Sri Lanka makes progress in ICC Test championship

Sri Lanka recorded an innings and 39 runs victory over Australia on last Monday at Galle climbing to third place of the ICC test championship. This is the first time Sri Lanka recorded an innings win over Aussies. After loosing the first Test within three days Sri Lankan fought back strongly to win the secund Test with a grand style .

The world Test champions Australia lost their top World Test Championship position with this unexpected defeat and move to second position to South Africa on last Tuesday. They were defeated by Sri Lanka in the second match of their series to finish 1-1 draw.

South Africa take over as the new ICC Test champions according to the latest standings with a win-loss percentage of 71.43%, while Australia drop to second with 70% after their first Test loss in the current period,” the International Cricket Council said.

Sri Lanka are now firmly in the mix for the World Test Championship final next year, with their win helping them jump in front of Pakistan, India and West Indies. Sri Lankan spinner Prabath Jayasuriya had a dream debut with a match haul of 12 wickets and veteran batsman Dinesh Chandimal stood out with an unbeaten 206, his maiden Test double ton, as well as highest individual runs hit by Sri Lankan against Australia. Chandimal was named Man of the Series while Jayasuriya who took 12 wickets named as Man of the Match. In fact Jayasuriya hails from Matale and then moved to Colombo entered the record book as Sri Lankan highest wickets taker in Test debut.

Meanwhile Sri Lankans are ready to take on two Test match series against Pakistan which also consider as ICC test championship. The first Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan will commence from July 16 in Galle.