The Boxing Day Test will be Sri Lanka's first international game since the COVID-19 break.
Sri Lanka Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne has arrived in South Africa with immense faith in his seam-bowling attack for the upcoming two-match Test starting December 26 in December, for the first time in several years in the longest format of the game.
Well, Sri Lanka might not have a lot of experience in their bowling attack, but of course, they have variety – from Lahiru Kumara – who has the greatest potential to change the course of the match.
Then there is Dushmantha Chameera, who can bowl at quicker than 145kph, and the left-arm swing bowler Vishwa Fernando and right-arm seamer Kasun Rajitha – both were crucial in Lanka’s last Test victories in South Africa.
Well, there is the only cause of concern is that Sri Lanka's most-consistent bowler and the leader of the seam attack Suranga Lakmal is doubtful for the first Boxing Day Test having picked up a niggle.
However, Karunaratne is confident of his fast bowling attack putting up a fight in South Africa, saying his bowlers have the pace and bounce to take advantage of the conditions in Centurion and Wanderers – the two venues for the upcoming Test series.
He further claimed that Sri Lanka is stronger than the last time they toured South Africa in terms of the bowling attack, saying the batsmen will be the difference in the upcoming Test as he feels the Islanders are “about equal” to the Proteas team when it comes to the pace attack.
As reported in ESPNCricinfo, Karunaratne stated ahead of the Boxing Day Test: “We’re going to need the fast bowlers at Centurion and Wanderers. Last time we came to South Africa we didn’t have many options – Lahiru Kumara and Dushmantha Chameera weren’t here.”
He further added, “This time, we do have that strength, and we will need it if the opposition thinks that we don’t have a lot of pace or bounce in our team, that emboldens them to use their conditions even more against us. But on this tour, we have fast bowlers, and if you look at pace, we’re about equal.”
The Lankan captain also said the winner of the upcoming Test series would be the one who will have the better batting line up for the two Tests – first Test on December 26 followed by 2nd on January 3, 2021.
Karunaratne signed off by saying, “I think the batsmen will be the difference. Whoever is the better batting side has a good chance of winning the series.”
(With ESPNCricinfo/ANI Inputs)