Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Test series 2017 – Statistical Preview

Pakistan and Sri Lanka, two teams in a rebuilding phase are set to face each other in a Test series for the first time in two years. The Lankan side is coming into the series on the back of some disastrous losses back home while Pakistan will be playing their first Test series since May this year. The Pakistani team will be taking the field with the confidence of clinching the Champions Trophy and defeating the World XI side at home recently.

Here we look at key stats and number ahead of the Test series.

3 – Number of wins in the last ten matches for both Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Both the teams lost seven of their last ten Test matches. All the three wins Pakistan have are against the Windies while Sri Lanka won against Zimbabwe (2) and Bangladesh (1).

19.33 – Yasir Shah’s bowling average in Test cricket against Sri Lanka is his best against any team. Yasir has picked up 24 wickets in three Tests which includes three five-fers.

19.72 – Sri Lankan vice-captain Lahiru Thirimanne averages 19.72 with the bat against Pakistan in Test format. He has scored 217 runs in 12 innings with only one fifty (68).

90 – Rangana Hearth has picked up 90 wickets in Tests against Pakistan. He needs 10 more wickets to become the first player with 100 wickets in Pakistan-Sri Lanka Tests.

149 – Wickets Yasir Shah has picked up his Test format so far. He needs one more wicket to complete 150 Test wickets. If Yasir completes the milestone in the coming Test match, he will become the joint 2nd quickest to complete 150 Test wickets.

389 – Rangana Hearth has 389 wickets in Test cricket so far. He needs 11 more wickets to become the 14th player with 400 Test wickets.

603 – Sarfraz Ahmed has scored 603 runs in Test cricket against Sri Lanka so far. These are the most for him against any opposition. Sarfraz averages 60.3 against Sri Lanka in Tests with one century and six fifties.

1991 – Runs Kaushal Silva has aggregated in his Test career so far. He needs nine more runs to complete 2000 runs in Test cricket.

2007 – The last instance of Pakistan losing a Test series in Pakistan/UAE was way back in October 2007 in Pakistan against South Africa. Since playing their home Tests in UAE from 2010, Pakistan haven’t lost a Test series as they won five of the nine they played with other four ending in a draw.

2014 – Sri Lanka last won a Test series outside home other than Zimbabwe was in 2014 against England. The Lankan side won the last year’s 2-match Test series in Zimbabwe by 2-0 margin.

4968 – Runs Azhar Ali has scored in his Test career so far. He needs 32 more runs to complete 5000 Test runs. If Azhar reaches the milestone in his next innings, he will be the 4th fastest Pakistan player to complete 5000 Test runs.