Emirati Surprises

Two Tests into the three Test series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan and there are already some surprises to comment on.

One surprise is that Sri Lanka is playing Test cricket at all. Their board has been allergic to the format for the last few years. I'm not sure how they got tricked into playing this series, but here we are. It's good to see the likes of Herath, Sangakkara and Jayawardena playing the long form again.

Another surprise is to see Sri Lanka's seamers have come to the party. Not long after being the laughing stock of the Australia tour Lakmal and Eranga, along with Nuwan Pradeep in the second Test, have gone about their business effectively and efficiently. It must make a pleasant change for the long suffering Rangana Herath to have some support at the other end.

The third surprise, perhaps the largest of all, is seeing a sporting wicket in Dubai. While Abu Dhabi laid out a typically dead surface and delivered the inevitable draw, the pitch in Dubai has been unexpectedly lively. It only rains for a couple of weeks every year in the Emirates and it may not be a coincidence that this week has seen both rain and a Test that finished midway through day five.

Three unusual occurances. Here's hoping we see more of all three in the future.