Sri Lanka announce Test squad for upcoming series against Australia
Sri Lanka have named their 16-man squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Australia that will is going to start from 24th January. Left-handed batsman Kusal Perera has been included in the side after missing the series in New Zealand.
Perera has been prominent member in the ODI and T20 squads and will be keen to make an impression with the bat in the Two-match Test series. Lahiru Thiramanne has been named as a replacement for Angelo Matthews, who has sidelined from the series due to a hamstring problem.
Sadheera Samarawickrama has also been included in the Test squad despite not doing much with the bat. He has played four games for Sri Lanka and is averaging 15.62 with the bat. Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne are most experienced in the Test squad. Sri Lanka Skipper Dinesh Chandimal missed two games against England due to injury. He will be keen to do well with the bat in this Test series.
The selection committee has dropped opening batsman Danushka Gunathilaka after his poor show with the bat in the two-match Test series played in New Zealand. Sri Lanka failed to win a game on the tour of New Zealand and were completely outplayed by New Zealand across all three formats of the game. The side will certainly face an uphill task as they not won a single game in Australia.
Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara and Suranga Lakmal will be pace options for the two-match Test series. Lakshan Sandakan, Kasun Rajitha, Dushmantha Chameera and Dilruwan Perera are other bowling options for the side for the Australia series.
The opening game of the two-match Test series will be played at The Gabba, Brisbane on Thursday.
Sri Lanka Test squad: Dinesh Chandimal (captain), Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thiramanne, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis, Sadheera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Perera, Dilruwan Perera, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha.
