Date: 14-18 July 2017 Time:
10 am (Local) Ground: RPS,
Colombo
Overview
Life is unpredictable you never know what may
happen next , The game of Cricket is probably even
more unpredictable and 7-8 months are more than enough to change the whole
scenario. There is no better example than current Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe
Cricket teams who are epitomes of the changing times. 8 months ago when these
two teams last met in a Test Series , Sri Lanka were flying high after
whitewashing Australia , while Zimbabwe were happy enough to be on the park
after barely managing funds to host the series, not to mention they lost the
series 0-2, both Tests by over 200 runs . 8 months since, Srilankan cricket
seem to be in troubled waters having been humiliated in South Africa and then
losing a test for the first time to Bangladesh. The Captain quit after losing
Oneday Series to Zimbabwe, to what he termed as lowest point of his
career. On the other hand Zimbabwe are flying high and brimming with Confidence
after their shocking win in the Oneday series by 3-2. They have played
exceedingly well as a unit even beyond the wildest dreams of their staunchest
supporters. The question that confronts them is whether they will be able to
take that form in Test Cricket, which is completely different ball game and
compound the misery for Sri Lankan team, already going through a rough patch?
Squads
Sri Lanka (Probable)
Dimuth
Karunaratne, Danushka Gunathilaka/Upul Tharanga, Kusal Mendis ,Dinesh Chandimal
(captain)Angelo Mathews, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella (wk) Rangana
Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lakshan Sandakan/Dushmantha Chameera
Zimbabwe (Probable)
Tarisai
Musakanda, Ryan Burl,Hamilton Masakadza Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Sikandar
Raza, Peter Moor, Malcolm Waller/ Nathan Waller, Graeme Cremer (captain),Chris
Mpofu/ Natsai M'shangwe ,Tendai Chatara
The facts that matter
Srilanka
The retirement of key players like
Mahela Jaywardene and Kumar Sangakkara is talked a lot however it is also true
that there were other heroes who contributed to the growth of Srilankan
Cricket. Players like Thilan Samarweera and Tilakratne Dilshan are sorely
missed and so as the excellent glove work of Prassana Jaywardene. Though likes
of Kushal Mendis, Dhananjay De Silva, Sandakan have showed that they are ready
to take their place but failure to perform as a unit have taken toll on the
result and have ultimately became too much to bear for Captain Angelo Matthews.
Each and every loss took significant toll on him and at last series humiliation
from the hands of Zimbabwe at home was too much for him to take and he
ultimately decided to quit the captaincy. Dinesh Chandimal , the new test
captain will have huge responsibility to unite the young outfit , the only relief
for him will be that he has a relative easier baptism to Test Captaincy before
some stern test later in the year. While there won’t be much change to the team
that last played against Bangladesh. Angelo Matthews will begin his life as a
player in place of Dhananjaya De Silva. Chances are Srilanka will play with
three spinners but they might think to pick Chameera in place of Sandakan.
Danushka Gunthalika was quite impressive in Champions Trophy and later in
Oneday Series and he might get a go in place of Upul Tharanga .
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe was quite impressive in the
Oneday series. They played as a unit and performed amicably well in all the
departments. Test Cricket is though a different ball game while in limited overs they played with only
Three specialist bowlers as the array of part timers chocked up the Srilankan
batsmen however in Test they will need to take 20 wickets if they think to
compete with Srilanka. Not only the
format but the players and their role have also changed. It is surprising to
see that they haven’t picked a single specialist opener. None of Brian Chari, Chamu Chibhaba or Tino
Mawoyo found the favor from selectors. In such case Ryan Burl and Tarisai Musakanda who play at no.3 in domestic
cricket might be asked to negotiate the new ball as the middle order will be
packed with stars like Hamilton Masakadza, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams and
Sikandar Raza . Zimbabwe will have to
decide about playing an extra batsman at no.8
in Malcom Waller or go with more viable option in giving test cap to his
brother Nathan Waller who is all-rounder. While Tendai Chatara and Greame
Creamer are certain to lead the attack
it will be interesting to see whether Zimbabwe goes for Chris Mofu or leg spin
of Natsai M'shangwe. If M’shanhwe plays it will be rare occasion of two leg
spinners playing with each other in one team in modern cricket.
Prediction
Zimbabwe
resurgence in limited over series might give them more confidence but they will
need to have attacking mindset to compete in Test Cricket. While Sri Lanka will
be strengthened by the return of spin duos Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera.
Zimbabwe is expected to give a fight but Sri Lanka are expected to win the
solitary Test.
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