Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 2015, 1st Test at Galle: SL likely XI

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 2015, 1st Test at Galle: SL likely XI

Sri Lanka will take field against Pakistan without one of their stalwarts in Mahela Jayawardene. Their other mainstay Kumar Sangakkara will soon retire as well. Nikhil Popat predicts the playing XI for Sri Lanka for the first Test against Pakistan.

Sri Lanka will be playing at home without Mahela Jayawardene for the first time in very long while when they take on Pakistan in the first of the three-Test series against Pakistan at Galle. The retirement of the Sri Lankan maestro means a big hole has to be filled in the middle order, and Sri Lanka will look to the youngsters to step up and stake a claim for a permanent place in the batting line-up. READ: Pakistan axe Saeed Ajmal for Test series in Sri Lanka

They might look to retain the same XI which played their last Test, against New Zealand in January 2015. The top order is not an issue for them with Kaushal Silva and Dimuth Karunaratne playing well together. Karunaratne did not have a great time in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) but his recent scores in whites are good enough to earn him a place in the starting XI. He did not get going in the tour match but his opening partner, Silva stroked a fine hundred to continue his impressive start to his Test career.

Sangakkara had a terrific ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, hitting four tons in as many games and will hope to continue to score big as his Test career nears an end. The fact that he is facing team he has traditionally dominated — he averages a staggering 80.25 against Pakistan with 10 Test tons — will only add to his glee. READ: Kumar Sangakkara looks to build on prolific Test record during Pakistan series ahead of retirement

It is the batting that follows him in the line-up that will be crucial for the hosts’ chances. Lahiru Thirimanne should slot in at No. 4 following an impressive run in Australia in the World Cup followed by skipper Angelo Mathews at No. 5. Mathews has struggled in recent times and will wish to get back to his usual self since he will be key in the absence of Jayawardene to hold the middle order together.

With the selectors overlooking Prasanna Jayawardene, Sri Lanka might ask Dinesh Chandimal to keep. He kept in the tour game against Pakistan as well. Kusal Perera might be considered at No. 6 after a superb domestic season. He slammed his way to contention with four centuries in a recent Pakistan A tour.  Giving him competition for a place would be Kithruwan Vithanage and Jehan Mubarak, both of whom have done well in domestic circuit for Sri Lanka. The later though, has not played a Test match for eight years and it will be interesting if he is played over the in-form young ‘keeper-batsman.

Sri Lanka played the last Test against New Zealand with four bowlers and they might continue to go with a combination of two pacers and two spinners. Rangana Herath is guaranteed starter given his stature and the success he enjoyed in the last series against Pakistan. He will hope Dilruwan Perera continues to give him good support at the other end. Tharindu Kaushal did make his debut in the infamous quarter-final for Sri Lanka against South Africa in World Cup but did not get enough rewards and might have to wait a bit longer to play in the whites for his national team. READ: Pakistan’s lack of match-winning bowler is a worry, says Mohammad Hafeez

With Suranga Lakmal subject to fitness, it is likely that Sri Lanka will go ahead with the pair of Nuwan Pradeep and Dhammika Prasad. Things could be interesting if Lakmal gets fit, but one feels, Sri Lanka might not want to rush him in with a big season to follow.

Expected XI: Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kumar Sangakkara, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews (c), Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Kusal Perera, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Nuwan Pradeep, Dhammika Prasad

Squad: Angelo Mathews (c), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Kithruwan Vithanage, Jehan Mubarak, Kusal Perera, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Tharindu Kaushal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dhammika Prasad, Dushmantha Chameera, and Suranga Lakmal (subject to fitness).

 (Nikhil Popat is diehard cricket enthusiast and a PotterHead till the end of time. He can be followed on Twitter @CricCrazyNIKS)