While India will rely on Cheteshwar Pujara in the absence of their first-choice openers, much of Sri Lanka’s fortunes will depend on Kusal Mendis and stand-in captain Rangana Herath

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando25-Jul-2017Match FactsJuly 26-30, 2017
Start time 1000 local (0430GMT)2:51

The team that tackles spin best will win – Arnold

Big PictureAt a glance, Sri Lanka’s recent home record is not so bad. They have won five of their six most recent Tests on the island and at least three of those victories were comprehensive. The whitewash over Australia, too, remains a source of enduring pride, even though it was achieved close to a year ago. Rangana Herath – the hero of that series – remains undiminished in his 40th year. Kusal Mendis, who produced pivotal performance, has also since made headway, hitting another mammoth match-winning innings, in Galle, against Bangladesh.And yet, there is fear in Sri Lanka that this series could go badly. Earlier this year, the hosts were beaten by Bangladesh for the first time ever and, less than two weeks ago, had been pushed by an even lower-ranked Zimbabwe side. How will they compete with India, the top-ranked Test team? How can Sri Lanka beat a side that, almost irrefutably, is fitter, better drilled, more confident and, probably, have comfier seats and softer suspension on their team bus?Since their arrival on the island, India have even made the kinds of noises that teams, who are runaway favourites, tend to make. While on tougher tours, words like “challenge” and “big effort” dominate the pre-series talk, here, they have spoken of respecting the opposition. They had, after all, won the series in 2015, when the Sri Lanka team seemed to be in much better shape. While for Sri Lanka the two years since have been characterised by resignations, new faces and flux, India have rocked up with a very similar squad. Stability, consistency, and excellence – right now, India represent everything Sri Lanka are not.Still, strange things happen on the island. No one expected a 3-0 thrashing of Australia last year, and, like a ball leaping out a footmark, that series produced a triumphant surprise for Sri Lanka. Besides, with so many developing players in their XI nothing is ever written in stone for Sri Lanka.Form guideSri Lanka WLWLL (completed matches, most recent first)
India WDWLWIn the spotlightOnly a year ago Upul Tharanga had been out of all Sri Lanka’s sides, but now, he finds himself not only embedded in them, but saddled with responsibility. That he is an outlandishly talented batsman has never been in doubt, but he has, at times, been wasteful – running down the pitch to play a lazy shot when well set, or fatally failing to ground his bat at the non-striker’s end, such as in his most recent game, against Zimbabwe. Having come into this series on the back of some form, here is Tharanga’s chance to prove he is not a fair-weather batsman – one who only prospers in friendly conditions, or low-pressure match situations. Runs against R Ashwin and co. will be hard-earned.India are without their first-choice openers in the most difficult country for openers this decade. It is time to rely on Cheteshwar Pujara again. India will need his solidity at the top to settle the team down at the start of the series. From their experience in Galle the last time, India know that things can go wrong quickly in Sri Lanka; Pujara has to be their assurance against that.Team newsDanushka Gunathilaka and Dhananjaya de Silva will fight for the No. 4 spot vacated by the newly appointed Test captain Dinesh Chandimal, who was ruled out of the Test owing to pneumonia. There is, however, a chance Sri Lanka could go into this match with five bowlers, in which case, left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara could pip them both for a debut instead. A fit-again Nuwan Pradeep may enter the XI.Sri Lanka (possible) 1 Upul Tharanga, 2 Dimuth Karunaratne, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Danushka Gunathilaka, 5 Angelo Mathews, 6 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 7 Asela Gunaratne, 8 Dilruwan Perera, 9 Rangana Herath (capt), 10 Lahiru Kumara, 11 Nuwan PradeepVirat Kohli said India were not going to experiment at the top of the order, which means Abhinav Mukund and Shikhar Dhawan should open for India. Kohli also said the pitch looked good for batting, which could tempt India to play only five batsmen and opt for Hardik Pandya as the allrounder. If they do emphasise on security in the first Test of a series, India could go in with Rohit Sharma at No. 6.India (possible) 1 Abhinav Mukund, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, 4 Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, 6 Rohit Sharma/Hardik Pandya, 7 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 8 R Ashwin, 9 Ravindra Jadeja, 10 Umesh Yadav, 11 Bhuvneshwar Kumar/Mohammed ShamiPitch and conditionsThere was a light covering of grass on the pitch on the eve of the match, but rarely does a Galle surface fail to turn at the back end of a Test. For now, the teams expect the track to be good for batting on the first two days. Afternoon showers are always a threat in the region at this time of year.Stats and trivia This will be R Ashwin’s 50th Test match, and his fourth in Sri Lanka. Rangana Herath will be leading Sri Lanka for fifth time. He has three wins and a loss on his record – all previous matches having been against Zimbabwe or Bangladesh. There has not been a drawn Test in Sri Lanka for three years. Each of the 16 most-recent matches have yielded results.Quotes
“We totally respect the game, we totally how hard we need to work to win every Test match, every situation, every session and every ball is an event for us.””This looks a good pitch I can’t say whether there is going to be turn early on or not. But on the fourth and fifth days, there will be some assistance for the spinners.”
Rangana Herath on the conditions

Arsenal have already undergone a summer of revolution, yet manager Mikel Arteta remains undeterred to continue adding should the right personnel become available.

Is Michael Olise leaving Crystal Palace?

Whilst Declan Rice's huge move likely swallowed up the bulk of their remaining budget, the Spanish manager likely remains open to the idea of further acquisitions, should they move on some of the deadwood.

Given this is a venture they are undergoing, perhaps the links suggesting they could move to Crystal Palace's Michael Olise might come to fruition after all, even if it had once seemed somewhat sceptical.

The wide man does fit the bill as someone who would thrive under the conditions handed to the forwards within the Emirates, with his silkiness and creativity sure to aid his teammates. Not least Gabriel Jesus, who will be hoping to chase down the Premier League's top scorers, should he maintain a clean bill of health for the season.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

Given how he has grown into their main man at just 21 years old, the Eagles are demanding a fee of £50m to even begin discussions.

How good is Michael Olise?

The youngster has enjoyed a true standout year in England most recently, having completed his meteoric rise to the top that began humbly at Reading.

However, it is worth noting that the France U21 international did enjoy a one-year spell within the Gunners' academy, suggesting a reunion could be on the cards.

Especially if he is to bring his quality back to north London, as he is fresh from a campaign where he boasted two goals and 11 assists in the league. The latter figure would have seen his creativity ranked joint-first among Arsenal's squad last term, just to emphasise what he adds to a side even as good as Arteta's.

His 7.13 average rating outlined this further, with the wide man averaging 1.9 key passes per game too. Only Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka managed more in the league last term, making it no surprise at all to see him branded "magic" by The Athletic's Ed Malyon.

As aforementioned, Jesus would likely benefit more than most, given he endured a profligate and injury-hit season most recently. Despite scoring 11 league goals, this came despite racking up an expected goals tally of 14.16.

To compare these figures with Erling Haaland, the Norwegian record-breaker instead found the net on 36 occasions from an expected goals of just 28.66.

The two are miles apart when it comes to being clinical, but the inclusion of someone else so insanely creative will aid in bridging this gap.

It is also worth mentioning how Olise's work rate will factor into added goals for the Gunners, as he could spearhead a press on his own, forging chances without even being credited with an assist. When compared to other wingers across Europe, he ranks in the top 5% for tackles per 90, the top 3% for interceptions per 90, and the top 1% for blocks per 90, via FBref.

Whilst Saka and Odegaard are two creative leaders for the Premier League, supplementing their Brazilian marksman with one more can't hurt. Palace's creative genius could provide the spark that takes Jesus to those lofty goalscoring heights.

The renaissance of Aston Villa under the tactically meticulous Unai Emery has been remarkable.

The club’s flirtatious relationship with relegation has been transformed into a burning desire to make inroads into European competition. This has been heightened by the appointment of Monchi as the President of Football Operations, who alongside Emery, has been described as a “serial winner” by the chairman Nassef Sawiris.

The manager’s ambition is matched by the ownership and board, who have started the summer sensationally. Last week, Villa completed the signing of Pau Torres for around £31.5m as they prepare the squad to juggle domestic and European football.

In the previous transfer window, Emery outlined his need for a “specialist winger” and he’s targeted Moussa Diaby.

What’s the latest on Moussa Diaby to Aston Villa?

According to RMC Sport (via Sport Witness), the Midlands outfit are closing in on an agreement to sign the Bayer Leverkusen star.

It's thought that Villa and the Bundesliga side have 'almost agreed' on a deal of around €50m (£43.5m), including bonuses for the France dynamo, though Saudi Pro League's Al-Nassr are still lingering with interest.

Emery's side would like to conclude dealings sooner rather than later, with the player himself now in control of where his future lies.

What can Moussa Diaby bring to Aston Villa?

Last season, Diaby was in imperious form, recording 25 goal contributions in 48 appearances across all competitions.

His untameable potency is reflected by his nine Bundesliga goals, which meant he was Leverkusen’s top scorer.

One scout, speaking to The Athletic on the condition of anonymity, believes he is a “wildcard” capable of affecting the game in moments. This is also shown by his rank within the best 19% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for total shots and non-penalty goals per 90.

However, he supports this goal-scoring with sparkling creativity and dribbling. Last year, he notched the most assists (8) and chances created (50) in the team, as per BBC Sport.

Morade Djeddi, president of Diaby’s first club Esperance Paris 19eme, has lauded his quality, saying:

“Since he was young, Moussa had this talent… very quickly, you realise that he has explosiveness, an ability to take on his opponent and dribbling skills.

“He was born with it. Moussa has a supernatural, divine gift. A gift that some have and others don’t.”

How would Moussa Diaby benefit Ollie Watkins at Villa Park?

This glorious combination of invention and productivity could make for a formidable offensive partnership with Ollie Watkins.

Under Emery, the Englishman has enjoyed a phenomenal revival, and in the most fruitful period of his top-flight career, he netted 13 goals in the final 23 league games of the season.

The former Brentford striker’s endless running and indomitable hard work have been noted by his boss, who said:

“His mentality is very good. Sometimes we have to stop him; we have to tell him, ‘No, this is enough for today. Tomorrow, more.’

“Defensively and offensively, we try to use his skills, adding his characteristics. He is doing it: scoring and defending with a great attitude. Overall, he is improving in everything.”

Pairing him with the mooted Villa transfer target could be a match made in heaven for Emery, given the credentials of both players, as evident above.

In the “dangerous” Diaby – as lauded by former Freiburg striker Nils Petersen – Villa could be adding a player with key European experience and someone to rival Watkins’ commendable effervescence and output.

West Ham United have maintained their "interest" in Conor Gallagher, and while Chelsea are happy to keep him, they do not consider him "untouchable", claims transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Is Conor Gallagher joining Chelsea this summer?

Life in a post-Declan Rice world has been frustrating for West Ham so far as, despite pocketing a cool £105m – a new record for a British footballer – the only player they have acquired on the market thus far has been Sean Moore from Northern Irish side Cliftonville.

It hasn't been through lack of trying, however, as the club have been linked to a swath of players this summer, the likes of Joao Palhinha, James Ward-Prowse, and Harvey Barnes, before he was sold to Newcastle United.

The problem is the prices they are being quoted for these players, with the Cottagers asking for anything from £60m to £90m for Palhinha this summer.

It seems like their influx of cash from the Rice sale has given selling clubs the confidence to ask for more money when the Irons come knocking.

It looks like this situation has played out yet again, only this time with Chelsea's Conor Gallagher.

According to Sky Sports, the Hammers made an offer worth £40m to sign the 23-year-old, an offer which was rejected, despite the dynamic midfielder having just two years left on his £50,000-a-week contract.

Despite this setback, the East Londoners have maintained their interest in the England international and could try again this summer, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"They received an official bid from West Ham for Conor Gallagher. It's around £40million, it also includes some add-ons. It's something around £39m plus add-ons from West Ham, and from Chelsea, it was a no.

"So, after thinking about that in the recent hours with Mauricio Pochettino involved in the conversation, Chelsea decided to say no to that bid. They want more to let Conor Gallagher go.

"For Chelsea, Gallagher is not untouchable, they can sell him, but they want a good proposal. He's not out of the project, but they would only sell for a good proposal.

"And now the feeling is that they want something around £50m. Lets see what West Ham will do, but the opening bid has been rejected but the interest is still there."

How good is Conor Gallagher?

In what was one of Chelsea's worst seasons in a very long time last year, Gallagher had a decent enough season in which he was given a relatively significant amount of game time, 1657 minutes, to be exact.

Across his 1616 minutes in the Premier League, he scored three goals and provided one assist, giving him a goal involvement every 404 minutes or one every four and a half games.

While that certainly isn't all that impressive, his underlying numbers are, and suggest that maybe he should have found himself on the scoresheet more often than he did last year.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, the Epsom-born dynamo sits in the top 3% for touches in the opposition's penalty area, the top 4% for progressive passes received and blocks, the top 9% for non-penalty expected goals, the top 12% for total shots, the top 19% for progressive carries, the top 21% for successful take-ons, and the top 22% for expected assists, all per 90.

While he hasn't entirely lived up to the hype he generated during his loan spell with Crystal Palace – a spell that led Spanish publication Marca (via the Daily Mail) to call him a "jewel" – Gallagher certainly looks to have the raw ingredients to be a fantastic Premier League player, and David Moyes should be going back in for him.

Celtic officially kick off their 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign next weekend as they host Ross County at Parkhead on the 5th of August.

Who have Celtic signed this summer?

The Paradise faithful could see a number of fresh faces in action for the first time in a competitive setting as Brendan Rodgers has been able to make five new signings during the summer transfer window.

Marco Tilio, Hyun-jun Yang, Odin Thiago Holm, Hyeok-kyu Kwon, and Maik Nawrocki have all come through the door on permanent deals so far.

However, Australia international Tilio will not be involved against County next Saturday as the head coach has already confirmed that he is set to miss the start of the season through injury.

There could be further arrivals before the end of the window and one player who has been linked with a move to Glasgow is Red Star Belgrade dynamo Kings Kangwa, who is likely to cost around €3m-rated (£2.6m).

How many goals did Kings Kangwa score last season?

The Zambia international scored 12 goals across 45 appearances in all competitions last term and could be Rodgers' outstanding goal threat from midfield, which could make him a lethal partner for Matt O'Riley.

Kangwa found the back of the net eight times in 20 league starts for Red Star as he proved himself to be a reliable scorer from a number eight position.

Meanwhile, no Celtic midfielder managed more than six Scottish Premiership strikes and Japan international Reo Hatate was the only one with more than Aaron Mooy's four.

This suggests that the talented hotshot has the potential to be a fantastic signing for the Hoops as he could provide a greater goal threat than Rodgers' current options in that role, which could add another weapon to the manager's arsenal ahead of next season.

The 24-year-old ace, who journalist Callum Castel hailed as "impressive" for his country, could thrive alongside O'Riley as the former MK Dons maestro is an exceptional creative midfielder who could provide the £2.6m-rated talent with the opportunities he needs in front of goal with his superb passing ability.

Last season, the Denmark international produced a superb 2.1 key passes per match for his side in the Premiership, which was more than any other player within the squad, and ended the campaign with a club-high 12 league assists.

O'Riley has the quality to consistently open up opposition defences to create chances for his teammates, which was proven in his performances. That is why he could be a lethal partner for the Zambian finisher, as the pair could link up for goals on a regular basis in Scotland.

Kangwa also averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.24 across 32 league outings for Red Star last term, which would have placed him third for Celtic – only behind O'Riley (7.30) and Jota (7.45), who has since moved on to join Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.

This suggests that, if he can translate that form over to the Premiership, the 5 foot 6 maestro could be one of Rodgers' top-performing players whilst also being able to strike up an excellent relationship with O'Riley in the middle of the park, which is why he could be a shrewd signing this summer.

Adam Hose struck 76 on his Bears debut•Getty Images

A sensational debut innings from Adam Hose lifted Birmingham Bears to a five-wicket NatWestT20Blast victory over Lancashire Lightning at Edgbaston.The Lightning amassed 174 for 8 thanks mainly to Jos Buttler whose unbeaten 80 (43 balls, six fours, two sixes) was the only contribution beyond 20. Measured at first, as wickets fell around him, Buttler paced his innings perfectly, climbing into the bowling late on.But then Hose, making his debut after moving from Somerset on a three-year deal last week, smashed a dazzling T20-best 76 from 43 balls with seven fours and five sixes to put his side on course for victory. And after he perished, Grant Elliott saw his side over the line with just two balls to spare with an shrewd unbeaten 45 from 33 balls.Put in, the Lightning soon lost Liam Livingstone whose middle-stump was knocked out by Keith Barker. Arron Lilley and Karl Brown each connected with a couple of big blows but reached only 18 and 16 respectively before falling to excellent outfield catches from Elliott and Aaron Thomason.Dane Vilas became the fourth batsman to be dismissed in the teens when he and Buttler disagreed over a single and Colin de Grandhomme exacted full punishment with a direct hit. Steven Croft became the fifth when he was caught by wicketkeeper Alex Mellor down the leg-side off de Grandhomme.When de Grandhomme bowled Ryan McLaren, it was 121 for 6 and the Lightning needed some late impetus. Buttler and Tom Bailey supplied it, both clearing the ropes off Barker in the 19th over before Buttler took 19 from the last over, from Rankin.In reply, Birmingham lost both openers in the first 14 balls as Ed Pollock skied Bailey to backward point and Ian Bell nicked McLaren behind.Hose and Sam Hain rallied with a stand of 51 in 34 balls before the latter fell lbw to Matt Parkinson’s sixth ball.Hose and Elliott had 50 on the board in the next 15 minutes though and the debutant celebrated with successive sixes off Steven Parry. The pair added 69 in 44 balls before Hose charged and missed at Parkinson and Buttler completed an easy stumping.Led by the skilful Parkinson, Lancashire fought hard to the end, but it came down to five from the last over and Elliott thumped McLaren over mid-off for four to seal the win to a huge roar from the big home crowd.

Tottenham Hotspur have already enjoyed a fine summer of spending thus far, but they could be set to take it to new heights with a marquee signing sure to truly kickstart Ange Postecoglou's revolution.

Who are Tottenham Hotspur signing this summer?

That's according to journalist Christian Falk, who suggested that the Lilywhites remain interested in Eintracht Frankfurt's star man Randal Kolo Muani, despite Kylian Mbappe having previously implored his Paris Saint-Germain side to snatch him.

Speaking in his exclusive column, the German writer claimed:

"[Kylian] Mbappe asked Paris Saint-Germain to go for the striker of his national team and also Tottenham have registered an interest with the representatives of Muani, but the eventual transfer fee could be too high."

With it reported back in May that the Bundesliga outfit will command a €90m (£77m) fee for his services, this is a claim well-supported.

His acquisition would supplement the earlier signings of James Maddison, Guglielmo Vicario and Manor Solomon, as well as turning Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski's loan deals into permanent ones.

How many goals has Randal Kolo Muani scored in his career?

Signing such a high-quality star would be a huge step forward for Spurs, seeking to usher in a new era under their Australian manager.

Whilst the outlay would be significant, he boasts all the hallmarks of a player who could underpin the regime for the next decade.

After all, the 24-year-old has already lit up German football, having notched 23 goals and recorded 17 assists across all competitions last term for a side that could only muster a seventh-placed finish.

He is young, hungry, dynamic and technically exceptional, with a physicality that could allow him to thrive in the Premier League too. Especially when considering he already has 62 career goals to his name, outlining his experience for someone with so much of their sparkling career left.

It is all these facets that likely spurred FBref to liken him to Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund, including the Denmark international on Kolo Muani's 'similar players' list.

This tool also helps paint the picture of the French marksman as a powerful creative threat too, as when compared against other forwards in Europe he sits in the top 3% for assists per 90, and the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90, via FBref.

The 20-year-old has also starred of late in Italy, with his physical assets having been lauded by writer Sacha Pisani: "Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund is scary quick."

Manchester United, who too are seeking to cement their early success under Erik ten Hag, continue to push for his signature, in a deal that could reach similar financial heights as Spurs'.

Should they both join these respective English clubs, it is expected that a rivalry will be forged between these two teams in transition, seeking to take the next step up under their new managers.

However, at this moment in time, Hojlund is nowhere near the level of Kolo Muani, with the France international representing a far more mature and developed version of the pacy hitman.

Just nine goals in the Serie A last season emphasise this, as he still has a long way to go before he can be an outstanding asset for a club.

Meanwhile, Postecoglou would be gaining a readymade star, with praise also flying in for the versatile trickster. Germany legend Lothar Matthaus even noted:

"He has remarkable technical ability, he's ice-cold in front of goal and he really throws himself into challenges. The most impressive thing is that he's performing in every game. I can't remember a match where he's played badly. That's the mark of a future superstar."

It is also worth emphasising his physical assets, as he had clocked his team's fastest sprint at 21.68 mph earlier last season.

Kolo Muani and Hojlund are both a couple of gems just waiting to be unleashed on the biggest stage, and in the former, Postecoglou could secure his very own starring striker set to spearhead a new-look team finally set to break the stigma surrounding Spurs.

كشف محمود حرب، مدير منتخب مصر الأولمبي عن تفاصيل زيارته إلى مقر إقامة بعثة الفراعنة خلال دورة الألعاب الأولمبية في باريس.

ومن المقرر أن تنطلق منافسات أولمبياد باريس 2024، يوم 24 يوليو المقبل حتى 10 أغسطس موعد المباراة النهائية.

وقال محمود حرب في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “صدى البلد”: “جاءت لي دعوة من فيفا واجتمعنا أمس في مقر اللجنة الأولمبية في باريس، لمناقشة طلبات المنتخبات في الأولمبياد، وتنسيق بعض الأمور، بعض الأشياء سيوفروها لنا والبعض الآخر يكون على نفقتنا الشخصية”.

وأكمل: “أجرينا الزيارة الميدانية اليوم، وسافرنا إلى نانت، لأن مجموعتنا ستلعب هناك، وزرنا ملاعب التدريب، وملعب نادي نانت”.

مدير منتخب مصر الأولمبي: تلقينا عرضين من الأرجنتين وأوكرانيا لإقامة وديتين.. وسأنتظر رد ميكالي

وبسؤاله هل ميكالي طلب تفاصيل معينة؟، أوضح: “منذ أن بدأنا ويوجد نظام للمنتخب في توزيع الغرف والمطاعم الخاصة بنا، وكل شيء متوفر هنا، وكان لي بعض الطلبات وسيوفرونها”.

وتابع: “مثلا الاستشفاء يكون في ملاعب التدريب، ولكننا أحيانًا نفعله في الفندق، وهم لم يمانعوا طالما سنحضر معداتنا معنا، وطلبنا الطعام الحلال ووعدونا أنهم سيوفروه في الفندق”.

واختتم: “قابلنا مصطفى محمد وعرض علينا المساعدة وكأنه السفير، لم يتركنا وتابعنا وهو مُسيطر هنا”.

Sri Lanka’s new Test captain Dinesh Chandimal’s objective is to take a languishing Sri Lanka side to the top of the rankings, but insisted on patience in their climb

Andrew Fidel Fernando13-Jul-2017

Sri Lanka’s new Test captain Dinesh Chandimal has hopes of taking the team to the top of the rankings, but expects the climb to be hard-fought, beginning with Friday’s Test against Zimbabwe.Having been as high as No. 2 in 2010, Sri Lanka have now slipped to No. 7 on the table, and have lost four of their five most-recent games. They have sprung most surprises in Tests, however, having unexpectedly won a series against Australia a year ago.”My final goal is to take the team to No. 1 in the world,” Chandimal said ahead of his first Test as captain. “But we can’t do that in one day or one year. We have to work hard with our cricket to get there. We have young players, and we have to give them experience along the way. We have to take it step by step – go to No. 6 first, then No. 5 and so on. We have a long way to go.”The first step on that journey is to ensure a Zimbabwe tour that has already caused strife for Sri Lanka does not get any worse. Zimbabwe’s top order shone in their ODI series victory but Chandimal believes the experience Sri Lanka carries in their Test attack will pose sterner questions of the opposition.”The Zimbabwe batsmen, in particular, played very well during the five ODIs, and we can’t underestimate them,” Chandimal said. “But we do have Rangana Herath in our Test team, who is an extremely experienced player. We also have Dilruwan Perera. I don’t think we will let Zimbabwe get into rhythm too easily. We have plans against them, and we have good spinners. So I’m hoping we can bowl well and restrict them.”With Herath leading the attack, the bowling is in good hands, and the batting appears somewhat settled, but Sri Lanka’s catching has been woeful over the past year. Their Test loss to Bangladesh in March may well have been avoided had Sri Lanka taken all their chances. As a result, fielding will be a priority in the early days of his captaincy, Chandimal said.”I’ve thought about how we became so weak in fielding, and tried to work out how we can fix it. I talked with the coaches as well. Even in training, if we catch 100 flat catches, 100 high catches, and 100 ground fielding balls, the pressure that we have in the game is missing. I talked to the coaches and told them that what I want is to do those drills under something similar to match pressure. Then we have a target and feed off each other’s energy. In the last few days that’s what we did. I think we’ll be able to improve a lot in our fielding with those measures.”Though he played as a specialist batsman in the most-recent Test series, against Bangladesh, Chandimal has kept wicket in 24 of his 36 Tests. He was unwilling to commit to giving up the gloves in light of his captaincy, but suggested he may play as a specialist batsman in the short term. Limited-overs wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella is in the squad.”Dickwella is in form in ODIs and is a young player, and we also have to push him forward as someone who will improve our cricket,” Chandimal said. “He will probably do the job most times. But I will also consider the team’s balance, and am prepared to keep. For this match he will probably keep.”

Newcastle United are now ready to make an offer of €50m (£43m) plus bonuses to sign Juventus winger Federico Chiesa, who is also attracting interest from Aston Villa and the Saudi Pro League, according to reports from Italy.

What's the latest Newcastle transfer news?

Newcastle have already signed Harvey Barnes for a fee of around £39m this summer, but perhaps owing to Allan Saint-Maximin's recent departure, they seemingly remain in the market for a new winger, and there have been a number of players linked.

Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is one of the more high-profile players to have been touted for a move to St. James' Park, and journalist Ben Jacobs believes he would be a brilliant signing, saying:

"It would be an incredible bit of business if anyone can get Kvaradona – or Kvaratskhelia if we are calling him by his full name, but he’s known as Kvaradona in Napoli circles as they’re prepared to sort of mention him in the same breath as another Napoli legend Diego Maradona."

Back in July, it was reported the Magpies had submitted a proposal for Chiesa, and their interest in the Juventus winger has not gone away, with reports from Italy, via Sport Witness, detailing they are now ready to put forward an offer worth €50m (£43m) plus bonuses.

Aston Villa remain interested in signing the Italian, with clubs from the Saudi Pro League also in the mix, however, he has turned down offers from the Middle East, which seemingly don't appeal to him.

Juventus are not focusing on selling the 25-year-old at the moment, as they plan to keep him in the squad and offer him a new contract, but it is unclear whether an offer of £43m would make them reconsider their stance.

Although he is not interested in a move to Saudi Arabia, a transfer to the Premier League could appeal to the Juventus star, especially considering Champions League football will be on offer at St. James' Park next season.

How good is Federico Chiesa?

The Italy international was not one of Juventus' best-performing players in the Serie A last season, with an average WhoScored match rating of 6.59 ranking him just 15th in the squad, however, it is clear that he has a great deal of quality.

In the past year, the playmaker has averaged 0.42 assists per 90, which places him in the 96th percentile compared to his positional peers, and he also ranks in the 84th percentile for successful take-ons, showcasing his dribbling ability.

Lauded as "sensational" by members of the media, the former Fiorentina man played particularly well when he was paired with Cristiano Ronaldo, combining with the Al-Nassr star for six goals, and there were suggestions Ronaldo wanted Manchester United to sign him upon his return to Old Trafford.

Of course, that did not transpire, however, Chiesa could have the opportunity to move to the Premier League this summer, and he has proven could help take Newcastle to the next level ahead of their return to the Champions League next season, so it could be one to keep an eye on.