Pallekele: Sri Lanka will get a glimpse of a future without their batting greats when the decisive third and final Test against Pakistan begins in Pallekele on Friday.

For the first time in 15 years since Kumar Sangakkara's debut in July 2000, Sri Lanka will take the field in a Test without either him or Mahela Jayawardene in the ranks. Sangakkara, Test cricket's leading current run-getter, committed himself to playing just two Tests against Pakistan and two more against India in August before retiring.