Sadeera Samarawickrama receives his Test cap from Hashan Tillakaratne ahead of Sri Lanka’s maiden day-night Test match in Dubai last year.
The national selection panel has axed one of the promising young batsmen Kusal Mendis while recalling another highly talented player – Sadeera Samarawickrama. Both aged 23 are expected to shoulder the national cricket team’s batting over the next decade. Mendis has been replaced by Samarawickrama for the upcoming five match ODI series against England.
Samarawickrama toured India last year and impressed former great V.V.S. Laxman. A prolific run scorer in domestIc cricket, the arrival of Samarawickrama will also address some of Sri Lanka’s fielding woes.
Dinesh Chandimal also makes a comeback to the side after missing the Asia Cup due to injury. He has been named as captain after Angelo Mathews stepped down. Chairman of Selectors Graeme Labrooy told journalists that Mathews was very much in their plans for the 2019 World Cup, but he had to work on his fitness. Head Coach Chandika Hathurusingha pointing out a few grey areas in Mathews’ game highlighted that the veteran had to work on his fitness with his fielding and running between the wickets being a big concern.
Seamer Nuwan Pradeep, who was injured during the Nidahas Trophy and left-arm wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan also have been included in the squad. Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal and Shehan Jayasuriya, who were part of the Asia Cup squad, have been sidelined.
Hathurusingha was asked during the media briefing on what prompted him to play Mendis as an opening batsman. He explained his horses for courses policy.
“We expected the oppositions that we were going to face during the Asia Cup to attack us with spin with the new ball. That is why we played Kusal Mendis as an opener. He is one of the best players of spin bowling. He is not going to continue as an opener. We are going to play teams that don’t start off with spinners in the next few months. So our batting combination can be different,” Hathurusingha noted.
The series will be a massive challenge for the hosts as England are world’s number one ranked team. Sri Lanka are placed at a lowly eighth in ODIs.
Mathews has been retained in the Test side along with Mendis and Dickwella. Kusal Perera and Danushka Gunathilaka have not been named in the Test squad. The biggest news in the Test squad is the recalling of Kaushal Silva, who last played more than a year ago.
Sri Lanka ODI Squad: Dinesh Chandimal (Captain), Dhananjaya De Silva, Kusal Perera, Upul Tharanga, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Niroshan Dickwella, Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Akila Dananjaya, Amila Aponso, Lakshan Sandakan, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Pradeep, Kasun Rajitha and Dushmantha Chameera.
Sri Lanka Test Squad: Dinesh Chandimal (Captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Dilruwan Perera, Rangana Herath, Malinda Pushpakumara, Akila Dananjaya, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara (subject to fitness), Lakshan Sandakan and Niroshan Dickwella
