SL look to continue momentum, as NZ pace threat looms

By Madushka Balasuriya

How quickly things change. The first eight months of 2019 have been chaotic even by Sri Lankan standards; the captaincy was changed for the umpteenth time, the head coach has been on the way out for the better part of five months (with a legal battle over his imminent contract termination a distinct possibility), the reasoning behind certain squad selections and omissions have left more heads scratching than a room full of lice, and the country’s Sports Minister has very openly broached the subject of installing an Interim Committee to run Sri Lanka Cricket.

Yet, quite incredibly, Sri Lanka are on a three-match win streak in Tests, on the verge of consecutive Test series wins against South Africa and New Zealand, and if results go their way in the Ashes, they could end up above either Australia or England in the Test rankings. Their team selection and captaincy quandaries too seem to be fast becoming a thing of the past, after the selectors have seemingly stumbled upon a winning combination. A broken clock is indeed right twice a day. 

All this means that for New Zealand, a series which began as a nice little warm-down from the emotionally and physically draining madness that was the World Cup final, has now taken on considerably more meaning, with 60 World Test Championship points at stake. This is not to question New Zealand’s professionalism, but merely an indication of the resolve and fight shown by the hosts - both with the bat and in the field.

New Zealand however do have history in their corner. Sri Lanka have won less than half their matches at the P. Sara Oval, while New Zealand only have fond memories of the venue - winning one and drawing one - with their last outing there in 2012 helping them register their first Test win in Sri Lanka in 14 years.

Both Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor registered tons in that 2012 win as well, and with the pair having had underwhelming outings in Galle by their own high standards, they are due a big score. On a surface that is likely to offer more for pace and bounce, Sri Lanka’s top order will also need to be more wary of the visitors’ pace threat. 

Trent Boult picked up seven wickets in his only match at the P. Sara Oval, and having already troubled Sri Lanka’s batsmen on as pace averse a pitch as possible in Galle, he’ll be licking his lips at the prospect of squaring up to Sri Lanka’s fragile top order.

“There might be a little more swing here, potentially, so the fast bowlers can come into play. We do have some fond memories from last time, and we managed to win that, but that’s a long time ago now. It’s completely different teams and situations,” said BJ Watling on the eve of the game.

“We have talked about that game [in 2012] a little bit, and trying to get information on what that surface might be like. The boys like to talk about their wickets and there’s a few stunning catches from memory as well. Having good memories is always good, but it is a new game, a new day, and we need to be switched on.”

For Sri Lanka, their main objective will be to keep up the same standards they have set recently in the longer format of the game. Indeed, Dimuth Karunaratne could not have asked for a better start to his Test career as captain. Three wins out of three, and a team that is fast gelling under his leadership. But he will know better than most how fragile a foundation this newfound success has been built on. On a surface on which scores in excess of 400 and sub-200 are all possibilities, Karunaratne’s guiding hand at the top of the order will be crucial to the overall productivity of Sri Lanka’s batsmen.

“Dimuth is a very different kind of captain. His way of managing players is different, and every captain has their own style. I’ve played a lot with Dimuth and what he does is give the player the freedom to go and express themselves 100% in the match,” effused Niroshan Dickwella, when speaking about his skipper yesterday.

In terms of what’s expected of the team, Dickwella added: “It’s a big challenge. Having won one game, we have a big responsibility to win the series. We have the confidence, but we need to keep making good decisions at crunch moments. If we keep making those decisions that will have a big outcome on the result.”

The second Test gets underway today at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo.

Pix by Chamila Karunarathne