Embuldeniya recalled to Test squad for South Africa

Tuesday, 12 November 2024 01:46 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Lasith Embuldeniya, who made his Test debut against South Africa at Durban in 2019 in that famous one-wicket win run chase and played in 17 Tests before fading away from the international scene after July 2022, has been recalled to the Sri Lanka Test squad for the upcoming two-Test series against South Africa later this month.

Left-arm spinner Embuldeniya is one of 10 Test players who left for South Africa in the early hours of today to prepare ahead of the series, which commences with the first Test against South Africa on 27 November at Durban.

Test Captain Dhananjaya de Silva, former Captains Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, and Dimuth Karunaratne, fast bowlers Kasun Rajitha and Lahiru Kumara, fast bowling all-rounder Milan Rathnayake, and spinners Prabath Jayasuriya and Nishan Peiris are the others who left for Durban where, through South Africa Cricket, arrangements have been made for the players to train and practice.

The support staff accompanying the players are Team Analyst Jehan Mubarak, Physiotherapist Jonathan Porter, Batting Coach Dhammika Sudarshan, and Throw Down Specialist Calista Anton.

The rest of the team and players, numbering around 17 or 18, will leave for South Africa on 22 November after the three-match ODI series against New Zealand ends on 19 November.

The second Test will take place from 5-9 December at Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth).

Both Sri Lanka (third with 55.56 percentage points) and South Africa (5th with 54.17 percentage points) are in the running for a place in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s next year, and the two Tests are of vital importance to their chances of doing so. (ST)