After playing six Test matches across three overseas tours, middle-order batsman Roshen Silva is set to play his first international match on home soil when the first Test match between Sri Lanka and South Africa starts on Thursday.
Reporting from Galle
Despite the weather threatening to disrupt play, which prevented both teams from practicing on the day before the match, Silva is confident in putting up a good performance.
“I am looking forward to it. Never played at home so far since I made my debut in December. I would like to contribute for the team win. Would like to give my maximum to help the team win.” Silva said on the eve of the match.
Silva, accumulated only 85 runs in 6 innings during the most recent series against West Indies. He struggled against the seamers, as he was dismissed five times out of six by the seamers.
“I worked hard before going to the West Indies. In the Inter-Provincial tournament, I scored over 500 runs and I was mentally prepared for the West Indies series. But what we found was an unexpected challenge. Our coach, batting coach and captain were of the view that in the last 10 or 15 years this was the toughest wicket they saw. Our coach ranked that series as one of the three toughest series that he had been involved in. After we lost the first Test, they kept lot of grass on the tracks. Under the lights with the pink ball and in the night, it was really tough in the final Test.” He further stated.
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With the visiting Proteas also possessing a strong seam bowling contingent in Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander and Lungi Ngidi, the Sri Lankan batting unit will once again be tested.
On pitches which are more suited for the spinners, the South Africans will rely on the reverse-swing and pace to rattle the Lankans.
Last time around, four years ago, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel made a mockery of the Lankan batting in Galle which had the likes of Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene with reverse swing as the visitors registered a stunning 153-run win.
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Silva reckons the hosts have special plans to negate the Proteas reverse-swing, “We have been working on that aspect. That will be a challenge to us. We are preparing for that challenge.
Despite failing in the Caribbean, Silva is determined to do well at home and somehow contribute to the team’s cause. He is keen to even opening the batting for Sri Lanka, if the team management wishes so.
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Silva said: “No pressure as such. If the team tells me to open the batting I would do that and if they want me to bat in the lower middle order, I would do that too. The necessities of the team are the most important thing.”
