JOIN USHosts Sri Lanka look set to extend their dominance over Bangladesh when they open a two-Test series at their happy hunting ground in Galle on Friday.
Sri Lanka have won six and drawn one of their last eight Tests on the traditionally spin-friendly Galle wicket, and slow bowlers Rangana Herath and Ajantha Mendis are once again expected to play key roles.
Left-armer Herath grabbed 11 wickets in the last Test played in Galle in November to help Sri Lanka crush New Zealand by 10 wickets.
The unorthodox Mendis, set to play a Test for the first time since May 2011, is a proven match-winner with 62 wickets in 16 Tests.
The hosts will be at full-strength, barring the injured Mahela Jayawardene, after resolving a pay dispute with Sri Lanka Cricket earlier this week.
Sri Lanka’s batting has been bolstered by the return of veteran Kumar Sangakkara, who missed the third and final Test against Australia in January due to finger injury.
Sri Lanka go into the series under new captain Angelo Mathews with a 12-0 win record against Bangladesh, who will be without star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan due to calf injury.
Bangladesh have struggled at the Test level since their entry in 2000, losing 65 of their 75 matches so far, winning just three.