The Bangladesh-Sri Lankan Test series began in Galle. Where Nazmul Hossain Shantara got a slightly more batting-friendly wicket than usual. On the other hand, they got a surprise in the second Test in Colombo. Usually, there are two types of variations on the pitch at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) ground here, one is a big run innings on a fairly even pitch or a very whirling wicket. However, this time, there was a lot of bounce on the Colombo pitch.
The touring Bangladesh team also struggled on this somewhat unusual pitch. Regarding this, Bangladeshi opener Sadman Islam said, “The wicket is a bit slow. If you don’t play shots, you won’t get runs. Even though we lost, we played shots well, which came as boundaries. Maybe everyone did, maybe it wasn’t our day today.” This was the first time this left-handed opener was playing in Colombo.
On the other hand, although the wicket seems a bit unusual, Sri Lankan batting coach Thilina Kandambi believes that it is not very difficult for batting. Who has played domestic cricket at this venue for more than a decade. The coach said that batting here is facing a lot of challenges than usual. Thilina Kandambi said, “This is a wicket with two different speeds. However, after playing here for almost 15 years, this SSC wicket feels unusual. It is a completely different wicket, we were also quite surprised to see the uneven bounce.”
The Sri Lankan batting coach also confirmed that the Colombo pitch, although a different wicket than Galle, is not a death trap for batting at all. “It is a very different condition than Galle. Even in some cases, it is more batting-friendly than the previous Galle wicket, and Bangladesh also batted very well. But we have devised some plans to get them out, which have worked. We wanted to play three pacers, but after seeing the wicket here, we changed that decision. For me, this track of SSC is relatively unusual.”
Bangladesh suffered a major batting disaster on the first day of the Colombo Test. They ended the day at 220 for 8. The visitors’ highest scorer, Sadman, played an innings of 46 runs off 93 balls. At least four of Bangladesh’s first seven batsmen, including Sadman, lost wickets while playing aggressive shots. As a result, they could not extend their innings even after settling down at the crease. Mushfiqur Rahim scored 35, Liton Das 34 and Mehedi Hasan Miraj scored 31 runs. Asitha Fernando, Biswa Fernando and Sonal Dinusha took 2 wickets each for Sri Lanka.
FAQ
Why was the Sri Lankan coach surprised by the Colombo pitch?
The coach expected a traditional Colombo surface that would favor spin or offer some early assistance to seamers, but instead, the pitch behaved unusually—either too flat or inconsistent—making it unpredictable for both teams.
What did Sadman say about the pitch?
Sadman criticized the Colombo pitch for being unresponsive and challenging for batters and bowlers alike. He mentioned it didn’t allow a fair contest between bat and ball.
Why did the coach agree with Sadman’s comments?
After observing how both teams struggled to find rhythm, the coach admitted that Sadman’s assessment was fair. He acknowledged that the pitch did not meet expected standards for an international match.
How did the pitch affect the match?
The pitch disrupted the flow of the game—making scoring tough and bowling efforts unrewarding. It led to slow batting, unpredictable bounce, and difficulty in planning strategies.
Will the pitch be changed for upcoming matches?
While there’s no official confirmation yet, match officials and curators are likely to review the surface conditions. The coach hinted at possible feedback to the grounds team for future improvements.
