Sri Lanka Take on Bangladesh at Galle

Galle: Hosts Sri Lanka look set to extend their dominance over Bangladesh when they open a two-Test series at their happy hunting ground in Galle on Friday.

Sri Lanka have won six and drawn one of their last eight Tests on the traditionally spin-friendly Galle wicket, and slow bowlers Rangana Herath and Ajantha Mendis are once again expected to play key roles.

Left-armer Herath grabbed 11 wickets in the last Test played in Galle in November to help Sri Lanka crush New Zealand by 10 wickets.

The unorthodox Mendis, set to play a Test for the first time since May 2011, is a proven match-winner with 62 wickets in 16 Tests.

The hosts will be at full-strength, barring the injured Mahela Jayawardene, after resolving a pay dispute with Sri Lanka Cricket earlier this week.

Sri Lanka's batting has been bolstered by the return of veteran Kumar Sangakkara, who missed the third and final Test against Australia in January due to finger injury.

Sri Lanka go into the series under new captain Angelo Mathews with a 12-0 win record against Bangladesh, who will be without star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan due to calf injury.

Bangladesh have struggled at the Test level since their entry in 2000, losing 65 of their 75 matches so far, winning just three.

But former captain Mohammad Ashraful was confident his side will put up a good show.

All-rounder Mohammad Mahmudullah said it was important for Bangladesh to start well in the Test.

Bangladesh will also play three one-day internationals and a one-off Twenty20 match on the month-long tour.

Teams from

Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (capt), Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kumar Sangakkara, Lahiru Thirimanne, Shaminda Eranga, Kushal Perera (wk), Jeevan Mendis, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chanaka Welegedara, Suranga Lakmal, Rangana Herath, Tharindu Kaushal.

Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), Mohammad Mahmudullah, Abul Hasan, Anamul Haque, Elias Sunny, Jahurul Islam, Marshall Ayub, Mohammad Ashraful, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Robiul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Shahadat Hossain, Sohag Gazi, Tamim Iqbal.

Match facts
March 8-12, 2013
Start time 10:00 local (04:30 GMT, 9.30am BST)

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