Match Preview – Sri Lanka vs West Indies, West Indies in Sri Lanka 2021/22, 2nd Test
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Some West Indies batters showed signs that they can handle such conditions in the big first-Test defeat, but they will need plenty of application and determination
Big Picture
How do you solve a problem like Galle? Well, winning the toss and batting first would be a start. But what else can you do?
The fact is, there are few grounds in world cricket where the toss plays such a significant role – on pitches that are known for taking exponential turn as the game wears on, only twice have teams batting fourth chased down a triple-digit total successfully here.
But, despite the nature and scale of the West Indies’ 187-run first-Test defeat, they would do well to put that out of their minds swiftly – better teams than them have suffered worse at this venue after all. In fact, rather than being alarmed, they should instead look at the seeds of potential that sprouted from the game and look to nurture them.
While their top order collapsed rather ignominiously in both innings, the way the lower order – particularly Joshua Da Silva – provided resistance, should give those batting further up a bit more confidence in showing positive intent; shouldering arms is quantifiably not the way to go in Galle.
As for their top order, Nkrumah Bonner’s second-innings 220-ball sojourn showed that application and resolve wasn’t beyond them. More of the same, and the visitors could be in with a shout.
The home side, meanwhile, will simply want to avoid complacency. The win was certainly of the feel-good variety, and one that would have cast the mind back to when such thrashings were de rigueur in Galle. But captain Dimuth Karunaratne, speaking ahead of the second Test, gave the air of a man that refused to be blinded by the nature of the victory.
He sounded out the prospect of potentially drafting in an extra batter on a pitch that is expected to take on turn even earlier this time around, and it would be little surprise to see Sri Lanka turn up with just the solitary seamer on Monday morning.
Form guide
Sri Lanka WWDDD(last five Tests, most recent first)
West Indies LLWLL
In the spotlight
Team news
Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Dimuth Karunaratne (capt.), 2 Pathum Nissanka, 3 Oshada Fernando, 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Dhananjaya de Silva, 6 Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 7 Charith Asalanka, 8 Ramesh Mendis, 9 Lasith Embuldeniya, 10 Suranga Lakmal, 11 Praveen Jayawickrama.
West Indies (possible): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite (capt.), 2 Jeremy Solozano/Shai Hope, 3 Nkrumah Bonner, 4 Roston Chase, 5 Jermaine Blackwood, 6 Kyle Mayers, 7 Rahkeem Cornwall, 8 Jason Holder, 9 Joshua da Silva (wk), 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Jomel Warrican/Jayden Seales
Pitch and conditions
The pitch is expected to be dry, which means we could see notable turn even as early as the first day. The weather though is what will keep the game from folding too early, with rain expected periodically across the five days.
Stats and trivia
- With six consecutive 50-plus scores in Tests, Dimuth Karunaratne is one short of equalling the world record.
- Sri Lanka are now unbeaten in five consecutive Tests, their longest such run since 2016, when they went six without defeat (including five straight wins).
- In 28 attempts, the team batting fourth in Galle has won on nine occasions – though only two of those chases have been of three-digit targets.
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