Sri Lanka look for success against undermanned India as they attempt to break eleven year drought.
First Test in Galle holds key to home team aspirations despite team selection concerns.
BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.
(ELanka Sports Editor)
Sri Lanka needs to make the most of it against an under par India in Galle with the hope of breaking a eleven year drought by a dominant neighbour.
The Indians are not the once feared side having recently being beaten 3-0 in a home series against New Zealand in 2024 .
India’s previous loss at home was to England in 2012 where they went down 2-1 such has been their fierce dominance at home.
Compounding their woes was a heavy injury toll to key players, fast man Jasprit Bumrah and skipper Shubman Gill, and at least four others exposing them to a certain extent, and giving the home team some hope of an upset in Galle.
Sri Lanka’s new selection committee has come under fire from sections of the local media for the team composition.
The inclusion of previously discarded wicket-keeper batter Niroshan Dickwella and injury plagued speedster Lahiru Kumara has been heavily criticised putting the selectors under the microscope for their reasoning.
Dickwella was banished from consideration after a few misdemeanours and appeared out of contention for future national duty while Kumara’s continued physical breakdowns suggested his career was at an end.
But the selectors are convinced they have addressed these issues leaving their performances will be under close scrutiny.
The wicket in Galle will play a crucial part in Sri Lanka’s expected dominance while India has inexplicably shown recent vulnerability against genuine turn.
India will try and destroy that myth with a strong batting line-up. But to beat the Lions in their den they will have to produce the shock Australia produced to skittle the home side and trounce them in the last home series.
Sri Lanka’s disregard for the traditional longer format also raises questions about their adaptability to Test cricket which was evident in their last few Tests.
Sri Lanka coach Gary Kirstan has a huge expectation on his shoulders as he attempts to outfox his former team that he steered to world number one status when was at the helm.
It’s been eleven years since the Indians toured the Island nation and they will be counting on previous success and knowledge of Sri Lanka’s cricket surfaces to turn the tide on the home team.
Sri Lanka’s skipper Dhananjaya de Silva leads a squad that is packed with a mix of youth and experience with the batting holding the key to upstage their arrogant neighbour.
The success of Sri Lanka’s spin dominant attack hold the aces in this respect while India have the same quality in their attack that makes the contest riveting.
A win in Galle will be key to the series which moves to Colombo for the second Test where there will be less advantage to the home team.
