Sri Lanka cricket selectors have added six new players to the current Test squad as injury replacements for England series. Sri Lanka National Test team touring South Africa has been hit with a plethora of injuries thus selectors have made this decision.
Sri Lanka test team was handed an innings defeat in the first test against South Africa which worked off at Centurion. During the first test, seamers Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara and batsmen Dhananjaya de Silva and Dinesh Chandimal sustained injuries thus ruled them out of the Test series.
Schedule for England tour of Sri Lanka announced
In addition to these three players, Oshada Fernando and Suranga Lakmal are also suffering from injuries currently. However, their availability to play in England Test series depends on how long they take to recover.
To prepare for the England Test series, selectors have brought in six players to the squad. Former Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews who was injured during the recently concluded Lanka Premier League has been called up, he will only be available after a physical fitness test.
Sri Lanka ODI and T20 opening batsman Avishka Fernando got his maiden call-up to the Test team while batsman Roshen Silva, a prolific run-getter in domestic cricket has also been called back to the side. 32-year old Silva played his last test against Australia two years ago.
Sri Lanka to tour England in June 2021
All-rounder Ramesh Mendis has also got his maiden national call-up not surprisingly as he has been another impressive performer in the domestic circuit. Chinaman bowler Lakshan Sandakan who has been a regular feature in Test squad recalled to the side while Sri Lanka’s premier white-ball fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep is called back to the Test team after three years.
The 34-year old Pradeep was not picked for Test cricket due to his susceptibility for injuries and picked only for the ODIs and T20Is. However, as Sri Lanka losing out their senior fast bowlers due to injuries, selectors have changed their minds and called him back.
In addition to them, left arm seamers Binura Fernando and Kalana Perera have also been named as standby players for the England series.
The England test team led by Joe Root will arrive in Sri Lanka, today and they will spend 10 days of quarantine period in a bio-secure bubble in Hambantota, but they will be allowed to train outside from 5th January to 9th January.
England Test team set to travel to Sri Lanka as they clear Covid-19 tests
The two-match Test series between Sri Lanka and England which is part of the World Test Championship (WTC) was originally scheduled to take place in March last year, but it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Joe Root’s men will take on Lankan Lions from 14th January to 26th January behind-closed-doors. Both test matches will be played in Galle International Cricket Stadium.
England Test Squad
Joe Root (Captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
Schedule
| DATE | MATCH | VENUE |
| 14th to 18th January, 2021 | 01st Test Match | Galle International Cricket Stadium |
| 22nd to 26th January, 2021 | 02nd Test Match | Galle International Cricket Stadium |
