The first Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh ended in a tame draw and batsmen from both teams made merry on a placid surface. Both teams lack genuine match-winners in the bowling department thus if the pitch is dead as it was in the series opener, draw was the most likely result. Going into the second game, both teams will expect a lot more lively wicket as a dull draw won’t do any good to Test cricket. Neither the players nor the fans will be interested in watching such games.
For Sri Lanka, Lahiru Kumara has been ruled out of the second Test after picking up a hamstring injury. The hosts can bring in Chamika Karunaratne or Praveen Jayawickrama at his place. For Bangladesh, they won’t be too keen on making too many changes in the team. However, they may look to swap Abu Jayed with Shoriful Islam.
Pitch Report - The pitch in the first Test was as placid as it gets. There was no movement for the pacers, no turn for the spinners. Such wickets are not good for cricket. We’re expecting a better surface, that gives bowlers an equal chance, for the next game.
Probable XI Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Lahiru Thirimanne, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Suranga Lakmal, Wanindu Hasaranga, Vishwa Fernando, Praveen Jayawickrama / Lakshan Sandakan
Probable XI Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Ebadat Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Hossain
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