Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva hopes his facet can climb up the World Take a look at Championship (WTC) desk as they go in quest of a maiden win within the five-day format at Lord’s this week.
The vacationers pushed England laborious earlier than shedding final week’s first Take a look at at Outdated Trafford by 5 wickets.
That defeat has left them needing to win at Lord’s, the place they’ve drawn six and misplaced two of their earlier eight Checks, if they’re to degree this three-match sequence at 1-1 and switch subsequent month’s finale throughout London on the Oval right into a decider.
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De Silva can also be aware of Sri Lanka’s place within the WTC desk, the place his facet are presently fifth — one place beneath England.
“It’s all about getting a Take a look at win,” he informed a pre-match press convention at Lord’s on Wednesday. “It is going to imply rather a lot for the nation. However extra importantly we have to get factors within the World Take a look at Championship.
“We’re extra assured heading into this recreation. We have been assured at Outdated Trafford as effectively however we did not ship. We now have to be clear with our plans and execute them effectively,” he added.
Nissanka and Kumara recalled
Sri Lanka has made two adjustments to its facet.
Pathum Nissanka, who has loved one-day worldwide success this 12 months however final performed a Take a look at match in 2022, replaces Kusal Mendis within the high order and paceman Lahiru Kumara is available in for left-armer Vishwa Fernando.
“Total, Pathum is the perfect batter within the nation for the time being,” stated De Silva. “He has a superb mindset and he has a superb approach.”
Dinesh Chandimal, who made a formidable second-innings 79 at Outdated Trafford has been included regardless of struggling a painful blow to the thumb whereas batting towards categorical fast Mark Wooden, however he might not hold wicket with Nishan Madushka on standby to take over behind the stumps.
England shall be with out the injured Wooden at Lord’s, however De Silva stated new-ball spearhead Chris Woakes was proving more durable to face for Sri Lanka’s batsmen.
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“I’m not involved concerning the pace,” the 32-year-old middle-order batsman defined. “Velocity will not be troubling us. It’s the line and size that’s troubling us. Chris Woakes is ready to bowl 20 to 30 balls at one space and that’s what’s troubling us.”
However one Sri Lanka batter who arrives at Lord’s very a lot in type is Kamindu Mendis.
The left-hander scored his third hundred in simply 4 Checks with a wonderful 113 at Outdated Trafford to go away him with a supremely excessive common of 92.16 forward of fulfilling a childhood ambition by taking part in at Lord’s.
“It was a dream to play at Lord’s after I was a boy,” stated the 25-year-old Mendis. “I’m excited to play right here.”
Sri Lanka crew for second Take a look at:
Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka (wkt), Pathum Nissanka, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya De Silva (capt), Kamindu Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Milan Rathnayake