Sri Lanka with a chance to enter World Test final

Sri Lanka could still make a push for a World Test Championship final berth with three more wins from their remaining four Tests. Sri Lanka recorded back to back test wins over New Zealand at Galle   before they  scored a fighting win over England  in the third test at Oval and these achievements  may help to qualify   for the world test championship final.

However Sri Lanka team led by Dhananjaya de Silva has a difficult task ahead with two Tests scheduled in South Africa at the end of November and a further two-match series at home against reigning champions Australia in 2025. If Sri Lanka can get one victory in South Africa, it could lead to a grand finish on home soil with the top two spots potentially still to be decided in the final series of the cycle.

Sri Lanka batting specialist coach Thilina Kandamby said  Sri Lanka Cricket  is planning to send test cricket players ( not involved with  white ball format ) by November 12 with two coaches and this is good for them to adjust to the conditions before the test series. We have not finalized which players can be released  to go early to South Africa with the test players. Especially New Zealand white ball series also important as they  are ahead of us in  rankings and we also maintain good momentum on white ball cricket and wanted to play well against New Zealand in this home series after a good series against West Indies  said  Kandamby  the former National top order batter  who gives good support to the Sri Lanka batters. I think Test preparation is also very important and South Africa is not an easy place for the batsmen.

Kandamby further added Our batters have improved now but  we have few more areas to develop. Our aim is to make a world class team and for that target we have to make more improvements. He also pointed out about skipper Charith Asalanka who had good commitment to the game. From his childhood he  worked hard. He built up his talent from club level to International level. He scored  a double century  at NSL before the West Indies series which gave him good confidence. We always expect number 5-6 batter can finish the game and Charith  is able to do that to get success for the team. Most of the players get  good practice  by  playing  in  domestic tournaments and  especially we saw that from the National Super League (NSL)  said  Kandamby.

As a batting coach I always give support to the players but I don’t think  we can make  changes and it is important to give more confidence to have a good mind set  said batting coach Kandamby.  head coach Sanath Jayasuriya  gives good support to the players to make a good environment. If the players have any doubts we have to give support but their commitment to the game is the most important. We always give advice to them and talk straight forward.

Sri Lanka cricket team have a busy schedule ahead with both white ball format and red ball format teams  having  series home and away. Sri Lanka  will meet New Zealand in their T-20  and ODI series  from November 9 at Dambulla. The two  T-20 games are scheduled to be held on November 9 and 10 at Dambulla Stadium while first ODI of the three match series will be held on November 13 at Dambulla followed by  second and third  ODI’s at Pallekele  on November 17 and 19. Meanwhile two test series against  South Africa  will  commence on   November 27. The  first test between two teams will be held at Kingsmead Cricket ground Durban  while second test  will  be  from December  5-9 at St George’s Park Cricket ground at Gqeberha  formerly known as Port Elizabeth.