Sri Lankan middle-order batter Roshen Silva’s international cricket future hangs in the balance following his decision to play County Cricket during the 2022 UK Summer, ThePapare.com learns.
Read More : Roshen Silva – a welcome addition for the Bangladesh Tests
33-year-old Silva, who has represented Sri Lanka in 12 Tests, played his last match way back in January 2019 against Australia in Brisbane. However, for the last three years, he has been warming the bench during a number of Test tours for Sri Lanka.
Silva boasts of an impressive first-class record of over 9000 runs with an average of nearly 50. His best performances as a Test batter came in against Bangladesh in Chattogram, where he scored 109 off 230 balls. But the innings everyone will always remember would be his match-saving, unbeaten 74 against India in Delhi on debut.
Despite Sri Lanka’s struggles with playing spin, Silva has been overlooked several times in the past couple of years, leaving him with our a national contract. The continuous sidelining is likely to have prompted his decision to pursue a domestic deal overseas, especially considering the ongoing financial crisis in Sri Lanka.
Read : Roshen Silva lifts Colombo with a brilliant ton
Silva scored 304 runs in 4 matches (including the highest individual score of the competition – 174*) with an average of 101.33 in the recently-concluded National Super League – 4 Day Tournament. After two batters, Charith Asalanka and Lahiru Thirimanne were dropped from the Test side following the India tour, Silva was set to be a part of the 18-member squad for the upcoming 2-Test tour of Bangladesh.
With doubts still remaining on whether he would make the playing XI, he has opted to play in the Lancashire Cricket League, rather than warming the bench in Bangladesh.
With Silva already in the United Kingdom, the selectors have decided to replace him with Kamindu Mendis, who was the highest-run scorer in the same tournament. Mendis was initially set to lead the Sri Lanka Emerging Team in England next month.
A father of two, it would be no surprise if Silva chooses to pursue a career in domestic leagues in England and Australia. However, Sri Lanka Cricket are sure to miss the services of a player who has scored 5 half-centuries and one century in 13 Test innings in sub-continental conditions.
With Sri Lanka set to play 6 Tests (2 in Bangladesh, 4 at home against Australia and Pakistan) on turning tracks, it remains to be seen of the SLC authorities will be open to getting Silva back in the country and in national colours.
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