After much discussion, Sri Lanka’s Tour of England 2021 is set to go ahead, with Kusal Perera leading a squad of 24 which left the island last night.
While the key names of Angelo Mathews and Dimuth Karunaratne remain absent, the tour will also mark the return of a few exciting names who missed out on previous series due to various reasons.
The most exciting of them all is the return of the young and explosive opener, Avishka Fernando, who has been struggling to retain his spot in the side due to fitness concerns.
The selectors have also made way for Nuwan Pradeep, making him the only ‘senior’ player to be recalled after being left out for the tour of Bangladesh in May.
Pradeep’s impressive track record in England could not be ignored, with the right-armer having picked up 16 wickets in the country, the most for him outside of Sri Lanka.
The batting unit remains more or less the same as the one which travelled to Bangladesh except for the return of the two former Sebastianites, Avishka Fernando and Oshada Fernando while Ashen Bandara has missed out due to injury. Another name to join the 24 is the uncapped prodigy Charith Asalanka who had been tapping at the selectors’ door for a long while now.
Another uncapped talent, Dhananjaya Lakshan, who was identified during the inaugural Lanka Premier League, has also been added to the touring party as an all-rounder. He will be accompanied by fellow all-rounders in the squad, Wanindu Hasaranga, Isuru Udana, Chamika Karunaratne and Ramesh Mendis.
Though the conditions are more friendly to the seamers, Wanindu Hasaranga will remain the main cog in the Lankan bowling unit.
Negombo Express, Dushmantha Chameera, who bowled exceptionally well in Bangladesh will be another key to Sri Lanka’s success in the UK. The tall left-arm fast bowler, Binura Fernando will bring in vital variation, after a decent return to international cricket against Bangladesh.
The selectors have the paved way for two uncapped speedsters, Shiran Fernando and Ishan Jayaratne, to come into the squad, along with left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama, who impressed in the Test series against the Tigers last month.
Offie Akila Dananjaya and left-arm wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan have been named in the squad while the gritty paceman Asitha Fernando will hope for an extended spell in the playing XI.
Though there were clouds of uncertainty around this tour due to contract conflicts between SLC and the players, fortunately it will go ahead as scheduled.
The tour is listed among Sri Lanka’s ODI Super League fixtures and the Islanders are in desperate need of victory as they lie at the bottom of the table with 8 points after 6 games.
Sri Lanka’s Squad For England Tour
Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Dhananjaya De Silva, Charith Asalanka, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Chamika Karunaratne, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Lakshan Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya, Praveen Jayawickrama, Dushmantha Chameera, Isuru Udana, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep, Shiran Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Ishan Jayaratne
