Kamil Mishara

Kamindu Mendis

Suminda Lakshan

Dilshan Madushanka

• Oshada Fernando, Ramesh Mendis, Asitha Fernando, Kasun Rajitha recalled

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Four uncapped players were named in Sri Lanka’s 18-member Test team for the two-Test series in Bangladesh starting later this month, while four others were recalled, three of them after being left out of the last series against India in March.

Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Suminda Lakshan and Dilshan Madushanka are the uncapped Test players included while Oshada Fernando, Ramesh Mendis, Asitha Fernando and Kasun Rajitha have returned to the Test squad.

The team to Bangladesh sees seven changes from the one that took part in the two-Test series in India which Sri Lanka lost 0-2.

Both Mishara and Kamindu Mendis, although yet to break into the Test circuit, have appeared for the country in white ball cricket. Mishara, a 21-year-old left-handed opener with 10 first-class matches behind him and a top score of 98 has played in three T20Is. He replaces another left-hander Lahiru Thirimanne who has been dropped along with Charith Asalanka and Jeffrey Vandersay.

According to a statement issued by Sri Lanka Cricket, Kamindu Mendis gained selection because of Roshen Silva who was selected for the tour being unable to make it. Mendis on his extraordinary batting performance alone for Kandy in the National Super League (NSL) 4-day tournament should have gained selection on merit rather than wait for someone to become unavailable.

The 23-year-old left-handed middle-order batter with seven ODIs and five T20Is behind him has an impressive first-class record of six centuries from 21 matches that includes four of them in the recently concluded NSL 4-day tournament where he not only captained Kandy to win the title but was the leading run-getter with 886 runs from six matches at an average of 80.54. Mendis also has the ability to bowl spin with both hands.

Suminda Lakshan, a 25-year-old all-rounder with a double century in first-class cricket and who bowls leg-spin and Dilshan Madushanka, a 21-year-old left-arm medium fast bowler who has played only six first-class matches are the other two newcomers.    

Oshada Fernando and Asitha Fernando find themselves back in the side after being dropped for the series in India. Oshada forced himself into regaining his place in the team with a prolific batting performance in the NSL 4-day tournament where he finished as the second highest run getter to Kamindu Mendis with 721 runs (avg. 80.11) and four centuries for champions Kandy. Asitha also performed similarly with the ball for Kandy being the leading fast bowler in the tournament with 17 wickets (avg. 19.00).

Off-spinner Ramesh Mendis returns after injury and fast bowler Kasun Rajitha has been recalled to fill the void left by Suranga Lakmal’s retirement from international cricket. Rajitha played the last of his nine Test matches on the Boxing Day of 2020. Mendis fractured his right-thumb while batting during training but has recovered and is currently playing league cricket in Bangladesh.

The other changes from the squad that toured India, are the absence of Dushmantha Chameera who is recovering from an ankle injury and has been rested for white ball cricket and Pathum Nissanka and Lahiru Kumara – both injured.

Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva said, “The national selectors have taken a decision that they will not consider Chameera for the longer version of the game. He would be playing only white ball cricket because he has an ankle injury which has to undergo an operation after the T20 World Cup in November, so we have to manage him till then. Nissanka has a back injury for which he is receiving treatment. The physio feels that he will be fit for the Australian series. Lahiru Kumara has not fully recovered from an old hamstring injury.”

The squad is at practice at the R Premadasa Stadium sans two players Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne who is away in England representing Yorkshire in the English County Championship and fast bowling all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne who is in India playing for Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing IPL.

Sri Lanka test squad to Bangladesh

Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Kamil Mishara, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Suminda Lakshan, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya. 

Marginal improvement of ranking for SL in T20Is