By Dhammika Ratnaweera
Sri Lankan veteran leg spinner Rangana Herath will be the cynosure of all eyes and would be a potential threat to touring England cricket team when they open their three match test series in Galle cricket stadium on Tuesday 6th of November.
Speaking to the media Sri Lanka’s cricketing icon Kumar Sangakkara said that the first test against England at Galle will be very important as Herath had announced his retirement from test cricket after the Galle Test and that fellow Sri Lankan team would want to give a fitting farewell to a deserving comrad.
“Victory in the first test would give a lot of confidence for the rest of the series as well” Sangakkara added.
Sangakkara further said Herath has been the key spinner for Sri Lanka especially after the retirement of Muttiah Muralitharan, who had been the key of our bowling attack in test cricket. “After Murali, Herath carried on his duty in great style as the key spinner and won a lot of matches for Sri Lanka. I hope we find someone equally good to replace him and keep the Sri Lankan team winning” added Sangakkara.
Meanwhile, England is much prepared to face Sri Lankan spin attack with players like Rolly Berns and Olly Pope both representing Surrey with a high mental fitness and a good technique to face spin bowling.
Herath is one wicket away to complete 100 test wickets at Galle cricket where he made his debut in 1999 taking Australia’s Ricky Ponting as his first scalp of 99 in Galle.
Sri Lanka cricket Chief Executive Ashley de Silva said to the www.srilankasports.com , Sri Lanka Cricket have already prepared a grand felicitation ceremony for the great Spinner Rangana Herath. The SLC will be joined by Herath’s Alma mater Maliyadewa College, Kurunegala and team sponsors Dialog Axiata. “A win in the first test will add lot of value to this farewell” added de Silva.
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