Sri Lanka has named an 18-player squad for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship series against England, set to begin on August 21 in Manchester. Among the noteworthy additions are uncapped players Milan Rathnayake and Nisala Tharaka, both making their first appearances for the national team in this series.
Nisala Tharaka, 33, has consistently excelled in first-class cricket, amassing 257 wickets and 2,358 runs across 107 matches. This series presents his debut opportunity to represent Sri Lanka. Rathnayake has previously been part of Test squads against Afghanistan and New Zealand but is yet to make his debut.
The fast bowling contingent includes Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, and Lahiru Kumara, with the experienced Angelo Mathews lending support. The squad, captained by Dhananjaya de Silva, also welcomes back batter Pathum Nissanka and spinner Jeffrey Vandersay. Nissanka and Vandersay last played in Test cricket in 2022, with Vandersay returning following his outstanding ODI performance of 6/33 against India.
Sri Lanka’s spin department will be led by Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis, who bring depth and variety to the attack. Kusal Mendis, recently replaced by Charith Asalanka as the ODI captain, will serve as the vice-captain for this Test series.
Currently, Sri Lanka holds the fourth position in the World Test Championship standings with a 50per cent points percentage, while England is positioned sixth with 36.54per cent. This series is crucial for both teams as they strive to improve their standings and secure a place in the World Test Championship final.
Sri Lanka Squad: Dhananjaya de Silva (c), 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.
