythm required for Test cricket first. 

Shaheen Shah returns 

Shaheen Shah Afridi’s injury layoff from Test cricket comes a full circle at Galle. He suffered a knee injury during the first Test last year. Since then, he has missed each of Pakistan’s six Tests. Pakistan have been winless in all of them, losing four of them. 

Shaheen has been a vital cog in Pakistan’s Test fortunes. Since 2010, he has the second best bowling average in victories for the team (17.1). Against Sri Lanka, he averages only 22.1 runs per wicket for his 12 scalps. Moreover, he has an edge over some of Sri Lanka’s batting mainstays. The left-arm seamer has dismissed Karunaratne twice for only 41 runs. Similarly, he has dismissed both Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva twice for 7 and 31 runs. 

Shaheen is a gun with the new ball, irrespective of the conditions. Since his comeback, he has created steam in the T20 Blast, including a four-for in an opening over itself. The 23-year old also pouched four wickets in the warm-up game. 

There will be plenty of eyes on Shaheen as to how soon he can hit his optimum stride. And if he clicks early, it will be interesting to see how the Lankan batters tackle him. 

Ground Details and Conditions

Galle has hosted 10 of Sri Lanka’s 12 home Tests since 2021. Calling it a spin-friendly venue would be an understatement. Spinners have bowled 75.7% of the total overs bowled, accounting for 79.5% of the total wickets. 

Both sides have plenty of spin-bowling resources and are expected to field at least three spinners - two specialists and a spin bowling all-rounder. 

Alongside plenty of spin, also expect a lot of dark clouds throughout the Test. Well, that's not the worst bit. Forecast suggests heavy rainfall throughout the Test series, not just the first Test. 

Probable XIs

Sri Lanka

There is no lack of experience in Sri Lanka’s batting department. Each of Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal and Dhanajaya de Silva have played over 40 Tests. Sadeera Samarawickrama scored a hundred against Ireland and is expected to continue as their designated wicketkeeper. Pathum Nissanka has returned to the Test side after scoring runs at the World Cup Qualifier. He will be fighting for the second opener’s role with Nishan Madushka. The latter scored a double hundred against Ireland. 

Two among Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha and Dilshan Madhushanka will frame the pace attack while Prabath Jayasuriya will lead the spin arsenal alongside Ramesh Mendis. 

Probable XI: Dimuth Karunaratne (C), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama (WK), Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Kasun Rajitha/Dilshan Madhushanka, Vishwa Fernando

Pakistan

The visitors have three spots to decide. Whether Mohammad Rizwan comes back to the XI or not would definitely be a talking point. Rizwan was dropped for the New Zealand Test series. In his absence, Sarfaraz Ahmed scored a hundred. In case Rizwan plays ahead of Shan Masood at five, it will be a rare case of Rizwan and Sarfaraz playing together. It has only happened once - Rizwan’s debut. 

In the other two spots, Mohammad Nawaz adds batting depth as a left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder compared to Noman Ali. Picking one between Hasan Ali and Naseem Shah will also be an interesting choice. 

Probable XI: Imam Ul Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Saud Shakeel, Babar Azam (C), Shan Masood/Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed (WK), Salman Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah/Hasan Ali, Abrar Ahmed