Sri Lanka have announced their 22-member squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa. Angelo Mathews who is yet to fully recover from a hamstring injury has been rested from the tour of South Africa. Meanwhile, opener Oshada Fernando is still recovering from the ankle injury and will miss the first South Africa Test match.
Lanka have picked 5 uncapped played in their squad – Wanindu Hasaranga, Minod Bhanuka, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka and Santhush Gunathilaka. it would be interesting to see if any of them would get a chance to feature in this Test series.
“We will need Oshada for the England series too so it is better to keep him with us so that he can bat and get some practice. The only thing is, he will not be able to do other things on the field till the end of the month. We are coming straight to the England series at home from the South African bubble so it is better for Oshada to be in the side so that the physios can attend to him,” Ashantha de Mel, head of Sri Lanka’s national selection committee.
In the absence of Oshada, Sri Lanka are planning to open their innings with Kusal Perera who had a great campaign with the bat in Sri Lanka’s last tour of South Africa in 2019. The 2-match Test series between Sri Lanka and England which is scheduled to be played in Sri Lanka starts from January 14.
“Oshada may not play in the first Test match but he will be fit for the second one. The first Test we most likely might open with Kusal Perera. He scored a match winning 153 on the last tour although he didn’t open, but in the current situation we feel he might do well as an opener because he can play the new ball. Otherwise, we will have to see whom we can open with,” de Mel added.
The two Test matches in this tour of South Africa will be played at the Super Sport Park in Centurion (Dec 26 – Dec 30) and The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg (Jan 03 – Jan 07).
Sri Lanka’s Test squad for South Africa and England series: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Kusal Janith Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews (only for England), Oshada Fernando, Dhananjaya De Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Minod Bhanuka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Lasith Embuldeniya, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Dushmantha Chameera, Dasun Shanaka, Santhush Gunathilake, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.
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