ZIM v SL, 2nd Test, Preview: Zimbabwe chasing a moral victory behind a draw

The Test series in Zimbabwe might not attract a lot of fans around the world (primarily because of their neighbouring country playing a high profile Test series down under) but it is quite important for both the teams under contention. For Zimbabwe, every Test they play is important irrespective of the opponent and for Sri Lanka, it’s about giving their youngsters a platform to experience Test cricket and build a young team after the retirement of their veterans. Here is a look at the situation of both the teams ahead of the game.

Team Analysis:

Zimbabwe:

For Zimbabwe, every Test they play, every series they feature in is all about improving from their last assignment. They made Sri Lanka work hard for their win in the last game by digging in till the last hour of the Test and any kind of improvement on that performance can take them to a draw which will  be no less than a win for the home side. That was Zimbabwe’s 100th Test and they did made it special for themselves by saving the follow-on after conceding over 500 runs in the first innings. To make it more special, it was their captain Graeme Cremer who played a leading role in avoiding the follow-on.

However, Zimbabwe would not want to leave it all on their captain again. Only Peter Moor and the skipper Cremer could leave a batting impression on the Sri Lankan bowlers. They will be expecting a lot from their batsmen like Hamilton Masakadza, Sean Williams and Craig Ervine who have shown their capability at various stages of their career.

With the ball, barring the debutant Crl Mumba and again the captain, Graeme Cremer, the Zimbabwean bowling attack looked toothless. The entire bowling line up has an experience of 29 Tests in comparison with Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath who has played 74 Tests alone.

It doesn’t happen often that Zimbabwe manages to host 4 Tests in a year. They had their best performance in their last Test where they lost by 225 runs. With the financial problems the game is facing in the country, with very little to prepare for the series under the new coach, Heath Streak, with dark clouds over country’s domestic cricket structure, Zimbabwe’s chances of a series levelling win look bleak. 

Sri Lanka:

Zimbabwe did give them a tough competition but Sri Lanka had a great first Test both as a team and also individually for their players. Almost everyone clicked with the bat in either innings of the Test match and each of their 4 front-line bowlers chipped in with wickets. Despite Zimbabwe showing signs of improvement, Sri Lanka will head into the match with a lot of self belief.

Rangana Herath would beaming with confidence after getting off the mark in terms of Test wins and would like to add up another one in what might turn out to be his first and only series as a Test captain.

What would really please Sri Lanka is the way their batting panned out Karunaratne scored a fifty and a hundred in the match, Kaushal Silva scored a resilient 94 in the first innings, Kusal Perera and Upul Tharanga were clinical in leading Sri Lanka to their first overseas 500-plus total since February 2014 (which came against Bangladesh) with hundreds.

With the ball, Sri Lanka seldom requires anyone else when they have had the experience and skills of Rangana Herath. Suranga Lakmal had a decent outing in the previous Test and took 5 wickets for Sri Lanka making the job of the spinners easier. 

Probable XIs:

Zimbabwe:  

Tino Mawoyo, Brian Chari, Hamilton Masakadza, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Peter Moor, Malcolm Waller, Graeme Cremer (C), Donald Tiripano, Carl Mumba, Chris Mpofu

Sri Lanka:

Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Upul Tharanga, Dananjaya de Silva, Dilruwan Perera, Rangana Herath (C), Suranga Lakmal, Lakshan Sandakan/Asela Gunaratne, Lahiru Kumara

StaAttack:

1. This is only the third time in last 11 years that Zimbabwe is hosting 4 Test matches in an year.

2. Graeme Cremer has scored 258 runs in his Test career before the start of the first Test. He scored 145 runs (102* in first innings and 43 in the second innings) in the first Test which was more than half of his career runs at that moment

3. Zimbabwe is the only team against which Rangana Herath has not taken a 5-wicket haul.

4. Zimbabwe have not won or even drawn a single Test in their last 5 games. On the other hand, Sri Lanka have not lost a single game among their last 5 Tests.