Why Mathews took the new ball
Angelo Mathews bowls with the new ball ahead of some frontline quicks because Sri Lanka are more confident in Mathews' ability to hit the right length, bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake has said. Mathews has routinely been the first-change bowler this series, and had also taken the second new ball in the first innings of the Johannesburg Test.
"Well what we think is that we need to hit the right length with the new ball," Ramanayake said. "Angelo is one of the guys who hits right length consistently. That made us think to give the new ball for him and he has been successful. Lahiru Kumara tends to bowl shorter and he likes the bouncer a lot. But with the new ball we are looking at someone who could bowl that good length."
However, of the seamers who have played at least two Tests this series, Mathews has the worst wicket-taking record by a distance. He averages 64.50 for his two wickets, while Kumara and Nuwan Pradeep average 26.45 and 43 respectivel