Fantasy XI

WK: Sarfaraz Ahmed, Kusal Mendis

BAT: Dimuth Karunaratne, Babar Azam, Dinesh Chandimal, Saud Shakeel

AR: Dhananjaya de Silva, Ramesh Mendis

BOWL: Prabath Jayasuriya, Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed

C/VC: Babar Azam, Dimth Karunaratne

Alternatives: Shan Masood, Nauman Ali (left arm spinner), Angelo Mathews

C/VC Alternatives: Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya

Galle International Stadium – Venue Notes

Average Inning-wise Score in Tests since 2022: 1st - 376, 2nd - 359, 3rd - 222, 4th - 302

Batting First vs Batting Second in Tests since 2021: Won Bat 1st - 33.3%, Won Bat 2nd - 66.7%

SL-PAK Players in the top 10 leading run-scorers list since 2021: Dimuth Karunratne(1), Dinesh Chandimal(2), Kusal Mendis(3), Angelo Mathews(4), Dhananjaya de Silva(6), Nishan Madushka(8)

SL-PAK Players in the top 10 leading wicket-takers list since 2021: Ramesh Mendis(1), Prabath Jayasuriya(2), Asitha Fernando(7)

Pitch Report: There are forecasts for slight rain showers during this Test, which might provide some help for pacers early on. Although the wickets are likely to be slow and helpful for spinners.

Predicted Playing XI - Sri Lanka (SL) vs Pakistan (PAK), 1st Test 2023

Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne©, Nishan Madhushka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama(wk), Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Dilshan Madushanka, Vishwa Fernando/Praveen Jayawickrama

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Babar Azam©, Sarfaraz Ahmed(wk), Saud Shakeel, Agha Salman, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Sri Lanka (SL) vs Pakistan (PAK), 1st Test 2023 - Stat Box

SRI LANKA: 

Numbers against Pakistan in Test Matches

Angelo Mathews vs PAK: Inns - 38, Runs - 1458, Avg - 50, 50s - 7, 100s- 2

Kusal Mendis vs PAK: Inns - 11, Runs - 196, Avg - 17, 50s - 1

Dhananjaya de Silva vs PAK: Inns - 7, Runs - 310, Avg - 52, 100s - 2

Dimuth Karunaratne vs PAK: Inns - 23, Runs - 1040, Avg - 47, 50s - 6, 100s - 2

Dinesh Chandimal vs PAK: Inns - 23, Runs - 924, Avg - 44, 50s - 8, 100s - 1

Ramesh Mendis vs PAK: Inns - 4, Runs - 113, Avg - 38, Wickets - 12, Bowl Avg - 22

Praboth Jayasuriya vs PAK: Inns - 4, Wickets - 17, Bowl Avg - 24

Numbers at Galle in Test Matches (since 2021)

Angelo Mathews: Inns - 14, Runs - 515, Avg - 43, 50s - 3, 100s- 2

Kusal Mendis: Inns - 9, Runs - 593, Avg - 66, 50s - 2, 100s - 2

Dhananjaya de Silva: Inns - 10, Runs - 302, Avg - 38, 50s - 1, 100s - 1

Dimuth Karunaratne: Inns - 11, Runs - 726, Avg - 66, 50s - 2, 100s - 3

Dinesh Chandimal: Inns - 15, Runs - 672, Avg - 61, 50s - 3, 100s - 2

Ramesh Mendis: Inns - 10, Runs - 143, Avg - 14, Wickets - 41, Bowl Avg - 26

Praboth Jayasuriya: Inns - 8, Wickets - 38, Bowl Avg - 20

Praveen Jayawickrama: Inns - 4, Wickets - 7

Nishan Madushka: 205, 29

PAKISTAN: 

Numbers against Sri Lanka in Tests

Abdullah Shafique vs SL: Inns - 4, Runs - 187, Avg - 62, 100s - 1

Agha Salman vs SL: Inns - 4, Runs - 83, Avg - 21, 50s - 1

Babar Azam vs SL: Inns - 11, Runs - 572, Avg - 64, 50s - 3, 100s - 3

Imam-ul-Haq vs SL: Inns - 4, Runs - 118, Avg - 29

Sarfaraz Ahmed vs SL: Inns - 16, Runs - 722, Avg - 52, 50s - 7, 100s - 1

Shan Masood vs SL: Inns - 9, Runs - 381, Avg - 42, 50s - 1, 100s - 2

Mohammad Rizwan vs SL: Inns - 6, Runs - 145, Avg - 29

Mohammad Nawaz: Inns - 4, Rns - 48, Avg - 16, Wickets - 10, Bowl Avg - 26

Naseem Shah vs SL: Inns - 7, Wickets - 14, Bowl Avg - 27

Shaheen Afridi vs SL: Inns - 5, Wickets - 12, Bowl Avg - 22

Numbers at Galle in Tests

Abdullah Shafique: 158, 13*

Agha Salman: 12, 5

Babar Azam: 119, 55

Safaraz Ahmed: 203 Runs at 101 Avg, 3 50s in 3 innings

Shaheen Afridi: 4w, 0w

Imam-ul-Haq: 35, 2

Mohammad Rizwan: 40, 19

Mohammad Nawaz: 5w, 1w

Naseem Shah: 1w, 1w

Sri Lanka (SL) vs Pakistan (PAK), 1st Test – Fantasy Notes

Base Team Picks and Points to Consider

  • Base Team picks: Babar Azam, Dimuth Karunaratne, Shaheen Afridi, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya
  • Shaheen afridi is making his return to Test Cricket after a year since getting injured in the Test Series against Sri Lanka last year.
  • For options - among which Sadeera Samarawickrama and Sarfaraz Ahmed are expected to keep wickets.
  • Sarfaraz Ahmed, who is selected in just 20% of teams can be a good differential pick due t his spectacular record against Sri Lanka and at Galle Stadium. In addition, he will get points through catches and stmpings as a keeper.
  • Both Rizwan and Kusal Mendis will be popular pivks mostly influenced by theirrecord in limited overs cricket. Between the two, Kusal Mendis is in better form in this format and is also better used to the conditions at Galle.
  • The two skippers Dimuth Karunaratne and Babar Azam are the talisman batters for their respective teams, especially in the Test Format. They are also top C/VC options in this match.
  • Dinesh Chandimal has one of the best records at Galle in Tests and is a good batter in this format. With a sellection of just 19%, he can be a good differential pick in your teams.
  • Ramesh Mendis is the highest wickettaker in Tests at Galle since 2021 and should be an automatic pick n a pitch that assists spin. He is also an allrounder who can contribute runs with the bat in the lower order.
  • Shaheen Afridi and Prabath Jayasuriya will be a part of our base team. Shaheen for bvious reasons, and Prabath, because he had an excellent series with the ball when he last met Pakistan in Tests. In addition, he is the second highest wicket taker at Galle in Tests since 2021.

 

Note: Return after 15 minutes of the toss for a fully updated XI, Also stay tuned to our telegram channel for regular updates

Stats Credit: Cricinfo, Cricmetric

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