I know Tigers' mentality: Chandika

Things were looking pretty rosy for Sri Lanka ahead of the first Test against Bangladesh starting in Chittagong today. Having come to Bangladesh on the back of a disappointing two years in international cricket, backed by a coach who is both an excellent tactician and armed with inside knowledge of the opposition, Sri Lanka thumped the hosts in the final to win the tri-series. Bangladesh's best player and Test captain was injured in that match and ruled out of the first Test, leading to a frantic shuffling of the squad that would only have amused and emboldened the Lankans.

That is perhaps why Sri Lanka coach Chandika Hathurusingha, who was Bangladesh's coach for three years until October 2017, allowed himself a wry smile during the pre-match press conference yesterday when skipper Dinesh Chandimal was asked about the six spinners -- three included after Shakib Al Hasan's finger injury in the tri-series final on Saturday -- in the home squad.

"When you are playing in the sub-continent, spinners will come into the game every time," said Chandimal.

When it was Hathurusingha's turn to speak, he was not as diplomatic.

"Unfortunately Shakib is not there. It is a little bit of a disadvantage for them. It probably put the cat amongst the pigeons in terms of selection. I think that's why they have called a few spinners to balance the side," Hathurusingha said with a smile.

While Hathurusingha was a little reserved about the importance of knowing his opponents intimately before the tri-series, there was no such reticence yesterday.

"I know how Bangladesh have been playing lately, their mentality," said the Sri Lankan who has had the most successful tenure as Bangladesh coach. "I know they are a very confident side at home."

Knowing the hosts' mentality and the composition of their squad, it would not have taken a large portion of his grey matter to know that Bangladesh will opt for a spin-friendly wicket. Along the lines of how their tour of Bangladesh has gone so far, that ploy may benefit the Lankans more than the hosts because they have champion left-arm spinner Rangana Herath back for the Tests.

Herath has 406 career wickets; the six bowlers in the Bangladesh ranks who have played Tests have 180. If Shakib was playing, his 188 wickets still would not have taken Bangladesh's cumulative total past Herath's tally.

"He is a wily old fox. He can do what he wants to do," said Chandimal about the 39-year-old veteran spinner. "He is a big asset in our team.

"We will play competitive cricket rather than think about the result; it will be challenging for Bangladesh."

"We are trying to play to our strength. Sri Lanka has done well in the past in Bangladesh," said Hathusuringha about Sri Lanka's record of having won five out of six Tests against the hosts in Bangladesh.

Even if they were not flying high after the tri-series win, Sri Lanka have better memories of Test cricket than they do of ODIs, having fought well in their most recent Test series in India, a three-match series they lost 1-0.

"Our Test team is a bit more settled than ODI team. The players know their role," said Hathurusingha.

If all this was not enough, Chandimal said the same thing he did before the tri-series final. "We have something up our sleeves."

If Sri Lanka's performance in that final following those words is anything to go by, the Tigers have reason to be wary.