Karunaratne backs Sri Lanka pace attack

Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne has faith that his seam attack has the quality to trouble South Africa batsmen in their upcoming Test series.
South Africa host a Sri Lanka team who have brought one of their best allround pace attacks in recent memory.
Karunaratne backs Sri Lanka pace
The Proteas have fast bowlers capable of topping the 150 kmph mark but have admitted that injury problems are plaguing their attack.
Sri Lanka on the other hand have an attack that is by and large fit and raring to go and most of them have experience of South African conditions.
Experienced seamer Suranga Lakmal is the only concern from a fitness point of view having picked up a niggling injury in training.
Karunaratne is confident that the likes of Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara can match their hosts for pace.
“We’re going to need the fast bowlers at Centurion and Wanderers,” Karunaratne said. “Last time we came to South Africa we didn’t have many options – Lahiru Kumara and Dushmantha Chameera weren’t here.
“This time we do have that strength, and we will need it. If the opposition thinks that we don’t have a lot of pace or bounce in our team, that emboldens them to use their conditions even more against us. But on this tour, we have fast bowlers, and if you look at pace, we’re about equal.
“I think the batsmen will be the difference. Whoever is the better batting side has a good chance of winning the series.”

The skipper admitted that he was feeling nervous ahead of a return to international cricket. He missed Sri Lanka’s domestic first-class competition and therefore hasn’t had any cricket since 1 March.
Skipper and top-order rock
There will be pressure on Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis to produce the runs Sri Lanka will need to repeat their historic 2019 Test series win in South Africa.
“I haven’t been able to play much at all this year, partly because I had an injury for part of it,” Karunaratne said. “I’m feeling a little nervous about playing again, but I’m sure everyone is. Starting in Centurion is a big challenge, and once we got here we realised how hard it will be. But we’ve trained hard and everyone’s put in a lot of effort to adapt. Anyway there is pressure when you play overseas, but personally I think the pressure is kind of doubled on me because I haven’t had that any match practice. But I think once I hit a few balls in the middle, I’ll be okay.”
Latest
-
News
Sri Lanka v England Day 2: Familiar faces keep England in the hunt at Galle
James Anderson and Joe Root raised the bar in the second Test against Sri Lanka.
-
News
England paceman James Anderson still finding ways to get better
Anderson’s six for 40 was his best performance in Asian conditions.
-
News
Masterful Joe Root leads England fightback against Sri Lanka
The captain was unbeaten on 67 at stumps on day two of the second Test.
-
News
James Anderson leads the way as England bowl Sri Lanka out for 381
Spinners Jack Leach and Dom Bess were left to nurse a combined return of nought for 195 in 64 overs.
-
News
James Anderson lands key wicket but Niroshan Dickwella fights on
England’s record wicket-taker was immediately on the hunt again, finding sharp movement off the pitch to remove Mathews in his first over.
-
News
On this day in 2016: Shivnarine Chanderpaul announces international retirement
Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2008, the West Indies batsman became only the second player to make a double century in his first Test as captain.
-
News
Sri Lanka v England Day One: Anderson and Mathews vie for control in Galle
James Anderson returned figures of three for 24.
-
News
James Anderson reveals nerves on Test return
The England seamer added to his 600 wickets as Sri Lanka finished day one on 229 for four in Galle.
-
News
Alex Hales hits blistering Big Bash century
Hales has been in international exile since a second recreational drug test failure on the eve of England’s triumphant World Cup campaign.
-
News
Angelo Mathews century repels England after James Anderson’s three-wicket burst
The 38-year-old finished with exemplary figures of three for 24 on a surface offering precious little encouragement.