Sri Lanka spinners set to challenge England's new-look batting unit in Galle

First Test
Sky Sports Cricket, 4.30am Tuesday

England eased to a 3-1 victory over Sri Lanka in the one-day series but the hosts are a dangerous Test team on their own turf, having beaten Australia 3-0 in 2016 and thumped South Africa in two matches in July.

England’s away Test form has been woeful – their last three series on the road have ended in 4-0 defeats to India and Australia and a 1-0 loss in New Zealand – and their inconsistent batting unit faces a trial by spin in Galle, Pallekele and Colombo.

The first Test in Galle marks the end of Rangana Herath’s illustrious career for Sri Lanka.

The left-arm spinner made his Test debut in September 1999, when England’s Sam Curran was 15 months old, and the Lankans should be confident of giving Herath the perfect sendoff.

Best bets
Sri Lanka have won five of their last six Tests at Galle and, weather permitting, they have a great chance of extending that fine record against an England side who are struggling to nail down their best 11.

The only blip on the Lankans’ recent Galle record was last year’s 304-run defeat to India, who piled up 600 in their first innings before spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja ground out a win on a flat wicket.

England’s batsmen haven’t shown that kind of runscoring ruthlessness for several years while their spinners may struggle to match Ashwin and Jadeja’s efforts.

Sri Lanka have developed into an efficient Test team in the past couple of years, winning in Bangladesh and against Pakistan in their UAE fortress, and there is a more robust look to their batting with prolific opener Dimuth Karunaratne, skipper Dinesh Chandimal and the experienced Angelo Mathews.

Their likely matchwinners are their slow bowlers, however.
Herath has lost little of his bite as he approaches retirement, claiming 6-98 in the final innings of this year’s South Africa series.

The veteran is 6-1 to be named man of the match in his final Test but unsentimental punters could get better value in 10-1 chance Dilruwan Perera.

At 36, Perera’s opportunities have been limited by legends Herath and Muttiah Muralitharan but his statistics in Galle are astounding: 45 wickets in seven Tests including ten in the 2016 victory over Australia and 18 in two games against South Africa.

He is a handy lower-order batsman, who made 95 in his first Test innings against Pakistan and unbeaten knocks of 92 and 21 in last year’s defeat to India at Galle.

Recommendations
Sri Lanka
3pts 7-4 general
D Perera to be man of the match
1pt 10-1 Coral, Ladbrokes, Sky Bet

Venue
Sri Lanka have a solid record in the shadow of Galle Fort, winning nine of their last 13 Tests dating back to England’s most recent visit in March 2012.

South Africa were bowled out for 126 and 73 during their heavy defeat in July and a similarly spin-friendly pitch can be expected for Herath’s farewell.

Team news
Mathews, controversially dropped from Sri Lanka’s one-day side, returns for the longer format.

Surrey’s Ben Foakes has joined the squad as cover for injured wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow although Jos Buttler is likely to take the gloves. Rory Burns and Keaton Jennings should open the batting as England start life after Alastair Cook.

Weather
The monsoon weather caused plenty of disruption to the ODI series and thundery showers are forecast for all five days in Galle. Light winds with temperatures ranging from 25-30C.

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