SL vs BAN: Five players to watch out for in the upcoming Test series
In the midst of the Indian Premier League (IPL), 2 teams that are ranked No.7 and No.9 will lock horns against each other in a two-match Test series in the land of Sri Lanka. Both the Test matches will be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The first rubber between the two sides will take place on 21st April 2021. On that note, let us take a look at the 5 players to watch out for in the Test series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
5. Suranga Lakmal
Suranga Lakmal was in menacing form with the ball for the Sri Lankan side in the recently concluded two-match Test series between West Indies and Sri Lanka. The right-arm pacer scalped 11 wickets in the 2 Tests that he played against the West Indian outfit. Lakmal averaged just 21.45 with the ball, and hit the right areas, causing a lot of trouble to the willow wielders. If he can continue with the same form in the Test series against Bangladesh, then he will be tough to handle.
4. Lahiru Thirimanne
In the last 4 innings that Lahiru Thirimanne has played in Test cricket, his scores read 39,55,76 and 70. The left-hander has been in scintillating form with the bat in hand for the Sri Lankan side in the recent past. In fact, in the series against England that was held in the month of January, Thirimanne scored a classic century as well.
Needless to say, Thirimanne is in very good form heading into the Test series against Bangladesh, and would surely be a batsman to keep an eye on.
3. Pathum Nissanka
The biggest positive to emerge from the Test series against West Indies for the Sri Lanka side was the emergence of Pathum Nissanka. The right-handed batsman scored 163 runs in the 3 innings that he played in the land of the Caribbean. It was Nissanka’s debut appearance in Test match cricket, and he made it count.
At the age of 22, Nissanka is certainly a bright prospect for Sri Lanka. Expect him to continue his good run with the willow in the Test series against Bangladesh as well.
2. Liton Das
Another man to keep an eye on in the Test series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh is Liton Das. The Bangladeshi willow wielder has been in excellent form in Test match cricket. In his last 5 innings in the white flannels, Das has smashed 3 half-centuries. Das will play a key role for Bangladesh with the willow in the upcoming series against the Dimuth Karunaratne led side.
1. Mushfiqur Rahim
Mushfiqur Rahim is the only Bangladesh batsman to have plundered three double centuries in Test match cricket. And, his latest double ton came just 14 months ago, against Zimbabwe at the Shere Bangla Stadium in Mirpur. Rahim plundered an unbeaten 203 to power his side to an innings and 106-run victory over the opposition.
Rahim is also the highest run-scorer for Bangladesh in Test cricket and has amassed 4537 runs in his career thus far. Expect Rahim to come out all guns blazing in the series against Sri Lanka.
