Charith Asalanka reckons the Khettarama surface could behave a touch differently this week. The Sri Lanka white-ball skipper, never one for grand pronouncements, simply noted, “There’s definitely a difference in this surface.” A small sentence, yet it carries weight for a ground that has leaned on spin for what feels like forever.
Key facts first: Sri Lanka host Bangladesh in a three-match ODI series, starting Tuesday. They have slipped far enough in the 50-over game to miss the next Champions Trophy, a bruising reality for a side that used to treat that tournament as routine. They do, though, sit fourth in the current ICC rankings, a quirk of an infrequently played format. Asalanka’s task is to prove that position is not just statistical noise.
What’s new with the pitch? During Australia’s visit earlier in the year, the quicks found movement with the new ball and some reverse later on. “Even if it’s helpful to spinners, even in the previous series against Australia, we saw that it would seam, and the fast bowlers got wickets. Asitha Fernando got five in two matches. I think this pitch will be a bit more batting friendly than usual,” Asalanka said.
Seam stocks are, for once, plentiful. Asitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga and the uncapped Milan Rathnayake are all in the squad. Rathnayake, a bustling seamer who can bat a bit, could get a look-in. Selection, Asalanka hinted, will depend on how green the strip actually is come toss time. An insider at the ground suggested the grass will be shaved but not rolled flat, leaving that hint of carry local batters are more used to seeing overseas than at home.
There is also the fresh wrinkle of the new playing conditions. From this series onwards, the fielding side must choose one of the two white balls at the 34-over mark and keep using it until the end. The ICC hopes that will bring reverse swing back into ODIs. Asalanka admitted the side are learning on the fly. “We’re also new to that rule, so we are still formulating our plans,” he said. “It must be to favour fast bowlers that they brought this new rule to use one ball after 34 overs. It’s possible that we will have to treat two balls in two different ways before we decide which one we will use after the 34th. We’re hoping to land on the right plan from the first match.”
Coaching staff have quietly welcomed the tweak. One analyst pointed out that Asitha can reverse the red ball at will in Tests; if he gets anything similar with the old white one, Bangladesh’s middle order could be under real pressure.
The bigger picture, however, is Sri Lanka’s ambition to make home pitches less parochial. When they travel, their batters face extra pace and bounce, their bowlers complain about the Kookaburra not gripping. By nudging Khettarama towards something more neutral, team management believe they’ll narrow that gap. There is no appetite for a complete overhaul—spin remains a national strength—but a bit of seam, a truer bounce and a slightly faster outfield are all on the wish list.
Asalanka acknowledged the need for progress without dressing it up. “We can’t be satisfied yet. I’ve said before that our main goal is to be in the top three. Right now we’re only in the top four. We’ve got one more rung to climb on that ladder, and then we have to think about where we go from there. We are confident about our past performances, but we think we have a long way to go forward.”
Bangladesh, for their part, know what awaits. Shakib Al Hasan suggested yesterday that his batters would “take what comes and adapt”, but privately the visitors are bracing for conditions far less spin-heavy than the last time they toured.
So, a slightly greener pitch, a new ball rule, and two teams with something to prove. Not quite headline drama, perhaps, yet plenty of subtleties to keep an eye on when the series opens under Colombo’s evening lights.
