Legendary Indian spinner R Ashwin said the pacers could also get help while talking about the bowling strategy for the first Test against Sri Lanka. The game will start on Saturday, August 15, at Galle as well. While the conditions are expected to favour spin, Ashwin said that fast bowlers would also get some help from the surface as well.

“I think 80% of the wickets at Galle have been taken by spinners. I think that trend will continue. I don’t remember the year, but Sreesanth bowled a brilliant spell and took five wickets at Galle. So if you bend your back a bit and put in good effort, you will get help. I see pacers coming into it,” he said on ‘Ash ki Baat’.

While talking about the pitch at Galle for the first Test, R Ashwin also said that the pace bowlers would get some help initially and spinners would get the help from the pitch as the game progresses, just as expected from a typical Galle pitch as well.

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“In Sri Lanka, you will never get to see from the top if the pitch is one where the ball will turn. From the top, it stays dry. There is enough speed and bounce. It looks like a typical Galle pitch, I feel there will be a little bit of bounce and some help for fast bowlers initially. And then as the game pans out, it will turn on the first day too, but by five days it will become a slow turning pitch, which Sri Lanka fancies always. The team winning the toss will have an advantage, and if they can bat long, it will be a huge factor,” he said.

“The first thing to note in Gill’s captaincy will be whether he plays three spinners or four. I think he will play only three. It will be important to see which spinner he uses from which end. He has to nail that. I feel Gill has to get this magic potion ready,” R Ashwin concluded.