Sri Lanka v England, 1st Test – Fantasy Cricket Tips & Playing 11

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by Karthik Atchuta

Fantasy Cricket Tips for Sri Lanka v England 1st Test
Date: Jan 14-18, 2021 – 10:00am IST
Venue: Galle International Stadium , Galle

Probable Playing XI:

Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Kusal Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dilruwan Perera, Lasith Embuldeniya, Suranga Lakmal

England: Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root (c), Dan Lawrence, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Dom Bess, Jack Leach, Mark Wood, James Anderson

Fantasy Cricket Tips – My Fantasy XI:

Batsmen: Angelo Mathews (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Joe Root (vc)

WK Batsman: Kusal Perera, Jos Buttler

All Rounders: Sam Curran, Wanindu Hasaranga

Bowlers: Suranga Lakmal, Dom Bess, Lasith Embuldeniya

Captain and Vice Captain:

With Angelo Mathews back in the Sri Lankan unit – it was a easy choice for me to load him up with captain duties. With 1244 runs powered by 10 half centuries at the venue – Mathews is the leading scorer at Galle among the current crop of players.

England captain Joe Root is my vice captain choice. Root is a world class player and I believe he will live up to the expectations his team seeks of him.

Batsmen:

I am going Sri Lanka heavy in this department with Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal. Joe Root is the sole England batsman am picking from this category. Jonny Bairstow can be a X-factor for England given his IPL stints in India. Toss willing you can try to get Bairstow in case any of the above batsmen miss out.

All rounders:

Both my all-rounders are X-factor choice – Wanindu Hasaranga and Sam Curran. If you believe in Dasun Shanaka or Dilruwan Perera you are welcome to choose them. It was not easy to pick just 2 all-rounders. Given a choice I would have picked 3 – but that doesn’t help with the Dream 11 team balance.

Wicket keepers:

Jos Buttler and Kusal Jenith Perera are my Wk-batsman choices. I was nearly tempted to pick Niroshan Dickwella but once again the Dream 11 balance didn’t help me with that decision. Last time round Ben Foakes had a good run in Sri Lankan conditions but this time his place in the playing 11 is highly questionable.

Bowlers:

My 3 bowlers are Suranga Lakmal , Lasith Embuldeniya and Dom Bess from England. Dom Bess is option to ponder as he also delivers some crucial batting points.

X-factors for me will be Sam Curran and Wanindu Hasaranga – They could be the critical difference between your team and others end result.

SRI LANKA Test Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Kusal Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dilruwan Perera, Lasith Embuldeniya, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Roshen Silva, Vishwa Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Minod Bhanuka, Ramesh Mendis, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Lakshan Sandakan

ENGLAND Test Squad: Dominic Sibley, Zak Crawley, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root (c), Daniel Lawrence, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Dominic Bess, Jack Leach, Mark Wood, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali, Ben Foakes, Olly Stone

NOTE: Fantasy Cricket Tips are subject to toss – Please check the playing 11s before confirming your teams.