Nissanka returns, Tharaka earn maiden call-up as Sri Lanka announces squad for England tour
Cricket Sri Lanka has announced an 18-member squad for the England series with the first test beginning from August 21. The test squad will see the return of Pathum Nissanka and Jeffrey Vandersay who have proven their worth in the ODI series against India with their impressive performances.
The Lankans will be captained by Dhananjaya de Silva, with Kusal Mendis serving as his deputy and taking on a prominent leadership role. The squad for the three-match Test series in England will feature the debut of fast bowlers Milan Rathnayake and Nisala Tharaka. Tharaka has excelled in first-class cricket, taking 257 wickets in 107 matches and scoring 2358 runs. He also impressed for Sri Lanka A against Afghanistan A in May, claiming six wickets.
28-year-old Rathnayake was previously selected for the one-off Test against Afghanistan but did not make his debut. He has played 39 first-class matches taking 79 wickets and scoring 633 runs with a strike rate of 47.09 including a highest score of 59.
The Sri Lankan team is focusing on a pace-heavy lineup including Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Tharaka, and Rathnayake as their fast bowlers. Angelo Mathews, who has had occasional success with seam bowling in England is also part of the squad. For spin, Sri Lanka will rely on Jeffrey Vandersay, Ramesh Mendis, and Prabath Jayasuriya as their main Test bowler for over a year.
All-rounder Kamindu Mendis and wicketkeeper Sadeera Samarawickrama will strengthen Sri Lanka’s batting lineup. Additionally, Pathum Nissanka returns to the squad. The 26-year-old made his Test debut in March 2021 and remained with the team until July 2022 before being replaced by Nishan Madushka. Nissanka had a good run scoring five half-centuries and a century in nine matches but a poor home series against Australia led to his exclusion.
Sri Lanka will play their first test against the Three Lions on August 21 in Manchester. Thereafter, the Lankans will travel to Lord's for the second Test on August 29. They will conclude the test series with the third Test at The Oval on September 6.
Sri Lanka’s Test squad for the England tour: Dhananjaya De Silva (C), Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (VC), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Nisala Tharaka, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milan Rathnayakea
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