Test debut for Ratnayake at Old Trafford?

Rex Clementine
in Manchester

After Sri Lanka were beaten by England Lions in Worcester with two sessions to spare in the four day game, there was no packing of bags and getting ready to head to the next location – Manchester. Instead, the entire team was in the middle for a training session that went beyond two hours. One exception was uncapped fast bowler Milan Ratnayake.

Sri Lanka played three quicks for the four day game in Worcester that ended on Saturday. Right-arm seamer Asitha Fernando and his namesake Vishwa Fernando, a left-arm seam bowler, were rested from the warm-up game as they were certainties for Old Trafford. So, from the three quicks who played in Worcester, only one was going to feature in the first Test.

Lahiru Kumara, having bowled so well should be backed as the third seamer ahead of Kasun Rajitha and Milan Ratnayake. However, although both Kumara and Rajitha bowled after the game during the training session, Ratnayake was told to take a breather. That’s because of the three seamers, he was the most impressive in Worcester and he could be in line for his Test debut in three days’ time.

However, having said that, it will be a huge call to make for Kumara is Sri Lanka’s quickest bowler and was the highest wicket taker in Sri Lanka’s last series win.

Ratnayake’s ability to bat and bowl well with the older ball are factors that are in favour of him. Selector on tour Ajantha Mendis has a tough call to make.

Born in Kurunegala, Ratnayake learned his cricket at the far off Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya, Wariyapola. Standing at six feet and one inch, the 28-year-old represented Air Force in domestic cricket before moving to Australia.

Ratnayake played cricket in Australia for a couple of years but things didn’t work out with COVID and he returned home and has forced his way back into the senior side with good performance in domestic cricket.

Sri Lanka’s batting was a flop during the warm-up game. In the first innings, it was damp and overcast and the moving ball had the batters work cut out. But in the second essay, when the sun was out, you expected them to do much better.

In fact, they started off well with the openers adding 105 runs. Nishan Madushka was on course for a hundred that would have done his confidence lot of good ahead of the Test series. But he threw it away taking on the off-spinner.

Angelo Mathews and Sadeera Samarawickrama also gave their wickets away to the off-spinner with the former captain attempting a reverse sweep but was unable to execute it properly.

Captain Dhananjaya de Silva, like Mathews scored a half-century but fell to the second new ball shouldering arms.

In the first innings, Sri Lanka were shot out for 139 but fared much better scoring 306 in the second essay. They could have easily posted over 400 runs in the second innings and that would have tested England Lions.

You should not read too much into these warm-up games. The team usually bring up their best game when Test matches get underway.

Not often Sri Lanka get to play in England in the second half of the summer when the wickets have flattened out and the sun is out. Playing Test matches in May is quite a task when wickets are fresh and it is gloomy, dark and damp.

Old Trafford this season has been spinning a lot and Prabath Jayasuriya could have a major impact in the series. Asitha Fernando is a much improved bowler and has won Sri Lanka a few games. Vishwa Fernando, though, is Sri Lanka’s trump card. He featured for Yorkshire this year and had a good season.

Sri Lanka will be back in London next week for back to back Test matches at Lord’s and The Oval. They have not played a Test match at The Oval for 26 years now. Lord’s is nostalgic yes, but the other London Test ground has its own unique place in cricket having hosted the first ever Test match in England. Traditionally, The Oval also hosts the last Test match of the English season.