Sri Lanka’s Test captain Dinesh Chandimal wants his batsman to improve their game and consistently guarantee the team first innings scores beyond 300 ahead of the Australia tour, as he believes that is the only way to give the bowlers the best chance of winning games. The Lankan team start a Test series against Australia on the 24th of January and captain Chandimal aims to repeat team India’s heroics who recently became the first Asian team to win a Test series Down Under.
Ishara S.Kodikara/AFP
“Our fast bowlers are in good shape and if we can get more than 300 that will be great from the batting unit.” Chandimal said ahead of his team’s first warm up match adding, “The India bowling unit was really good, especially between overs 40-80. That's why they won the series. As a team we just want to do that as well."
The 29-year-old also expressed his concern over Sri Lanka’s inability to do well in the first innings of games, highlighting that as a major cause of their series defeat against New Zealand. His team conceded sizable first innings leads in both Test matches and were only saved by a combination of the batting brilliance of Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mendis and the weather Gods in the game in Wellington.
"That's the one area we'll have to improve," Chandimal said adding, “We have done well in New Zealand in both Tests, especially in the second innings. We just want to start well whether bowling or batting.“
Sri Lanka will be without Mathews for their games in Australia after the all-rounder suffered a hamstring injury in New Zealand. Sadeera Samarawickrama makes a comeback to the squad instead.
