Colombo: The Sri Lanka cricket board has announced a 16-member squad for the two-match Test series against New Zealand at home beginning on Wednesday. Dhananjaya de Silva will continue to lead the Sri Lankan team in the red ball format. Sri Lanka avoided a clean sweep, and the series ended 2-1 in England’s favor. After the loss, Sri Lanka didn’t make many changes to their squad from the England series.
However, Oshada Fernando has been named after 18 months since his last appearance in red-ball cricket. Oshada returns to the squad and aims at solidifying the top-order batting, but he might find it hard to break through into the playing XL. Fernando’s last Test was against New Zealand in March 2023. He found his place back in the red-ball team after producing player of the match performance after smashing 122 and 80 for Sri Lanka A against South Africa A earlier this month.
The wicketkeeper-batter Nishan Madushka was not included in the upcoming squad. Madushaka made way for 33-year-old Oshada following his underwhelming run with a bat, who was part of the side that toured England for a three-match Test series. The other two players from Sri Lanka, Nisala Tharaka and Kasun Rajitha, are to miss out on the squad because Sri Lanka retained most of the members that faced England.
Sri Lanka shows trust in youngsters like Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, and Milan Rathanayake, who will aim to continue their impressive performances from the England series. Nissanka, who became the first Sri Lankan opener in 13 years to score a Test hundred in England. His match-winning 127* helped Sri Lanka record their 4th Test win on England soil in the last 40 years. Kamindu Mendis also had a dream start to his Test career, scoring a third Test century in his 4th appearance in whites for Sri Lanka in the 2nd Test match against England.
New Zealand hasn’t had the best of years because of an early elimination in the T20 World Cup. After five long years, New Zealand will return to the island nation for a bilateral series. The Test series will be part of the World Test Championship, set to conclude at Lord’s Cricket Ground in 2025. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will aim to make use of their home weather conditions and take confidence from their recent ODI series triumph against India in Colombo.
Sri Lanka are currently fifth in the WTC standings with a point percentage of 42.86, while New Zealand occupy third place with 50 percent.The test series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand will take place in Galle. After the first test concludes, the second test match begins on September 26.
Sri Lanka ODI Squad: Dhananjaya De Silva (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Oshada Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milan Rathnayake.
