Sri Lanka, led by Dhananjaya de Silva, will be looking to reclaim the Warne-Murali trophy, named after late Australia hero Shane Warne and Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan when they take on the visiting Australian side in the first match of the two-Test series, beginning with the first game on January 29 at Galle.
Sri Lanka hammered the visiting Australians 3-0 in 2016 but the last series in 2022 ended 1-1, with both matches played in Galle.
Sri Lanka will be facing a shortage of Test matches in the upcoming cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27. Only 12 Tests have been scheduled so far (six per year). Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva felt this created a big disadvantage for his team.
“It’s really disappointing, as a good Test cricketing country, to have only four Tests,” Dhananjaya said before two-Test series against Australia.
“Honestly, it is a big disadvantage, especially considering ours is a good side, as well. I’m hoping we can get more fixtures than we have. We’re hoping to discuss the opportunity to play more Test series and hopefully we get an open window for that.
“Hopefully Sri Lanka Cricket can organise something. But all we can do is control what we can, and play good cricket in the matches that we do get.”
Despite that, de Silva ensured that his team would be looking to win the trophy again after nine years in the prestigious bilateral Test series against Australia.
“The last time we won the Warne-Murali Trophy was in 2016, which was also my debut series. A lot of players from that campaign are still in the mix and we believe we have what it takes to repeat history,” de Silva said.
“Another incentive for us is the chance to finish third in the WTC standings if we win 2-0. That would be a tremendous achievement.”
The hosts have injury worries, with opener Pathum Nissanka out due to a groin injury and de Silva struggling with a side strain.
“Pathum is a key player and we’re hopeful he’ll be fit for the second Test. Whoever steps in will have a golden opportunity to make a mark,” de Silva said.
Oshada Fernando, a seasoned campaigner with a knack for piling up runs in domestic cricket, is the frontrunner to replace Nissanka. The first Test begins tomorrow, January 29.
With inputs from AFP
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