No Test vacancies for Asela Gunaratne and Kaushal Silva
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Asela Gunaratne is most likely to play Limited Overs cricket
Seamer Suranga Lakmal was yesterday named the vice-captain of the Test side for the two-match series against Bangladesh later this month.
Lakmal 30, has been Sri Lanka leading fast bowler in Test cricket in recent months. In 42 Tests, he has taken 96 Test wickets at 44.94 with a best of 5 for 63. The 16-man squad announced yesterday also see the return of top-order bat Kusal Mendis, seamer Lahiru Kumara and the inclusion of uncapped wrist-spinner Akila Dananjaya.
Mendis 22, was rested for the recent Indian series after a dismal series against Pakistan in the UAE. A promising top-order bat Mendis scored 177 against Moors in a recent first class match to regain his position in the national side.
Despite an impressive year with the ball in which paceman Lahiru Kumara who took 23 wickets in eight Test matches, he was not considered for the last two series–Pakistan and India but has been recalled for the series against Bangladesh.
Danushka Gunathilaka also comes back to the side having missed the last two series. He played the opening Test against India in Galle in July–his only match and expected to replace Kaushal Silva at the top of the order who has been overlooked yet again.
There was also no place for all-rounder Asela Gunaratne in the squad despite a healthy average of over 56 in his short Test career. Gunaratne suffered a fractured thump in Galle during the first Test against India in Galle and only return to the side for the limited over leg of the Indian series in December.
Despite the promise of consistency in selection, the selectors have dropped the 22-year-old Sadeera Samarawickrema just after four matches. Samarawickrema who made his debut against Pakistan in the UAE, played the three-match Test series against India last month. In eight innings he averages 15.62 with a best of 38.
Meanwhile the selectors have also brought in wrist-spinner Akila Dananjaya on the back of some impressive ODI performances. However, there was no place for left-arm-leg-spinner Malinda Pushpakumara in the side.
The first test match will be played from January 31 to February 4 in Chittagong, while the second test match will be played from February 8-12 in Dhaka.
| Dinesh Chandimal – Captain, Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella Roshen Silva, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal – Vice Captain, Dilruwan Perera, Dushmantha Chameera, Lakshan Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya, Lahiru Gamage, Lahiru Kumara | |