The opening batter Nishan Madushka and fast bowler Milan Ratnayake have earned maiden Test call-ups as Sri Lanka announce a 17-member squad to play in the 2-match Test series against New Zealand.
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The star opening batter Dimuth Karunaratne will once again lead the Sri Lankan contingent, but he will miss the services of his opening partner at the top Pathum Nissanka who has been excluded from the squad due to injury.
A prolific run-scorer Nishan Madushka who has been in the form of his life scoring tons of runs in the last 12 months, has earned his maiden national call-up. Madushka who scored 364 runs in the 2 unofficial Tests against England Lions won the best batter and player of the series awards.
The 26-year-old fast bowler Milan Ratnayake who picked up a 4-wicket haul in the 1st unofficial Test against England Lions has also earned his maiden Test call-up for the national team. Ratnayake has played 22 first-class matches and managed to claim 42 wickets at 32.64.
Sri Lanka Test Squad
Dimuth Karunaratne (C), Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Nishan Madushka, Chamika Karunaratne, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Milan Ratnayake.
Sri Lanka will play 2 Tests, 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is against the Kiwis during this tour. The 2-match Test series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2021-2023 cycle while the 3-match ODI series is part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League.
The Sri Lankan team will depart for New Zealand on the 27th of February and will play a 2-day warmup game on the 04th and 05th of March at Hagley Oval in Christchurch ahead of the Test series which will begin on the 09th March at the same venue.
