Sri Lanka national selectors have named their 15-man Test squad for the upcoming two-match West Indies series which will start on 14th October at Galle.
Former Sri Lanka under 19 captain and a product of Prince of Wales College, Kusal Mendis has been named in the squad for the first time alongside 2014/15 domestic highest run-scorer, Milinda Siriwardana.
The selectors have dropped Upul Tharanga and Jehan Mubarak after their disappointing performances against India.
Fast-bowler Dushmantha Chameera has been deemed fit to face the Windies while off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal has also find a place in the Test squad despite the ban on his ‘Doosra’. Suranga Lakmal who was not part of the Sri Lanka team against India has also been recalled.
Siriwardana sparked with the bat in coloured clothing for Sri Lanka against Pakistan in the ODI and T20 series’ with impressive averages of 30 and 29 respectively.
The 20-year old Mendis can bat at any position but he is more suited at the top of the order where he smashed a brilliant 156 for Sri Lanka Development XI last month in India. Few weeks ago, he made a dashing double-ton representing Bloomfield in the SLC under 23 tournament as well.
The right-handed stylish batsman has a first-class average of 30 with 10 games under his belt.
Siriwardena, had an outstanding 2014/15 domestic season, scoring 1144 runs at an average of 67.29 in 19 first-class innings. He has also been a dependable slow left-arm bowler in domestic cricket. He is tipped to become Sri Lanka’s next number 6 batsman in Test cricket as well.
Sri Lanka Test squad – Angelo Mathews (Captain), Lahiru Thirimanne (Vice Captain), Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunarathne, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Janith Perera, Milinda Siriwarden, Kusal Mendis, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Tharindu Kaushal, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera
