Uncertain weather remains Sri Lanka’s main concern as they attempt to extend their supremacy over Bangladesh in a three-Test series starting here on Monday.
Sudden heavy showers, common for the region at this time of the year, have hampered preparations for the first Test at the Sinhalese Sorts Club (SSC) and more rain has been forecast for the entire week.
While the teams have often had to practice indoors over the last few days, Bangladesh’s three-day tour match against Sri Lanka ‘A’ saw just 140 overs bowled due to bad weather.
“There is little one can do about the weather but we should get enough play because the ground dries up very fast,” said Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene.
Bangladesh, who will be lead by Mohammad Ashraful, will need more than just rain to keep the Sri Lankans at bay after suffering heavy defeats in quick time in all of their previous seven Tests against the islanders.
Four of those Tests ended in under three days and the remaining three early on the fourth morning as the Sri Lankan bowling attack, led by Muttiah Muralitharan, blew the hapless Bangladeshis away.
The prolific off-spinner, whose career haul of 674 includes 50 wickets in just six matches against Bangladesh, is 35 scalps away from surpassing retired Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne’s world-record tally of 708.