Sri Lanka vs Ireland - 2nd Test Confident Sri Lanka likely to make changes

Ireland vice captain Paul Stirling (R) returns to the squad

By Shamseer Jaleel reporting from Galle

The Sri Lankan cricket outfit under Dimuth Karunaratne will be facing the wounded Ireland team in their second Test match starting today (April 24) at the Galle International Cricket Stadium.

Both teams returned for training after a few extra rest days with hot and humid conditions around Sri Lanka at present. Though the same squad was announced for the second Test, Sri Lanka is likely to give a debut opportunity to Dushan Hemantha, who did really well at the recently concluded National Super League (NSL) 2023. If Dushan is in the starting XI, that could cost Asitha Fernando’s place in the line-up. As Galle has always favoured spin, Sri Lanka is likely to go with one fast bowler, Vishwa Fernando.

The Galle Stadium has always been a spinner’s paradise, having major success in the final outcome of the game. Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralidaran, and Rangana Herath had many successes here at the Down South venue. The present two spinners, Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis, too, have performed well here in the recent past, which has helped the home team grab the honours.

Prabath took 12 wickets against the Aussies on his debut and later took another 17 wickets in the two-match Test series against Pakistan. The spin duo of Prabath and Ramesh will await another two-match Test series when Pakistan play here in Galle in July later this year. Further, four centuries by Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, and Sadeera Samarawickrema laid the foundation for the spin duo of Prabath and Ramesh to attack.

Ireland, sadly making their Test debut in 2018, have played only six Test matches during this period of five years, with their main focus being on T20 and 50-over encounters. They had some good news at last when vice captain Paul Stirling joined the Irish Test squad three days ago and trained with the team, which would be a boost for the visiting team. Stirling was rested after the conclusion of the recent Bangladesh series but has returned to the squad and is now in line for a Test match appearance. He has already played three Test matches for the Irish outfit.

The toss is going to play a vital part in this game, as the team winning the toss is likely to bat first, put up a huge score, and put pressure on the other team, which will not only need to bat last but also face the spin music at Galle, which is a tough task in history, and this ground is the favourite ground for the home team with some good positive results in the past few years.

Sri Lanka Squad for the 2nd Test 

Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Nishan Madushka, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Dushan Hemantha, Lasith Embuldeniya, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Milan Ratnayake.