Rookies Madushka, Ratnayake in Test squad
Milan Ratnayake
Prolific run-scorer Nishan Madushka has batted his way into Sri Lanka’s Test squad along with right-arm seamer Milan Ratnayake as national selectors finalised a list of 19 players for next month’s two-match Test series against New Zealand. A notable exclusion, however, is Pathum Nissanka, the Test opener sidelined with an injury.
Uncapped at the top level, both players come into the side following impressive performances at
Sri Lanka ‘A’ and domestic levels.
Madushka’s inclusion was expected following his swashbuckling form with the bat. He was named Best Batsman and Player of the Series in the just concluded two-match unofficial Test series against England Lions, having scored 364 runs at 91.00, including a double century (241) and a century (100).
Madushka’s performances received high praise from Sri Lanka ‘A’ team coach Avishka Gunawardena and Chief Selector Pramodya Wickremasinghe.
“What I like the most about him is his temperament and ability to change gears according to the situation. He has proved he can bat long innings and I think he has a bright future ahead,” Gunawardena told the Sunday Times last week.
Nishan Madushka
Madushka’s inclusion in the playing XI, however, is less certain, with Sri Lanka likely to field its tried-and-tested combination during the series in New Zealand. Sri Lankans are looking for a rare whitewash to keep their chance of entering the World Test Championships final. Sri Lanka is currently at No.3 behind Australia and India, who are fighting to feature in the June 7-11 Lord’s final.
Last year, Madushka became the fastest Sri Lankan batter to score 1000 first class runs accumulating 1025 runs from nine innings (six matches) which included five centuries, including a career-best unbeaten triple ton (300*) against Sebastianites.
Ratnayake, the 26-year-old seamer, captured 4 for 112 in the first game and with Dilshan Madushanka (injured) and Dushmantha Chameera (Not ready yet for the longer format following the ankle surgery) missing, selectors have called up the Wariyapola Sri Sumangala College boy into the mix. The squad includes five frontline seamers in addition to Ratnayake which will make it hard for him to earn a debut. Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, and Chamika Karunaratne are the other five quicks joining first-timer Ratnayake.
Though the selectors have named a 19-man squad, from Praveen Jayawickrema and Lasith Embuldeniya, one of them could be dropped following their lackluster performance in the two-match
Sri Lanka ‘A’ unofficial Tests against visiting England Lions.
Embuldeniya, with 71 wickets in 28 Test innings, was given an extended run in the ‘A’ series, hoping he could regain his rhythm ahead of an all-important series in New Zealand. But the 26-year-old had meagre returns in the two-match series. He claimed three wickets conceding 241 runs in the first game (3/159, 0/82) played at the spin-friendly Galle International Stadium.
In the second game, Embuldeniya’s performance was equally poor. He claimed 2 for 164 in 33 overs of bowling (1/113, 1/51). Jayawickrema was also disappointing. He managed just three wickets giving away 99 runs in the game (2/59, 1/40). Tweaks Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis will be the two first choices for the series. Apart from Nissanka, there are no major changes in the batting unit.
Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella are the specialist batters along with Madushka named in the squad.
The squad will travel to Raddella this week for a week-long training programme before heading to New Zealand. The team is yet to get the Sports Minister’s sanction, a requirement by Sri Lanka’s Sports Law.
| Test Squad: | |
| Dimuth Karunaratne (Capt), Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Nishan Madushka, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Chamika Karunaratne, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Milan Ratnayake, Praveen Jayawickrema/Lasith Embuldeniya |