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Sri Lanka vs Australia 2016, 1st Test at Pallekele: Lankans’ likely XI

Starting with the first Test at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, the series will be a real test for Sri Lanka and Australia.

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Sri Lanka are coming from a defeat against England © Getty Images
Sri Lanka go into the match, following a series defeat against England © Getty Images

Australia are all set to visit Sri Lanka for a three-Test series beginning on Tuesday. Starting with the first Test at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, the series will be a real test for both the teams. While the visitors will look to better their numbers in subcontinent, Lankan lions will be slightly on the back foot as many key members are out injured. As a full strength Australian team try to register dominant victories over the hosts, here is the likely XI that skipper Angelo Mathews might take the field with in the all crucial series opener. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Sri Lanka vs Australia, 1st Test at Pallekele

Top-order: Sri Lanka, who are going through their rebuilding phase, are unlikely to change the current position of their core members who are part of this tour. Usual openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva are the two names who are expected to open the innings for the hosts. The No. 3 spot is for Kusal Mendis. Of the top three, only Kaushal Silva is the one who lived up to the expectations. At home conditions, this will be a chance for the other two to prove their mettle and the only way to do that is by scoring significant runs.

Middle-order: Most of Sri Lanka’s batting strength and experience in concentrated in the middle-order. At No. 4, Dinesh Chandimal comes out to bat. The wicketkeeper-batsman has made the position his own, following a gritty show in England. One of the most talented cricketers in the side right now, the team will depend on him to score big. Another name is that of the skipper, Mathews, himself. Mathews over the years has grown as a successful all-rounder and will be Sri Lanka’s key to success this series. Kusal Perera, who is expected to come out to bat following him, will be a big name in lower-order batting and can add crucial runs. A big loss for the hosts will be the absence of Lahiru Thirimanne, one of the most experienced members of the Sri Lanka team right now, due to his back injury. Newbie Roshen Silva with a First-Class average of 50.58 could be in line to make his Test debut, following some good performances in the domestic circuit.

Bowlers: With Dushmantha Chameera out due to his injury and Shaminda Eranga’s benned from bowling due to illegal action, the onus comes upon Mathews and Nuwan Pradeep to lead the bowling attack. The game changer for the team can be Rangana Herath, who has with a huge amount of experience including that of facing Australia at home during their 2011 tour. Mathews can add more to the bowing by picking the only chinaman bowler in the squad- Lakshan Sandakan. The bowler is in a good form, scalping wickets regularly and also bagged a 5-for playing for Colombo Cricket Club this season. With Suranga Lakmal in the side, the team looks complete.

Sri Lanka likely XI: Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Angelo Mathews (c), Kusal Perera, Roshen Silva, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Lakshan Sandakan.

(Paulami Chakraborty, a singer, dancer, artist, and photographer, loves the madness of cricket and writes about the game. She can be followed on Twitter at @Polotwitts)

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