For the forthcoming three-match Test series against England, which is scheduled to start on August 21, Sri Lanka has added Pathum Nissanka and Jeffrey Vandersay back to the team. He had a successful tenure with the team, making five half-centuries and a century in nine games; nevertheless, a dismal home series against Australia resulted in his dismissal.
Beginning in March 2021, opener Pathum Nissanka was a member of the squad until July 2022, when Nishan Madushka replaced him.
Vandersay, on the other hand, only participated in one Sri Lankan Test match. With six wickets in the most recent ODI against India in Colombo, the leg-spinner may have been the reason the selectors chose him for the premier series against England, particularly without Wanindu Hasaranga. Along with these two returning players, Sri Lanka has also included fast-bowling all-arounder Nisala Tharaka and uncapped pacer Milan Rathnayake in the team.
Interestingly, this was Tharaka’s first selection for the Test team. Tharaka was able to enter the England series because several important seamers will be absent owing to injuries. He has played in 107 first-class matches, taking 257 wickets and scoring 2358 runs. Rathnayake, on the other hand, was selected for the one-time Test match against Afghanistan but was not included in the starting lineup.
He has participated in 39 first-class games, taking 79 wickets and hitting 633 runs. Many Sri Lankan players, however, are occupied with the ongoing white-ball series against India.
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Nonetheless, Vishwa Fernando, a pacer, participated in three County Championship games for Yorkshire, and his background will be helpful. Notably, a victory in the series might advance Sri Lanka, who are now fourth in the WTC points standings, to the championship match.
Sri Lanka squad for England Test series:
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 Rathnayake
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