Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey

Sri Lanka v New Zealand 1st Test Player Ratings. SL vs NZ 1st Test Player Ratings

Tough chasing in Test Cricket? No successful three-figure chase in the history of Test Cricket at Galle?

Don’t tell that to Sri Lanka.

With their third successful Test chase in a row – which included one of the most memorable in Test history – the Sri Lankans nabbed 60 points to kick off their World Test Championship campaign in great fashion. They also bucked the toss-trend at Galle, becoming the first team in the last nine Tests at the venue to win after losing the toss.

For New Zealand, it was a missed opportunity, thanks to a host of missed opportunities. The world number one ranking is out of reach for the time being, and have decisions to make ahead of the second Test beginning on Thursday in Colombo to avoid a series loss. In this article, I will rate each player out of 10 in another memorable Test for Sri Lanka in 2019.

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Sri Lanka

Dimuth Karunaratne: “I had to do it”, said skipper Karunaratne after his match-winning hundred. Such a simple statement isn’t reflective of his superb innings, making New Zealand pay for missed chances on the fourth evening. A cracking innings, which keeps his 100% record in Tests as captain intact. 9

Lahiru Thirimanne: With an average of 22 after 34 Tests, the last thing Thirimanne needed was a loose dismissal. It happened in the first innings, but on his last legs, Thirimanne delivered a record opening stand in the fourth innings of a Galle Test match to help set up victory. 7.5

Kusal Mendis: Two dismissals that Kusal Mendis would want back. In the first innings, he was one of a few batsmen to fall before a break, further amplifying thoughts that this guy needs to better convert starts. His ability suggests he can do more. 7

Angelo Mathews: Continued his renaissance of sorts after his man-of-the-series effort in the recent ODI series against Bangladesh. Provided the calmness Sri Lanka need in their middle order, seeing them home with no fuss after a first innings 50. 7.5

Kusal Perera: Awful first innings dismissal. Any fielding coach would be saying “sorry” for offering up such an easy catch in practice. However, if Perera can fire as he showed in glimpses in the second innings, Sri Lanka will be very tough to beat in the next Test. 3

Dhananjaya de Silva: His 3/25 in the second innings is why he was picked ahead of Dinesh Chandimal in this Test. He provides some vital cover for the other two very inexperienced spinners. 6

Niroshan Dickwella: I, like many, had to adjust both the TV and phone screens to confirm what we were witnessing was indeed reality. Dickwella scored just three fours in his first innings 61, scoring crucial runs with Suranga Lakmal to get Sri Lanka into a lead. This goes with four dismissals. 8

Akila Dananjaya: Excellent five wicket haul on his Test return, providing pretty much all the threat for Sri Lanka on the opening day. Plenty for he and Sri Lanka to be encouraged about. 8

Suranga Lakmal: Nothing but heart when this man takes the field. He finished with crucial runs with the bat, wickets on a back-breaker for fast bowlers and even more appreciation from fans. 8

Lasith Embuldeniya: One Lasith recently retired in ODIs for Sri Lanka, and another has come to the party in Tests. Tough first innings where New Zealand looked to go after him, but fought back well in the second, hell-bent on giving the ball nice flight, getting it to dip. After all, he made established stars Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor look quite ordinary. 7

Lahiru Kamara: Two second innings wickets were just reward for his efforts on a slow track. Still hit the bat hard. 6

New Zealand

Jeet Raval: Note to self: Don’t drive at balls that aren’t there for the drive on Sri Lankan pitches. 5

Tom Latham: Along with Jeet Raval, Tom Latham fought hard in the first innings. He fought just as hard in the second, but couldn’t go on with his start. New Zealand need Latham to play the kind of knock Dimuth Karunaratne did given he can play spin very well. Missed chances in the field were also very costly. 6

Kane Williamson: Four runs in the Test for one of the best batsmen in the world. A Dream11 Fantasy killer. His two dismissals were completely un-Kane like, making you rub your eyes in disbelief. World Cup Final hangover? 2

Ross Taylor: Strong first innings knock, full of attacking strokeplay. However, his second innings dismissal (having to reach full stretch for the ball while metres down the pitch) is one Ross might not want anyone to talk about. Ever. 7

Henry Nicholls: Two starts. Plenty of reasons for Nicholls to be positive about, but he’s a man that can bat for the long haul. New Zealand will need big runs from him in the next Test, much like he was able to achieve in the UAE last year. 6

BJ Watling: Have a crisis? BJ Watling is your answer. Underrated? Not for me. How many times has this guy got New Zealand out of trouble? The best keeper-batsman in Test Cricket right now. 8

Mitchell Santner: No wickets and two very disappointing dismissals. New Zealand needed more from their left-arm spinning all-rounder, who could be replaced by Neil Wagner in Colombo. 3

Tim Southee: Tim at the bowling crease looked as rare as his second innings knock, where he batted with patience. Could New Zealand utilise him more in Colombo, especially given there could be more bounce? 6

Will Somerville: No nonsense cricketer who goes about his work with no fuss. Honest effort with the ball right the way through the Test, coupled with a 100+ ball effort with the bat in the second innings to get New Zealand’s lead over 250. Seemed to run out of steam in the attempt to bowl New Zealand to victory on a slow pitch. 7.5

Trent Boult: If someone had told you that Trent Boult would outscore Kane Williamson with ten times the runs, you might have politely asked if they had too much to drink. Boult also produced honest bowling efforts throughout the Test, with two first innings wickets his reward. 6.5

Ajaz Patel: The Test started so brightly for Ajaz Patel, before it came a really tough slog. The Sri Lankans played him expertly soon after he took his five wicket haul, of which Patel then took just one wicket in his next 34 overs in the Test. 7

So, three Test wins in a row for Sri Lanka after two shockers in Australia. For New Zealand, they haven’t lost a Test series since 2016/17, where they lost 1-0 at home to South Africa.

Will Sri Lanka move to 120 points in the World Test Championship, or can New Zealand fight back? It should be an interesting Test in Colombo.

Thanks for reading!

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