Unavailable for choice have been
Pathum Nissanka, who continues to get better from a wrist surgical procedure, and
Kusal Mendis, who’s out with a hamstring harm. It’s Kusal’s absence that has opened up a spot for Dickwella to make a comeback at age 33. Sooriyabandara too retains his place within the squad partly on account of Nissanka’s absence, though Nishan Madushka and Lahiru Udara are more likely to open the batting, having accomplished so in Sri Lanka’s most-recent Check.
Sri Lanka have additionally unusually chosen no fewer than 4 specialist quicks for a house sequence, with allrounder Milan Rathnayaka including a fifth seam-bowling possibility.
Asitha Fernando is sort of sure to play, however Sri Lanka even have Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, and Madushanka to select from.
Solely three front-line spinners have been picked. Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya is Sri Lanka’s lead gradual bowler, however could play alongside both uncapped Nuwantha, or Ramesh Mendis. Sonal Dinusha – the left-arm spinning allrounder – can be in Sri Lanka’s 16.
On the batting entrance, Sri Lanka’s picks are extra predictable. Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, and Dhananjaya de Silva are more likely to bat at Nos 3, 4 and 5. Allrounders Dinusha, Ramesh Mendis, and Rathnayaka will likely be within the working to be chosen decrease down, with Dickwella more likely to bat at No. 6 or 7.
Nuwantha, 25, had impressed in a Sri Lanka A match
against India A in Galle final month, taking 5 for 159 within the first innings. Within the final week, he additionally returned with match figures of three for 97 in opposition to India within the tour match in Colombo. He’s inexperienced even in home cricket nonetheless, with solely 15 first-class appearances and 64 wickets to his title.
Madushanka, in the meantime, has nearly solely performed T20 cricket previously two months, and had not performed the Sri Lanka four-day home event this yr, or in any multi-day Sri Lanka A fixtures. His final Check was his debut in opposition to Pakistan
in 2023, and he’s but to take a wicket in Assessments.
The primary Check begins in Galle on Saturday, earlier than the sequence strikes to the SSC in Colombo on August 23 for its conclusion.
Dhananjaya De Silva (capt), Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Keshara Nuwantha, Milan Rathnayaka, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka
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