In their first Tests against Sri Lanka, Ireland hopes to excel
Andrew Balbirnie, the captain of Ireland, claimed on Saturday that his team can compete in their first five-day series in Sri Lanka despite their disappointment over the Bangladesh Test that they let slip through their fingers.
Although they haven’t seen success in the format since being granted Test status in 2017, the visitors came back last week to scare their hosts in the second innings.
After losing by six wickets in Dhaka, Ireland is currently zero for four. Balbirnie is certain that his team will succeed in the two-match series, which gets underway Sunday in Galle.
Balbirnie told reporters, “In Dhaka, we demonstrated we had a number of guys who can come up to the mark.
Possibility exists. We’re attempting to increase their exposure and game selection.
Lorcan Tucker became the nation’s second Test centurion on his debut, and Bangladesh offered hope for the Irish team in their amazing third-day comeback.
While off-spinner Andy McBrine claimed six wickets and scored 72 runs, Harry Tector managed two fifty-plus scores.
Six Irish players earned their Test debuts in Bangladesh, so the inexperienced visitors should anticipate a tough battle against a seasoned squad from seventh-ranked Sri Lanka.
Yet Balbirnie claimed that his team was eager to demonstrate their mettle.
We haven’t played many Test matches, but we now have two against a formidable opponent, he remarked. “We enjoy this experience and it’s good to don the whites again.”
I have nothing new.
Sadeera Samarawickrama, 27, who is making his international Test comeback after a hiatus of more than five years, may be assigned to wicketkeeping responsibilities as part of Sri Lanka’s numerous adjustments.
“In domestic cricket, Sadeera has performed admirably and merits a break. He’s also really hungry, so we hope he’ll establish himself on the side “Dimuth Karunaratne, the captain of Sri Lanka, told reporters.
After a 2-0 series loss in New Zealand last month, Oshada Fernando was fired, and Karunaratne will now open with Nishan Madushka.
” he added. “Hopefully, what we learnt from the last week, we’ll bring to this series.”
It’s nothing new for me because I’ve opened batting in Test matches with around 10 different players, Karunaratne said of the changeover. “This is a tremendous break for him,” someone said. “He’s been scoring heavily this year.”
Sri Lanka will play its first home game in any format this year on Sunday. The second test is slated to take place from April 24-28 at Galle, where both matches will be held.
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Nishan Madushka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Dushan Hemantha, Lasith Embuldeniya, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Milan Rathnayake.
Ireland: Andrew Balbirnie (capt), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Murray Commins, George Dockrell, Fionn Hand, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Tom Mayes, Andrew McBrine, James McCollum, Paul Stirling, PJ Moor, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White.
