Dinusha only new face in Sri Lanka’s Test side to play Australia

Monday, 20 January 2025 03:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sonal Dinusha

Udara, Vandersay also included in 18-member squad

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Sonal Dinusha, the 24-year-old left-handed spin all-rounder from Mahanama College has been rewarded for his consistent performance in domestic cricket for CCC as well as for Sri Lanka ‘A’ by being selected in the 18-member Sri Lanka squad for the two-Test series against Australia starting at Galle on 29 January.

Dinusha takes the place of fast bowler Kasun Rajitha who is one of three changes the selectors have made from the squad that was picked for the two Tests against South Africa.

Dinusha who averages 40 for 2,285 runs in first-class cricket with the bat and 23.40 for 93 wickets with the ball has been in excellent touch for CCC in the ongoing Major Club 3-day tournament with back to back centuries against Tamil Union and Nugegoda SWC. In Sri Lanka ‘A’s tour to Pakistan last November, Dinusha was a model of consistency with scores of 30 and 62, 85* & 116* in the two 4-day unofficial tests against Pakistan ‘A’ played at Rawalpindi.

Left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya has been replaced by right-arm leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay and hard hitting opener Lahiru Udara is named as standby for Pathum Nissanka.

Nissanka who is recovering from a Grade 1 groin strain is unlikely to feature in the first Test. If he doesn’t make it, Oshada Fernando will join Dimuth Karunaratne for the openers’ slot.

Karunaratne, the 36-year-old left-hander is going through a lean patch with the bat but is expected to be retained for the two Tests against Australia to enable him achieve a rare milestone of 100 Test appearances for his country. Only six Sri Lankans have reached that landmark so far. The former captain who made his Test debut in November 2012 has played in 98 Tests during which time he has accumulated 7,165 runs at an average of 39.80 inclusive of 16 Test centuries.

The rest of the squad remains unchanged from the players that made the tour to South Africa.

Kamindu Mendis who suffered a split webbing in his hand during CCC’s Major Club 3-day match against SSC and required one stitch is expected to be fit as well as Captain Dhananjaya de Silva who sat out the same match with a side strain.

Sri Lanka and Australia will play the two Tests at Galle with the second match commencing on 6 February.

SRI LANKA TEST SQUAD FOR AUSTRALIAN SERIES

Dhananjaya de Silva (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Oshada Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Prabath Jayasuriya, Nishan Peiris, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Sonal Dinusha, Lahiru Udara.