Sri Lanka won the toss and have elected to bat as they returned to one of their favorite cricket destinations for the third and final Test against Pakistan that got underway today. Sharjah Cricket Stadium, the venue for the final test vs Pakistan has been the happy hunting grounds for Sri Lanka over the years.
Sri Lanka have performed exceptionally well in the Test series. They fought tooth and nail to draw the opening Test in Abu Dhabi before winning the second Test in Dubai. A draw here in Sharjah will enable Sri Lanka to win the series and escalate themselves to a higher positioning in the ICC test rankings and the school of thought is, if they beat Bangladesh they will be in contention to make the ‘test championship’.
While the Sri Lankans will gladly accept a series win, there’s additional incentive if they can win 2-0 as there’s the prospect of them making an upward move in ICC official Test Rankings for teams. Currently the Sri Lankans are ranked sixth, but a win here will push them to the fifth position ahead of Pakistan.
Sri Lanka have not been able to win Test series away from home since beating Bangladesh in January 2009. The last Sri Lanka won away against a strong side was against Pakistan in 2000.
As mentioned by skipper Angelo Mathews the track is expected to favour spin and no doubt both teams will go in with full brigades of spin and it will be a good test to find out the better tacklers of spin.
Kaushal Silva with continued creditable performances has probably sealed his place in the side as Sri Lanka’s future opening batsman and Dimuth Karunaratne also being given an extended run would look at making maximum from the opportunity and the pair would look to carry on for the future of Sri Lanka’s opening slot.
Off-spinner Dilruwan Perera making his debut in test will take up the fight along side veteran Rangana Herath. A mini battle for spin supremacy will be played out between Herath and Saeed Ajmal even though the latter will always go out as favourite, Herath himself has quietly crept up the hierarchy of spin in the world. In Sri Lanka’s desperate search for the illusive second spinner and future replacement for Herath, Perera is one in the long line of try-outs. Leaving out Nuwan Pradeep would have been a hard decision as all fast bowlers did well in Dubai and it could be argued he should be given more continuity as he showed tremendous potential. However there is a school of thought that he lacks match fitness to last two innings going in with just 4 front line bowlers.
Pakistan too had three changes as Bilawal Bhatti was ruled unfit. Mohomed Hafeez alone with Rahat Ali. They brought in left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman Batsman Azhar Ali & Speedster Mohammad Talha.
TEAMS
Sri Lanka (From):
Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews (Capt.), Prasanna Jayawardene (Wicketkeeper), Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Rangana Herath, and Shaminda Eranga.
Pakistan (From):
Khurram Manzoor, Ahmed Shehzad, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (Capt), Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed (Wicketkeeper), Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Mohomed Ali and Junaid Khan.
