"A lot of matches are like knockouts for us...": SL skipper Dhananjaya rues lack of international red-ball cricket
Colombo [Sri Lanka], June 28 (ANI): After their side's series win, which marked the new ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle, Sri Lankan skipper Dhananjaya de Silva said that the championship has become more competitive and with less Tests under their belt, a lot of matches become a 'knockout' fixture for them.
Sri Lanka started their WTC 2025-27 campaign with a 1-0 win over Bangladesh.
SL will be playing only a two-match series throughout their cycle, as the schedule stands right now. The important statistic in WTC is 'percentage of points won', which means that teams that play far fewer games than others can still finish in the top two. But it is important for them to win a lot of games and not miss a step.
After the win, Silva stated, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo, 'The WTC is like other World Cups- a lot of matches are like knockouts for us. We have talked about how we win when we make the fewest mistakes, and we need those wins to get those extra points. In the last cycle, we made a few mistakes, and that is what cost us. Hopefully, we can correct that this cycle.'
'It is become a competitive trophy. Even, we have started thinking about our run rates in light of what's happening. The Championship is a great thing for Test cricket,' he added.
During the last cycle, SL was in contention for the final till the late stage, but finished sixth with five wins and eight losses. They played far fewer Tests as compared to the 'Big Three', England (22), India and Australia (19 each).
Sri Lanka is not scheduled to play Tests till May next year, but they face the task of keeping their red-ball game on point in these times without proper international Test match cricket. In this situation, the team has requested Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for more Tests.
'We only have domestic matches. Right now, there is a one-day tournament, and after that, there will be a three-day tournament. There's also the National Super League. That's how we will have to keep our form. Unfortunately, there are no Tests,' Silva said.
'We have made requests to the SLC to play more Tests. I think they are talking about it with other teams. Even if we can play three or four extra Tests, we will be able to continue the good things we are doing,' he added.
Dhananjaya said that in addition to scoring quickly, the team is also focusing on bowling a lot of maidens. During the Colombo Test, they bowled 18 maidens out of a total of 123.5 overs - roughly 15 per cent.
'Whenever we come into a Test series, we have some key performance indicators,' Dhananjaya said. 'One of the things we analysed this time was that our maiden percentage needed to be higher. So that's what we planned to do. We have to keep some pressure on the opposition in Tests to get some wickets at the other end. I think our bowlers did that very well,' he concluded.
Sri Lanka won the second Test by an innings and 78 runs and wrapped the series 1-0, claiming some valuable points in the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle on Saturday.
Sri Lanka needed just 28 minutes of the morning session of the fourth day to wrap up the entire series and secure their ninth-innings victory over Bangladesh.
Left-arm ball tweaker Prabath Jayasuriya did the bulk of the damage and returned with figures of 5/56, his 12th five-wicket haul.
Jayasuriya weaved his magic just three deliveries into his first over of the fourth day. Litton Das tried to negate the threat with forward defence but edged it to wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis (14) behind the stumps. He stung Bangladesh again in his next over by having Nayeem Hasan stumped on 5(8).
He completed his five-wicket haul by pouching a return catch to his right from Taijul Islam. Tharindu Ratnayake got into the thick of the action and trapped Ebadot Hossain in front of the stumps in the next over to pull the curtain down on Bangladesh's innings in just 34 deliveries into the morning session.
Jayasuriya spun his best against Bangladesh and found his lost mojo after going wicketless in the first innings and striking once in Galle. In the second innings, a total of nine wickets fell to spin, with Tharindu and captain Dhananjaya de Silva sharing two apiece apart from Jayasuriya's five-for.
Earlier in the Test, Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat, just as they had done in the series opener in Galle. However, they failed to replicate their previous success and turned out to be pale shadows of their former self. They finished with 247 on the board, and in reply, Sri Lanka notched 458 on the board, courtesy of Pathum Nissanka's flamboyant 158(254), Dinesh Chandimal's resilient 93(153) and Kusal's quick-fire 84(87).
Bangladesh attempted to conjure an inspired performance but fell short in their efforts. Jayasuriya tore through Bangladesh's batting order and forced them to pack on 133 in 44.2 overs, sealing a 1-0 series win for the hosts.
Brief Scores: Bangladesh 247 and 133 (Mushfiqur Rahim 26, Prabath Jayasuriya 5-56) vs Sri Lanka 458 (Pathum Nissanka 158, Dinesh Chandimal 93, Kusal Mendis 84, Taijul Islam 5-131). (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Time of India
IND vs ENG: 'It doesn't get bigger than this!' - AB de Villiers questions Jasprit Bumrah's Test workload plan
De Villiers stressed that unless Bumrah is nursing a serious injury, he must feature in the remaining matches. Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has raised eyebrows over India's decision to reportedly restrict Jasprit Bumrah to just three Tests in the ongoing five-match series against England. Calling Test cricket the 'ultimate form of the game,' de Villiers expressed surprise and suggested India might be mismanaging their premier fast bowler. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Speaking on his YouTube channel, the 41-year-old Proteas legend made a strong case for Bumrah's full availability, comparing the situation to how South Africa handled the workload of Dale Steyn . India's Day 2 at the Nets in Edgbaston | IND vs ENG Test Series "He is probably the top bowler in the world in all formats right now," de Villiers said. "In my opinion, this Test series would've been the one to get him ready for all five matches. That's what we did with Dale - rest him in less important T20 and ODI series and have him fully ready for the big Test tours - Australia, England, India." Poll Should Jasprit Bumrah play in all five Tests against England? Yes, he should play all five No, he should be rested He questioned whether the decision was influenced by medical advice. "Maybe the surgeon told him he can't play all five. If that's the case, you've got to respect it. But if it's about workload, then I'm not sure they've gone about it the right way," he added. De Villiers stressed that unless Bumrah is nursing a serious injury, he must feature in the remaining matches. "It doesn't get bigger than a five-Test series against England - other than maybe the WTC final. If he's fit, he must play. If not, I understand the caution." Arshdeep vs Morkel: WWE at the Nets! | Team India's Lighter Moment in Birmingham In a cheeky aside, ABD suggested that India might be bluffing to surprise England. "Maybe it's part of the plan - say he'll miss some games and then play all five. Hopefully, that's the surprise with India 0-1 down." He also backed India's bench strength: "It's a big opportunity for someone like Arshdeep Singh or maybe Kuldeep Yadav to step up." Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Keshav Maharaj makes history in first Test as South Africa captain, breaks new ground in Proteas' red-ball record
South Africa's stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj made history while leading his team in the first of their two-match Test series in Zimbabwe, as he reached the milestone of 200 Test wickets on day two in Bulawayo. Maharaj therefore becomes the first South African spinner to reach the 200-wicket mark, establishing himself firmly as the best spinner in his country's storied Test legacy. Keshav Maharaj became the first South African spinner to reach 200 Test wickets in his career.(AFP) Maharaj dismissed Craig Ervine, his opposite number on the Zimbabwean team, to bring up that special 200 number. He extends his spot at the top of South African spinners in terms of Test wickets, having crossed Hugh Tayfield's tally of 170 during the previous WTC cycle. Maharaj has led the way often as South Africa's sole spinner at home, and as the leader of the attack in subcontinental and spinning conditions. The 35-year-old, now a veteran of 59 Test matches, was part of the World Test Championship winning team, and was clearly emotional following South Africa's victory at Lord's over Australia. Taking over a changed-up team in Zimbabwe while Temba Bavuma nurses his injury sustained during the final, Maharaj got the chance to mark it with this milestone. South Africa take control of first Test vs Zimbabwe He took figures of 3-70 in Zimbabwe's innings, including the crucial wickets of Ervine and another experienced left-hander Sean Williams, before wrapping up the innings with the final wicket to seal a 167-run lead in the first innings. He was assisted by debutant Codi Yusuf, who opened the bowling and took three wickets, and Wiaan Mulder, who took 4 wickets of his own. Earlier, a century on debut by Lhuan-dre Pretorius and by Corbin Bosch lower down the order. Maharaj also contributed with a valuable 21 down the order with the bat to help push South Africa to 418/9 before declaring the innings late on day one. Maharaj now has 202 wickets in his Test career, at an average of 29.62 — very healthy numbers for a country which has typically not had premium spinners at their disposal. Maharaj is the ninth-highest Test wicket-taker for South Africa, and will have his eyes on overtaking Vernon Philander with 224 this year.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
'Night to remember forever': Rajeev Shukla, Mohammed Kaif recall Indias T20 WC 2024 win
New Delhi [India], June 29 (ANI): The Board of Control of India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla reminisced on Team India's ICC T20 World Cup win last year on this day, calling it a "night to remember forever". On this day last year, Team India ended their 11-year-long trophy drought as a match-winning half-century from Virat Kohli and a brilliant pace choke by Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Hardik Pandya helped them beat South Africa by seven runs at Barbados in the T20 WC final to capture their second marquee T20 title. Remembering that day, Shukla wrote on his X handle, "June 29, 2024, was a night to remember forever. After 11 long years, India finally won an ICC trophy, lifting the T20 World Cup with pride and passion. The wait, the emotions, the glory all came together in that magical moment. @BCCI." Former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif also took to X, remembering the day when India's "great tactics" won them the trophy, particularly the strategy to play three spinners, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja. After the match, Virat and Rohit Sharma announced their retirements from the format. "Day to remember India's great tactics that won them the World T20 and our two greats who we miss. Rohit's plan to play three spinners and Virat's man of the match in final - great memories," Kaif posted. In the pulsating final of the marquee event, India and South Africa landed in Barbados unbeaten, with hopes of ending the quest on a memorable note. The coin spun in India's favour during the time of the toss, and Rohit decided to put South Africa in a position to chase. After India was reduced to 34/3, batting maestro Virat Kohli and Axar raised a priceless 72-run partnership before the latter was dismissed on 47(31). Virat continued to extend his stay at the crease and switched through gears after celebrating his half-century. With his enchanting strokeplay, he blew away the South African bowling unit and returned with 76(59). Shivam Dube's swift 27 from 16 deliveries propelled India to 176/7. In reply, Quinton de Kock (39) and Heinrich Klaasen (52) decimated India's hopes of winning the title. With the equation down to 26 off 24 deliveries, a spirited pace bowling performance came to India's rescue. Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh emerged as the prime architects of the Proteas' downfall. With 16 needed in the final over and David Miller on strike, Pandya began his over with a wide full toss that Miller dispatched down the ground through the aerial route. Suryakumar sprinted to his left from long-off and grabbed the ball. He lobbed it in the air as momentum took him past the boundary rope and then came back inside the field to complete a catch that determined the fate of the title. The troika chained South African batters and escaped with a narrow seven-run victory to end the ICC Trophy drought. (ANI)
