The Lankans beat New Zealand 2-0 at home and beat England in an away Test. Bangladesh went to Pakistan and won 2-0, while also beating New Zealand in a Test at home. The teams also played a series in Bangladesh, where the Lankans won by 328 and 192 runs.
As South Africa showed in the previous WTC cycle, playing lesser matches can be helpful in pushing for the final. Sri Lanka have a slightly easier fixture schedule - they do not play Australia or England and will host both India and South Africa. Bangladesh have it harder; they are due to go to both South Africa and Australia. This series is a big one for both teams.
Amidst the context of lesser Tests, the loss of Angelo Mathews to the Test game will be felt. It is the retirement of yet another 100-Test player, a club that grows smaller by the year. For Sri Lanka, they have already seen Dimuth Karunaratne retire this year. Mathews will bow out after this Galle Test, as his country’s third highest run-scorer and fourth-most capped cricketer. This Test will be a celebration of a great servant to the national game.
Why Sri Lanka can win
Sri Lanka have named six uncapped players in their 18-man squad. Opener Lahiru Udara and spin-bowling all-rounder Sonal Dinusha did not get a game in their series vs Australia. Udara could well get the call to replace Karunaratne at the top of the order. There is also Pasindu Sorriyabandara and Pavan Rathnayake, who could get games once Mathews bows out. The left-arm spinner Tharindu Rathnayake can bowl right-arm off-breaks, like his ambidextrous teammate Kamindu Mendis. He might get a debut, even though one-time mystery spinner Akila Dananjaya has returned to the Test squad. He has not played in nearly six years. Lastly, there is Isitha Wijesundara, who replaces the injured Lahiru Kumara.
Some of these players are unlikely to get games. The batting is fairly settled, with just one decision to be made over the opener. The pace attack will be formed by the experienced Asitha Fernando and Kasun Rajitha.
Prabath Jayasuriya’s incredible numbers at home itself make the Lankans strong favourites for this Test, so it’ll be a big challenge for the visitors. He has a five-wicket haul against six of eight opponents - Bangladesh and England are exceptions.
Why Bangladesh can win
Bangladesh have named Ebadot Hossain in the 16-man squad. He returns to the side after nearly two years, having done his ACL in an ODI in July 2023. Litton Das also returns after missing the Zimbabwe Tests in April. The other two changes to the squad involve Hasan Murad - named in recent Test squads - and Khaled Ahmed. Missing out are Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Tanvir Islam and Tanzim Hasan, while Taskin Ahmed has not recovered from an ankle injury yet.
Their Test openers - Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan and Hasan Joy - averaged second-lowest amongst teams in the last WTC cycle. Shadman did score a century against Zimbabwe in April, so will look to build on that. Perhaps captain Najmul Hossain Shanto might move up to open, though he averages just 18.83 in six innings as an opener. While they have the spinners to do well in Galle, run-scoring has always plagued them. They will have to find a way of putting runs on the board.
Venue and conditions
Australia put up 654 and 414 in their two first innings in Galle back in February. As is the case, the slow left-arm spinner does well here. One can expect the typical spin-friendly conditions.
There is a significant rain threat, however. There is light to heavy rain forecast on all five days. The city has been witnessing persistent rain in the build-up. A stop-start Test is likely, as a result.
Match stats
• Sri Lanka have a 20-1 Test record against Bangladesh, with five draws. Their only loss was in Colombo in 2017.
• Galle is a result-oriented ground: the last 26 Tests held here were not drawn.
• Kamindu Mendis’ batting average has dropped from 91.27 after eight Tests to 62.31 in 12 Tests. This was down to low returns in his last series against Australia in Galle, where his scores were 15, 32, 13 and 14.
• Prabath Jayasuriya has taken 80 wickets in 19 Test innings in Galle, averaging 23.88. This includes nine five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket hauls.
• Anamul Haque made his Test debut in Galle in 2013. Since then, he has played two Tests in 2013, one in 2014, one in 2022 and one in 2025. He has managed just 139 runs in 11 innings, averaging 12.63.
• Mehidy Hasan Miraz took 15 wickets in four innings against Zimbabwe in his most recent Tests in April; this includes three five-wicket hauls.
