Pink ball to be put to test in Sri Lankan conditions today
Oct 4, 2016 at 10:23 AM
Pink ball will be put to test for the first time in Sri Lankan conditions when Sri Lanka A play a four-day game against the visiting West Indies A at R Premadasa stadium. The 4-day first unofficial Test between the two countries begins today.
“We have been lagging behind other countries in experimenting with the pink ball, but a start had to be made somewhere,” said K Mathivanan, vice-president of Sri Lanka Cricket. “With the ICC planning to introduce day-night Test cricket in the near future we should be prepared to face the changes and not lag behind.”
“We have had few practice sessions with the pink ball and found it very much similar to the red ball, but with use, the pink ball gets a bit strange and the colour fades” concluded K Mathivanan.
The Sri Lankan opener, Dimuth Karunaratne, will be leading the home team whereas Shamrah Brooks will be leading the West Indies A squad. Sri Lanka A squad also includes the Under 19 star Charith Asalanka who has been elevated to play against the seniors. Avishka Fernando, the other Under 19 batsman has also been included in the squad. Lahiru Thirimanne, Lakshan Sandakan, Asela Gunaratne will also mark their presence for Sri Lanka A.
The West Indies A roster includes international players like Kemar Roach, Rajendra Chandrika, Evin Lewis and Kieran Powell.
This will be the first time when the pink ball will be put to test in Lankan conditions whereas on the other side the West Indies team had a taste of pink ball in the year 2010. In fact, the West Indies team is set to play a day-night fixture against Pakistan which starts on October 13 at U.A.E.
There are 3 unofficial Test matches scheduled for West Indies A followed by three 50 overs matches as well.
Squads –
Sri Lanka A Team
KIC Asalanka, N Dickwella†, AM Fernando, SANJ Fernando, WIA Fernando, DAS Gunaratne, NGRP Jayasuriya,FDM Karunaratne*, CBRLS Kumara, HUK Madushanka, MDKJ Perera, NVR Perera, PADLR Sandakan, ARS Silva,HDRL Thirimanne
West Indies A Team
SSJ Brooks*†, R Chandrika, RRS Cornwall, JN Hamilton, SO Hetmyer, DK Jacobs, DE Johnson, K Joseph, RH Leveridge, E Lewis, G Moti-Kanhai, KOA Powell, KAJ Roach, VA Singh.