Sri Lanka banking on 'wily old fox' Herath, says Chandimal
First Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will begin in Chittagong today (Wednesday).
CHITTAGONG (AFP) - Sri Lanka will bank on the guile of record-breaking left-arm spinner Rangana Herath as they try to extend their recent winning streak to the two-Test series against Bangladesh, captain Dinesh Chandimal said Tuesday.
After a dismal last few months, Sri Lanka appeared to have turned the tide by winning the recent tri-nation tournament with an emphatic 79-run victory against Bangladesh in the final one-dayer.
The win has put the spring back in the steps of Chandimal s men ahead of the first Test beginning in the port city of Chittagong Wednesday.
The two teams drew their Test series 1-1 in Sri Lanka last year. The hosts won the first Test in Galle by a huge margin before Bangladesh levelled the series with a win in their 100th Test in Colombo.
"This will be a great series for both teams," Chandimal told reporters, citing the experience of Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera.
Chandimal especially hailed the 39-year-old Herath, who is the most successful left-arm spinner in Test history with 406 wickets after passing Daniel Vettori s tally of 362 Test wickets last year.
"He is a wily old fox. He can do what he wants to do. He is a big asset in our team," he said.
Bangladesh were expected to offer Sri Lanka a turning wicket of the kind that helped them win one Test each against England and Australia in their last Test encounters at home.
"I think it will have a bit of spin on this pitch. Our batsmen have to take the responsibility, as also our bowlers," said stand-in Bangladeshi captain Mahmudullah Riyad.
"We have to do the basics right, pick up wickets early if we bowl first or put together partnerships so that we can get a big score," he said.
Mahmudullah took over the captaincy of the Test team after newly-appointed captain Shakib Al Hasan was ruled out of the first Test with a finger injury.
"It is a big loss," Mahmudullah said of Shakib, who is also the hosts most experienced spinner.
"But you have to go ahead accepting all the challenges. I think if we can execute our decisions positively, we will have a good game."
The second Test is in Dhaka, starting on February 8.
