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Ireland continue their tour of Sri Lanka with the Second Test at the Galle International Cricket Stadium starting on April 24.
They'll be hoping to put in a better display than last time as the country continued to receive an education in top-class Test cricket from established nations, losing by an innings and 280 runs in the first Test to bring their record to five losses in five Tests since they became a full ICC member in 2017.
That was Sri Lanka's biggest-ever test win, and it was done in just three days, with their spinners brutalising the Irish batting order, clearing them out for just 143 runs in the first innings to force a follow-on in which Ireland could only manage a further 168. Batting first, Sri Lanka knocked the tourists for 591/6.
The conditions were perfect for spinners and will surely be so again. With that in mind, the Top Bowler market could be headed by the impressive Prabath Jayasuriya (2/1) who went 10-108 across Ireland's two innings and was player of the match.
Jayasuriya has taken to Test cricket like a duck to water taking 43 wickets across just four Test matches with five five-wicket hauls and two 10-wicket match performances.
Other options include Vishwa Fernando (15/2) – who has just seven wickets in his last five bowling innings - and Ramesh Mendes (7/2) – who may be the better option having taken 14 wickets in his past four innings including five wickets against Ireland.
For the Irish, Curtis Campher (10/1) proved the most effective with ball in hand going 2/84 across 21 overs. But while Andy McBrine (7/1) only got the one wicket, he was Ireland's preferred bowler with 40 overs and as a spinner will be the most capable of getting the Sri Lankans out. George Dockrell (10/1) offers an alternative spin option.
With the bat, Captain of the hosts Dimuth Karunaratne (9/4) hit 179 batting at two and is a good bet for Top Batter. Kusal Mendis (7/2) hit 140 and will be another one to keep an eye out for, while if Ireland manage to make some headway through the Sri Lankan order, then Dinesh Chandimal (8/1) who hit 102 from 155 balls not out in the First Test would offer value.
For the Irish, it's difficult to say with the wickets having fallen so quickly in the first two innings of the tour. Harry Tector (16/1) came out best, with 76 runs from 154 balls and came quickly at fourth in both innings, Ireland's top order collapsing. Lorcan Tucker, another in the middle order, is also an option.
