Sri Lanka and England focus on WTC standings
Sri Lanka’s Test squad is all set to embark on a challenging tour of England, with the remaining members of the team scheduled to depart for England today. The three-match Test series, which is a part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), is set to kick off on August 21 at Old Trafford, followed by matches at Lords and the Kia Oval. The tour is critical for both teams, as Sri Lanka currently sits fourth in the WTC standings with 50 points while England is placed sixth with 36.54 points.
The Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) made early preparations by sending eight players, who are not part of the national white-ball teams, to England on August 3. This strategic move was intended to help these players acclimatise to English conditions, which are known for their challenging swing and seam-friendly pitches. The remaining members of the squad, including the coaching staff headed by Sanath Jayasuriya, will join them on Monday, ensuring that the entire team has ample time to adapt before the series begins.
The tour will commence with a four-day warm-up game, scheduled from August 14 to 17. This practice match will serve as a crucial opportunity for the Sri Lankan players to fine-tune their skills and get accustomed to the conditions before the high-stakes Test series.
The 18-man squad, led by Dhananjaya de Silva, includes a mix of experienced players and newcomers, reflecting a balanced approach to the tour. Uncapped pacer Milan Rathnayake and all-rounder Nisala Tharaka have been called up for the series. This will be Tharaka’s first appearance for the national side at the age of 33, after an impressive domestic career with 107 first class matches, 257 wickets, and 2,358 runs. Rathnayake, on the other hand, has been part of the Test squad before, but is yet to make his debut.
The fast-bowling department will be bolstered by the inclusion of Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, and Lahiru Kumara, alongside the seasoned Angelo Mathews, who continues to be a key figure in Sri Lankan cricket. The squad also sees the return of batter Pathum Nissanka and spinner Jeffrey Vandersay, both of whom last played in the longest format in 2022. Vandersay’s selection comes on the back of his career-best haul against India in the second ODI, where he took 6 for 33.
In the spin department, Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis will be crucial alongside Vandersay. Kusal Mendis, recently replaced by Charith Asalanka as the ODI skipper, will serve as the vice-captain under de Silva’s leadership. The series opener at Old Trafford from August 21 to 25 will be followed by the second Test at Lords from August 29 to September 2, and the final Test at the Kia Oval from September 6 to 10. With both teams eager to improve their standings in the WTC, this series promises to be a tightly contested battle.
Sri Lanka last beat England in a Test series in 2014 when they beat hosts by 100 runs in the second Test at Leeds, having drawn the first Test at Lords.
| Sri Lanka Test Squad: Dhananjaya de Silva (Capt), Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (VC), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Nisala Tharaka, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milan Rathnayake | |