International cricket returns as Bangladesh get set to host Sri Lanka in an all-Asian Test series
Battles between these two nations have been tense affairs in recent times and there is no love lost between the camps.
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka | First Test | Sunday 15 May – Thursday 19 May 2022 | Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong | 06:00
Bangladesh
In a boost to the hosts star allrounder Shakib-al-Hasan has recovered from COVID-19 and will be able to take part in the Test match.
The Tigers did well in South Africa but their performance tailed off and they will want to stamp their authority on this series early on.
Mahmudul Hasan Joy’s batting has been a revelation for Bangladesh and you would expect him to contribute in a home series.
He will likely partner skipper Mominul Haque and the opening pair of we could see Joy coming in at three or four.
Bangladesh have won just one WTC Test and are in eighth position with only England lagging behind them.
Sri Lanka
Dimuth Karunaratne is both the captain of Sri Lanka and the leader with the bat when it comes to Test cricket but sometimes his team rely far too heavily upon him.
Senior man Angelo Mathews needs to find runs as he can no longer augment his performances with the willow with ball in hand because of his injury woes.
Sri Lanka’s seam attack is likely to be led by Vishwa Fernando but spin will play a bigger part in this Test match.
Left-armer Lasith Embuldeniya will lead Sri Lanka’s tweakers, with Ramesh Mendis and Praveen Jayawickrama other options that Karunaratne will have at his disposal.
Sri Lanka are currently fifth on the World Test Championship standings, having won two Test matches and drawn another two during the 2021-23 period.
Verdict: Bangladesh
