Madushanka eyes Test debut after being picked to play Pakistan
Dilshan Madushanka, the promising left-arm fast from Sri Lanka, will likely be eyeing a Test debut quickly after being picked within the 16-member squad to play the primary of two matches towards Pakistan beginning July 16. The 22-year-old was not initially slated to play however has been picked as a substitute for Asitha Fernando, who was dominated after contracting dengue.
Madushanka’s inventory although is on the rise, having already brought about a stir within the white-ball circuit – he was the most important purchase on the Lanka Premier League auction last month and was thought of ok to be a part of Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup aspect in 2022 earlier than injury forced him out of the tournament. And whereas he wasn’t initially picked for the World Cup Qualifier, with the selectors preferring to let him play towards a touring South Africa A aspect, he was introduced in as an injury replacement for Dushmantha Chameera, the place in his 4 outings he managed to select up eight wickets at an financial system fee of 4 an over.
Sri Lanka’s most up-to-date exertions have been all within the one-day area the place they went by way of robust competitors within the qualifying match in Zimbabwe to guide a ticket to India for the ODI World Cup in October. Some of these gamers – Pathum Nissanka and Kasun Rajitha – are a part of this Test squad as properly, alongside a brand new face – Lakshitha Manasinghe, a 23-year outdated offspin-bowling allrounder with 1111 runs and 124 wickets from 37 first-class matches.
Manasinghe’s inclusion follows a formidable string of shows domestically and for Sri Lanka A towards South Africa A, throughout which he picked up 12 wickets – inclusive of two five-fors – in two unofficial Tests. He additionally grabbed a four-for towards Pakistan within the two-day warm-up game in Hambantota.
Nissanka returns to the aspect after an absence of a yr – his final Test towards Australia in July final yr – throughout which he is missed Tests towards Pakistan, New Zealand and Ireland. His exclusion from these video games had raised eyebrows, contemplating that the Australia tour was the one time the place he confronted an actual dip in kind in his transient profession to this point. Since making his debut he is notched up 5 fifties and a century in 15 innings at a mean of 38.35. He finds his manner again within the aspect following a fruitful outing within the World Cup qualifiers, the place he was the second-highest run-scorer with 417 runs at a mean of 69.5 – together with back-to-back tons.
Rajitha, who had been omitted from the Tests towards Ireland, returns to the fold to spearhead a reasonably threadbare seam unit, alongside Madushanka and Vishwa Fernando.
The spin division nonetheless is stacked – comprehensible contemplating each Tests will likely be in spin-friendly Galle. Left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama comes into the aspect on the expense of legspinner Dushan Hemantha. Fellow left-armer Prabath Jayasuriya will lead the assault, whereas there will likely be ample assist if wanted from the likes of Manasinghe, and allrounders Ramesh Mendis, Kamindu Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva.
On the batting entrance, issues are pretty settled with Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva and Sadeera Samarawickrama the most probably mixture within the center. The solely uncertainty stays on the prime, with Karunaratne’s match health nonetheless unclear. If he’s cleared to play, it is possible Nishan Madushka – who notched a double-ton towards Ireland in his final Test innings – will likely be favoured over the returning Nissanka.
Sri Lanka squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Nishan Madushka (wk), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Praveen Jayawickrama, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Vishwa Fernando, Lakshitha Manasinghe