Ramesh Mendis batting in the nets at Galle

• Lakmal, Oshada return after injuries

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Sri Lanka are hoping to give a Test cap to off-spinning all-rounder Ramesh Mendis as they look to beat England and square the two-Test series when the second Test begins at the Galle International Cricket Stadium today.

With regular skipper Dimuth Karunaratne ruled out of the series with a fractured thumb, Dinesh Chandimal who will continue to lead the team said: “Ramesh Mendis has a good chance of playing in the Test. We know his capabilities, how he has performed in the domestic season. Wanindu (Hasaranga) has played only three tests and two of them were in South Africa. If he bowls well he can help us win the Test. But Ramesh has a good chance of making it as a spinning all-rounder.

“Especially when we play in Galle, where the wicket always assists the spinners, we are planning to play six batsmen, one spin bowling all-rounder at no. 7 and four bowlers. Kusal Mendis’ no. 3 spot will go to Oshada Fernando who has recovered from his ankle injury.”

In the first Test, which Sri Lanka lost by seven wickets, they went with fast bowling all-rounder Dasun Shanaka, but he bowled only seven overs in an England total of 421 without taking a wicket and contributed 23 and 4 with the bat.

Ramesh Mendis, the 25-year-old all-rounder from Moors SC, has been in the first-class scene for five years capturing 83 wickets and averaging 43 with the bat, which includes an unbeaten triple hundred.   

If Sri Lanka opts for a spinning all-rounder, then they will go with the conventional two seamers and two spinners, whereas in the first Test they went with only one frontline seamer in Asitha Fernando. Fernando, who bowled well taking 2 for 44, is expected to retain his place and partner experienced campaigner Suranga Lakmal, who is set to return to the side after a hamstring injury. Dilruwan Perera and Lasith Embuldeniya will form the spin triumvirate, with either Mendis or Hasaranga.

As the most experienced spinner in the line-up Dilruwan has a big responsibility to bear, said Chandimal.

“The wicket looks more in favour of the batsmen than what we got in the first test where it assisted the spinners. Dilruwan has a big role to play on how to bowl and get wickets on this Galle surface. After Rangana Herath retired two years ago he has become our main spinner. I hope bowling in partnership with the other two spinners he can win the Test for us,” said Chandimal.

In the first Test, Sri Lanka were done in by the England spin pair of Dom Bess and Jack Leach, who in tandem captured 14 wickets.

“We came from South Africa direct and we had only three days of practice, and one of them was lost due to rain. We lost the first Test because of the mistakes we made on the first day. We all played like we were still in South Africa,” said Chandimal.

“The most important plus point for us is that we batted really well scoring 300-plus on a difficult fourth day Galle pitch. That performance showed that our team has adjusted from the South African pitches. We should put up enough runs on the board to allow our spinners to attack the opposition.

“England played very well the last Test and they have come well prepared on how to play in our conditions. We all know that we are short of experienced players, but as a team I always say we should back our ability. I am confident we can come up with a good performance in this Test. The players know what is expected of them. If everyone plays their roles properly by the end of the match, we will be able to get a result in our favour,” he said.

Root expects stiffer opposition

England captain Joe Root expects stiffer competition from Sri Lanka than in the first Test.

“Like I said before they are a proud team and have a great record on this ground. We already saw throughout the game that unfolded in the second innings their batting was very different to the first. In those conditions they are a very hard side to beat. It isn’t going to be an easy game for us. We have to play some good cricket over the five days. We must make sure that we get a big first innings score and have big partnerships, so that we can try and dictate terms. We are full of confidence, plenty of good things to take into from the win. I expect us to try back-to-back performances. That’s our goal, to continue to take forward steps as a team,” said Root.

England are expected to make one change, resting Stuart Broad and giving James Anderson his first match of the series. On a slow spinning wicket Broad took 3 for 20 in the first innings to skittle Sri Lanka out for 135, and bowled a miserly spell serving up 11 maidens in 17 overs for 14 runs to help restrict England to a target of 74 in the second innings.

Oshada Fernando shares a light moment with head coach Mickey Arthur at practice

Suranga Lakmal bowls in the nets preparing for his return to Test cricket after injury

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Root wants improvement in second test v Sri Lanka