Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka, 2016-17

Test matches (2): Zimbabwe 0, Sri Lanka 2
This was a series that largely followed expectations, though it did at least offer a few souvenirs. The opening game was Zimbabwe's 100th Test, 24 years after their first. Even Bangladesh had played 95 in 16, a reminder of the hardship Zimbabwe had endured, not least their two suspensions from Test cricket. In a further nod to the past, Heath Streak - captain, dissident, exile, and assistant coach - was appointed head coach three weeks before the series. But he was focused only on the future, and spoke of his desire to change Zimbabwe's survivalist mentality. "I think in the past we've just been happy to compete," he said. "We're not happy with that any more."

Things did not begin well: in the first innings of the series, Zimbabwe put down six catches, which set the tone. And while there was more purpose about their batting, they were unable to match the heavy totals racked up by the Sri Lankans, who scored five centuries to Zimbabwe's one - Graeme Cremer's first in Tests. Nevertheless, they might have saved the first match had DRS been in use. Six of the seven incorrect calls favoured Sri Lanka, who earned ten lbws to Zimbabwe's none. After a similar experience against New Zealand, the need for change was obvious.

In fact, Zimbabwe Cricket had wanted DRS throughout the series, but did not inform the ICC in time for the First Test. For the Second, slow-motion cameras were flown in from South Africa, and Marais Erasmus brought in as third umpire. So it was that DRS made its debut in Zimbabwe (if in its barest form, without Hot Spot or Snickometer).

With Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal among five players missing through injury, Sri Lanka tested their depth ahead of the trip to South Africa in December and January. The signs were good: Kusal Perera and Asela Gunaratne scored maiden Test centuries, Dhananjaya de Silva grabbed his second, and 19-year-old Lahiru Kumara bowled with pace and aggression. Yet the series was sealed by an old hand: captaining Sri Lanka for the first time in his 17-year career, Rangana Herath picked up 13 wickets in the Second Test with his left-arm spin, becoming the third - after Muttiah Muralitharan and Dale Steyn - to collect five-wicket hauls against all nine opponents.

Match reports for

1st Test: Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka at Harare, Oct 29-Nov 2, 2016
Report | Scorecard

2nd Test: Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka at Harare, Nov 6-10, 2016
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1st Match: Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka at Harare, Nov 14, 2016
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2nd Match: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Harare, Nov 16, 2016
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4th Match: Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka at Bulawayo, Nov 21, 2016
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5th Match: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Bulawayo, Nov 23, 2016
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Final: Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka at Bulawayo, Nov 27, 2016
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